Canterbury during the Blitz

[@phaasch]

Probably the most vivid record of this chapter in the city's history is still the 1943 film "A Canterbury Tale", with its tracking shots along the bombed streets, and the tower of St George's held together by scaffolding, whilst a formation of allied bombers passes high overhead. And that piece of classic British understatement from a local lady "It is an awful mess, I know, but you get a very good view of the cathedral, now".

[@tri5ia]

The film is on KZbin and well-worth seeing.

[@shaun5944]

I love Canterbury, it's my home city. I love the story regarding Cannon Crumb, I will say a Prayer for him when I stand underneath the Clock Tower tomorrow. Thank you George, brilliant mate 👍🇬🇧👋

[@sarahhall738]

Nan was driving ambulance during it near the cathedral her ambulance had canvas top as she said the only one like that but it was hers. So firemen played water on it so it didn't catch fire.

[@jonlilley2832]

We had family living in Canterbury during the blitz and lost everything. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but they were forced to relocate north. Multiple branches of the family moved the children over here during the war, but everyone except my grandparents went back. Having family on both sides of the Atlantic is great now, but it was true hardship back then.

[@janicesmyth1713]

I’m so pleased the Cathedral was saved. Would loved to have been able to see inside the other church, but at least we have the tower.

[@L-mo]

My grandmother's home was bombed in Canterbury, it was in Hanover Place.

[@alexrouten8146]

My mother-in-law (Mary Capper) was buried in her house (where the present bus station is) after it was bombed in 1942. She was 8 months pregnant with my wife (Valerie) and was with two of her daughters (Phillis and Peggy) plus her crippled brother (George Holman). The house stood on what was called “The Terrace”

[@tri5ia]

What an amazing story. Thanks for sharing.

[@Truthseeker1515]

Damn, I had no idea. During the 1980s, every saturday my mother took me to Canterbury. You should have also mentioned the area surrounding the Cathedral which was destroyed and replaced by the Old Long Market.

[@TOMRIXONPT]

Thought they’d be more old clips rather than new

[@tri5ia]

I had no idea St George’s church could have been restored. Thumbs down to Canterbury City Council’s Planning Dept. For those that don’t know, one of Canterbury’s most famous sons, playwright Christopher Marlowe, was baptised in the church in 1564.

[@DianaKazimiera-]

This documentary is very interesting...

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

Some beautiful buildings were lost in the war. St George's Street was hideous some of it still is 1950's awful architecture but the Superdrug store ex Woolies and Ex Key Markets I cannot remember the name before that is a listed building. Not all of Canterbury was bombed. Large parts that were that could be saved were not in the quest for modernity think of the Long Market. Before the 1970's Canterbury had what is now known as Unitary Status as an authority equivalent to making it's own planning laws. The very large road that ran from BHS past M and S and the Whitefriar's Centre as a one way road was originally to be an east west ring road and never saw the light of day. It's now Gravel Walk and pedestrianised. Lots of nasty architecture survives and lots of hideous buildings are destroying Canterbury's heritage and killing it's UNESCO surroundings. It's a beautiful City !

[@tamaracarter1836]

Thank you for this information! Canterbury really is a beautiful, atmospheric city; filled to the brim with historic architecture. There may be a few ugly modern buildings, but the same can be said for most cities in Europe that were bombed. I truly hope one day we can rebuild all the ugly, brutalist buildings marring our medieval cities. Replacing them with something beautiful would have such a beneficial effect everywhere.

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

@@tamaracarter1836 There are some great books on interwar Canterbury. Many changes now going on in Canterbury with the Debenhams buildings now Guildhall Quarter and Biggleston Yard for the ex N ason store and St George's Street is getting a 630k revamp which it needs trust me.

[@tamaracarter1836]

I’m glad - we really need to treasure special cities like Canterbury! Thanks, I’ll look into the books.

[@gabriellaj.o.6180]

@@tamaracarter1836 Look to buy Canterbury then and now in colour by Paul Compton which Waterstones sell and Amazon.

[@AJ-qn6gd]

That was David Greggs before it was key markets.

[@connoroleary591]

I think in 1944, German planes would swoop low over Canterbury, machine gunning the people on the streets.

[@PhilGudd]

I was hoping to find information about the bombing of the old Simon Langton School, which then moved out of the city walls and into a new building a mile or so out of the city. Im confused as to why they were bombing cathedrals and schools (as is the same in coventry) and not government, royal or institutional buildings.

[@colinhazell6259]

Very good!

[@SimmyRO]

Awesome documentary. O sa fie mai lung?

[@soneibgdn]

Din pacate nu, e doar un scurt documentar pentru un proiect de anul 3, dar cine stie, poate pe viitor se va transforma in ceva mai lung? haha vedem

[@prajeleSSS]

11/10 would Blitz

[@alfieboi_1273]

Hales Place where we at

[@zinckeeper]

It’s a rough place to be

[@anacletwilliams8315]

In other words, what the Germans were not able to destroy, the British did.

[@matthewstokes1608]

*I am not saying you are thinking this way - but this springs to mind so I'll say it here!): The British are often attacked for the bombing of German cities in payback... It's as though these idiot critics seem to think the Brits of that time were supposed to take all the attacks and bombing raids on their homelands by the foe (and their deranged and ridiculous little maniac Fuhrer) - and wave a white flag, or whistle in the flames, and just smile, or something ... The vitriol and hatred at the times was justified on both sides perhaps - but the original German bombing of civilians was a dark thing - a step too far - and they who sew the wind did indeed reap the dreadful whirlwind... not that it wasn't 'criminal' - but then so were ALL wars full of 'crimes' - War IS crime.... not the least, one against a foe like that. (...So is the murder of 6million jews and gipsies, etc, a bloody crime). One side had to win... And it did. Britain "won" but lost an Empire and pretty much everything it had built up. There were no victors ... We helped rebuild Germany at great cost - when the English were still rationed till 1953!! Get over it... We did! I don't think any country can sit and take the bombing of women and kids - or monuments to God... That's all I wanted to say . The destruction of churches in recent years - and the loss of Faith - is an indictment for sure... For this reason alone, atheist Britain will end in utter ruin - and decadence - just as we are witnessing. If the next generation can rediscover Christ, England will prosper and be happy once again. I believe it is as simple as that.

[@barrychallomoner8250]

@@matthewstokes1608 You do know the raf bombed Berlin months before the blitz began ?

[@matthewstokes1608]

@@barrychallomoner8250 yes, and apparently Churchill was in Rome sleeping with Mussolini while inventing gas chambers… idiot

[@barrychallomoner8250]

@@matthewstokes1608 Are you retarded? Raf bombed Germany before luftwaffe bombed Britain. Months before.

[@matthewstokes1608]

@@barrychallomoner8250 oh of course… and that maniac Hitler aided by his frenzied imbecilic German citizenry had not already invaded Poland with an army of a million - and unleashed a repulsive Nazi ideology of terror across Europe… deserving every bloody thing it got until it was defeated and smashed… Nor bugger off