Canterbury Cathedral

We live about 20 miles from Canterbury Cathedral, it is a favourite place of ours to visit. Due to Covid, lockdowns etc. this was our first visit for about 2 years. Outside is this amazing wicker horse. This is 20 feet high and is known as Joey the Canterbury War Horse. This new installation is to commemorate the anniversary of the WW1 armistice, and to remember the 8 million horses that died during the First World War, as well as the 886,000 human fatalities.

Beautifully made by students and staff of Canterbury College.

Looking at the Cathedral from the newly restored Eastern end of the building.

Beautifully restored and cleaned stone work :)

Looking up to the Bell Harry Tower.

The ceiling of the North Aisle.

We knew that there was a private event in the Crypt that afternoon, so we headed straight to the Crypt, as it is one of our favourite places in the Cathedral.

Next to the entrance to the Crypt is the above, marking the spot where Thomas a Becket was murdered in 1170. 

My daughter looking up after leaving the Crypt.

Photography in the Crypt is not allowed as it is a place for private prayer. It is a beautiful part of the Cathedral, The Chapel of Our Lady in the Undercroft is situated in the Crypt, decorated with a ceiling of moons and stars, and a statue made of bronze depicting the Virgin and Child. This statue was made by Sister Concordia from Minster Abbey  in 1982, to replace an earlier 17th Century ivory Madonna statue from Portugal that was stolen. I am not sure when the original statue was stolen, but as a child I have a memory of a white statue in the niche. This was in the late 1950's/early 1960's so it is possible that it was the original statue that I saw.

Also in the Crypt if you know where to stand, you can see a shape on one of the pillars, which looks like a monk, it is natural marks in the stone, and has to be seen from a certain spot. 

The sun shining on the pillars in the North Aisle of the Nave, so lovely to see :)

From the Crypt we detoured into the Cloisters, another favourite place for us. 

A detail of one of the ceiling bosses, a lovely little dog :)

Modern stained glass in some of the arches.

Spotted by my daughter, a dragonfly in the glass :)

A beautiful old door.

Behind the Cloisters is this small area, probably the Infirmary Cloister, with ruins of earlier buildings. 

I think this area is the Herb Garden.

Above and below is the East Walk of the Infirmary Cloister, sometime known as the 'Dark Entry'

I believe this now leads through to the Kings School.

Heading back into the Cathedral :)

The Choir, beyond which was the Shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury. The shrine was destroyed during the Reformation 1538.

The Anniversary Clock

The Pilgrim Steps, the route taken by pilgrims visiting the shrine of St Thomas. 

Every view in this amazing building is wonderful. You can't help but think of all the people who built and have looked after this building for all to enjoy, and worship in. 

The South Aisle of the Nave, looking West.

We had a wonderful time looking round again, we will be back :)