Fascinated by the history

Terri and her family have had a long association with Canterbury. After living away for many years, Terri returned around 10 years ago - she has since become a guide at the cathedral, and enjoys sharing Canterbury’s fascinating (and at times dramatic!) history with visitors.

How long have you lived in Canterbury?

I first lived here as a child in the 1950s and moved back here in 2011 with my husband.

Why did you move here?

My family has been associated with the city for generations so I have a deep love for it. I attended St. Peter's Methodist Primary School. My father sang in the cathedral choir which is why I decided to become a cathedral volunteer, a role I have held for ten years.

What do you love about living here?

I love all the history but I also love that we are not very far from the sea and also that we have a fast train, the Javelin, which takes just under an hour to reach central London (St. Pancras International).

Are there any interesting facts you can share with us that we might not already know?

The Roman name for Canterbury was ‘Durovernum’.

What do you know about the history of Canterbury?

The building of the cathedral has evolved over a thousand years for various practical reasons; Quire being extended as not big enough to hold all the monks (1093-1109), Quire burning down in 1174 and rebuilt (1175-1184), the Nave being taken down and rebuilt with a higher roof (money for this ran out and Richard II helped financially) (1377-1405), the Angel Steeple being heightened to be seen above the higher roofline (1494-1504) and various repairs.

Who is the most famous Canterbury resident of all time?

There are several famous people who were born in Canterbury, of which these are a few: Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593). Aphra Behn (1640-1689), Sir Alec Rose (1908-1991), Mary Tourtel (1874-1948) and most recently Orlando Bloom (1977-).