Kent

Kent is in the South/East of England. It lies between the Thames estuary and the Strait of Dover and is known fondly as the ‘Garden of England’. The chalky North Downs cross the county from East to West, and to the South lay the fertile Weald and Romney Marsh. The Medway, the Stour, and the Darent are the main rivers that contribute to the fertility of the county. The region, largely agricultural, is a market-gardening centre. Since Great Britain's entry into the European Community (now the European Union) in 1973, warehousing has emerged as a growing enterprise. Because of its strategic location on the path to the Continent through Dover, Kent has been important throughout English history. Today you pass through this county when heading to Europe by rail, road or sea.

For the visitor, Kent has much more to offer than a stepping stone to somewhere else! ‘Passing through’ Kent has though, been done since the days of Julius Caesar. He landed at Kent in 55 B.C. and Roman roads crossed the county, taking travellers the length and breadth of Britain. In the Middle Ages many religious houses were established in the old kingdom of Kent, and Canterbury became the goal of numerous pilgrims such as Chaucer described in the Canterbury Tales. The region was intimately associated with the rebellions of Wat Tyler, Jack Cade, and Sir Thomas Wyatt. The coast was heavily fortified during the two World Wars.

Canterbury Cathedral is a breathtaking construction. It has a tradition of visitor welcome that reaches back to the days of medieval pilgrimages and was founded in 597AD. Mother Church of the Anglican Communion, it houses a Romanesque crypt, 12th century quire and some of the oldest and most beautiful stained glass windows in the country. On December 29th 1170, the English martyr Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral. His death shocked the whole of the Christian world and his tomb in Canterbury became an immediate shrine. He was canonized in 1173 and ever since, the Cathedral and its vivid history have attracted thousands of visitors.