The Story of Canterbury

The Story of Canterbury offers a fresh perspective on the city and its iconic cathedral. A highlight is a guided tour led by John Doyle MBE, the cathedral’s longest-serving guide and president of the Royal Watercolour Society. The book uncovers overlooked figures and events, such as Stephen Gray, a Canterbury dyer who in 1729 solved the ancient mystery of electrical conduction. It also explores the transformation of Canterbury into a university city and the resulting changes to its infrastructure and cultural landscape. This modern shift is compared to the impact of the Walloon weavers who arrived 400 years earlier, reshaping the city’s economy and society. Above all, this new history endeavours to capture Canterbury’s enduring appeal, from its soaring cathedral, to its narrow alleyways and ancient pilgrims’ pubs.