South-east
Canterbury
In the twelfth century
Canterbury, the Roman town of Durovernum, has been the seat of the archbishops since St Augustine's mission of 597, and his abbey still stands outside the walls. The Norman cathedral was rebuilt by Archbishop Lanfranc after the fire of 1067, and a royal castle keep, largely built under Henry I, guards the south-west of the city. The defining event of the century is the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in his cathedral in December 1170. He is made a saint in 1173, and pilgrims begin to arrive from across England and Europe. After a fire in 1174 destroys the choir, William of Sens begins rebuilding it in the new Gothic manner. Pilgrims need beds, food and souvenirs, and Eastbridge Hospital is founded around 1190 to shelter the poorer ones. Goods come up the Stour from the port of Fordwich.
Landmark: The cathedral, its east end being rebuilt after the 1174 fire (from 1175), with Becket's tomb in the crypt.
Known for
- Pilgrim lodging and victualling
- Pilgrim souvenirs (ampullae of St Thomas's water)
- Leather
- Wool and cloth
- Goods landed at Fordwich (including building stone)
Caveats (confidence: high)
The rebuilt choir and Trinity Chapel were not finished until the 1180s; Becket's shrine was only moved up into the Trinity Chapel in 1220, so a 12th-century scene should show his tomb in the crypt. The castle keep was begun under William I and largely built under Henry I. The trade list is general: Canterbury's economy in this period is less well documented than its church history.
Sources: learning.canterbury-cathedral.org · historicengland.org.uk · omeka.as.uky.edu · localhistories.org
Playtest: in development, may be reset
In the playtest world now
What the test world shows at Canterbury, as of Year 12, winter, month 10, day 26. About the playtest
Last season's market
Autumn, year 12. Each good's price at the close of last season, against its usual price in this town: dear, usual or cheap.
- Usual
- Pick, Ox cart, Pit saw, Adze, Awl, Axe, Iron hammer, Chisel