MAP92: Canterbury: A Modern Day Pilgrimage

MAP92: Canterbury: A Modern Day Pilgrimage

Author: The Archivist March 10, 2025 Duration: 39:01

Executive Producer:
Helle Hagenau

A day trip to Canterbury is a a popular choice for tourists visiting England and London and for good reason, it's a great city!

During our European vacation in the Summer of 2024 we had a free day and decided to take a modern day pilgrimage to Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral. We decided not to walk the Pilgrim's Way though, instead traveling by train to Canterbury.

There were learning lessons for the kids (even on summer break), pubs for the adults and lots of medieval history!

It was a jammed packed day but we still found time to relax and take in all the sights and sounds.

We take a walk around Canterbury visiting the medieval sights and other sights. The entire family had a great time in Canterbury. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

From the medieval city walls and gatehouse, to Buttermarket Square and the glorious cathedral that draws thousands of visitors ever year, Canterbury is a great day trip and if you have more time you should plan to spend 2-3 days exploring the city.

Other Episodes mentioned:


Grab your copy of The Canterbury Tales!

Get all the links and see all the pictures in the show notes on Medieval Archives!


  • (00:00) - Welcome to the Medieval Archives
  • (00:28) - Pilgramage to Canterbury
  • (01:18) - Next Stop Canterbury West
  • (01:40) - European Vacation
  • (03:10) - The Miller's Tale
  • (03:44) - Geoffrey Chaucer
  • (04:19) - Hawkwood and Medieval Mercenaries
  • (04:42) - The Canterbury Tales
  • (05:49) - Ellesmere Chaucer
  • (05:56) - Chaucer Statue
  • (07:07) - Westgate
  • (07:55) - Church of the Holy Cross
  • (08:29) - High Street
  • (08:39) - Old Weavers' House
  • (09:11) - Medieval Ducking Stool
  • (09:40) - Canterbury Pilgrim's Hospital of St. John
  • (10:55) - Buttermarket Square
  • (11:00) - Christchurch Gate
  • (12:00) - Canterbury War Memorial
  • (12:08) - Buttermarket Pub
  • (13:07) - Buttermarket Pub Canterbury Tales
  • (13:23) - River Stour and the Gardens
  • (14:25) - Medieval City Walls
  • (15:37) - Chaucer Hotel
  • (15:47) - St. Augustine's Abbey
  • (19:25) - St. Martin's Church
  • (20:16) - St. Martin's Cemetery
  • (20:50) - Christopher Marlow
  • (21:15) - The Crooked House is crooked!!
  • (22:01) - Canterbury Cathedral
  • (22:14) - Cathedral fouded in 597
  • (23:21) - Cathedral Initial Design
  • (24:11) - Fire in the Quire!
  • (24:25) - Trintiy Chapel built
  • (25:02) - St. Thomas Original Shrine
  • (25:33) - Statues
  • (25:54) - West Face
  • (26:39) - Cathedral Nave
  • (27:29) - Assassination of Thomas Becket
  • (28:08) - Shrine to Thomas Becket
  • (28:34) - Eye witness account of the murder
  • (30:55) - Becket Podcast
  • (31:02) - Becket's New Shrine
  • (32:14) - Becket Transept Sculpture
  • (33:04) - The Pilgrim's Tunnel
  • (33:13) - King Henry IV tomb
  • (33:35) - The Black Prince
  • (34:12) - Beckets Old Shrine
  • (34:43) - Archbishops Buried in the Cathedral
  • (35:41) - Thoughts on Canterbury
  • (36:41) - Have you been to Canterbury? Share your Stories
  • (37:12) - Get you FREE audiobook
  • (37:47) - Independant Podcast, No Ads and No AI!
  • (38:05) - Support the Show. Thank you!
  • (38:38) - Come back for the next episode
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Intro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com


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Step into the world of Medieval Archives, where host The Archivist guides you through the sprawling, complex landscape of a thousand-year era. This isn't just a parade of dates and famous names. Instead, each episode is a deep exploration, peeling back the layers of popular legend to examine the tangible realities of medieval life. You'll hear about the strategic calculations behind what we call epic battles, the fragile alliances within courtly intrigue, and the quiet rhythms of survival in villages far from castle walls. The podcast is built on a foundation of historical evidence, carefully separating enduring fact from compelling fiction. By focusing on the people-from monarchs and saints to merchants and peasants-and the beliefs that guided them, the narrative connects these distant events to our understanding of today. Whether discussing the rise of a kingdom, the fall of a dynasty, or the evolution of a simple tool, the aim is to provide context and clarity. Tune in for a thoughtful, accessible journey that treats history not as a static record but as a continuous, human story. The medieval world was one of profound transformation, and this series seeks to illuminate how it was truly lived, felt, and shaped by those who were there.
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