Canterbury Cathedral

The Canterbury Cathedral is rich with history. Its history dates back as far as 597 A.D. Archbishop Augustine built the cathedral, and was the first archbishop of Canterbury. It was used as a monastery for Benedictine monks until it was closed by King Henry VIII. The building was almost completely rebuilt by the Normans after a large fire in 1070. In 1170, Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral. It has been very popular among pilgrims, and is the center for Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". Over the years, it has been damaged and rebuilt many times. Few parts of the original building remain.