CHAS is saddened to learn that Mrs Pauline Allen, who had such a happy return trip to Canterbury in July 2025, passed away in June 2026 at the age of 97 years. CHAS is extremely grateful to Mrs Allen’s daughter, Mrs Jane Russell, for a very generous donation of £1,000 given in her mother’s memory. … Read more
Why, during the night of December 13th 1330, did the Rector of St Martin’s Church, assisted by his brother and two other men, place a ladder against the wall of St Augustine’s Abbey, and assisted an elderly “monk” (or was it a snake?) to scale the wall and escape on horseback to Bishopsbourne? Why did … Read more
Description by Pauline Walters A thousand years of men and women living and dying in these ancient almshouses and yet hundreds of people pass it each day, maybe noticing the arched wooden doors and maybe not, among the shops and eateries of Northgate. Inside the gates, a vista appears, more suited to a country hamlet … Read more
St Nicholas Church is not usually open to the public but CHAS members had the opportunity to visit it, the frater and almshouses, all in an exceptionally beautiful setting . The eleventh century church (image 1 below), with slightly later additions, is austere and tranquil, perhaps reflecting the long history of worship and the despair of … Read more
Mark Houliston, Director of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT) will present the Frank Jenkins Lecture (the annual review of the work of CAT) at LG16 of the Laud Building at Christchurch University (North Holmes Road campus) on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 6:00pm. The lecture will be free but attendees are asked for a small donation.
Martin Crowther, Engagement Officer at Maison Dieu, took a group of CHAS members on a hard hat tour of the historic building earlier this afternoon. After walking through the Victorian prison (raised above a medieval floor) we eventually ascended scaffolding to get to the very top of the Connaught Hall, a building originally opened in … Read more
All CHAS members will be familiar with various iconic buildings in or around the St Dunstan’s area including the Westgate Towers, St Dunstan’s Church (images 1 and 2) and the Roper Gateway (image 3). But perhaps some CHAS members have not visited the former Jewish cemetery (Image 4), and it really requires the knowledge and … Read more
Why in 1643 did John Pollyn, a brewer from St George’s parish, and two other men, enter 47 rooms of Lady Wootton’s home (the former Archbishop’s palace) and take away over £300 of goods and 127 sheep, and how many sheep remained after they’d left? The answer to the first part of the question is … Read more
In a very well attended talk at St Paul’s Church (image 1 below) on the 10th April 2024, Mr Mansell Jagger took the audience back to two different times in our history. Firstly just over 30 years ago, when there were fears that the Channel Tunnel could have a detrimental effect on the economic prosperity … Read more
If you are thinking of making a long-term trip to America, especially New England, then eminent historian and CHAS speaker, Dr Doreen Rosman, can tell you what to pack. Well she could if you were travelling in about 1630. In a well attended lecture at St Paul’s Church on 13th March, Doreen explained the background … Read more
