Dover, UK

The White Cliffs of Dover

We arrived in Dover at 7:00 AM Monday (Labor Day) and docked near the famous white-chalk cliffs towering over the English Channel.  Dover is the nearest English city to the French coast, a mere 21 miles away.  The city is a port town with shipping its only industry.  During WWII, Dover was a military command center and site of 4-radar towers monitoring incoming German aircraft.

From Dover we journeyed by bus to the town of Canterbury, a historic town more than 2000 years old.  It's economy is dependent on tourism with pedestrian friendly streets, fine shops, inns and pubs,  The central attraction is Canterbury Cathedral dating back to 574 AD. 

A rich repository of more than 1400 years of Christian history, the Church of England’s mother ship is an extraordinary place with an absorbing history.  In 1170, Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral (under orders of King Henry II) and soon afterwards miracles were said to take place.  This made the site one of Europe's most important pilgrimage centres and Canterbury became England's top tourist destinations.

Entering the Nave, the pillars soar to the heavens.  In medieval times, the Nave was an informal gathering place for pilgrims, with worship taking place in the Quire.  The Cathedral is half way through a 5-year restoration project costing £25 million.  The construction limited our tour to "safe" areas.

The Quire was rebuilt in the 12th century after a disastrous fire.  At the far end is Trinity Chapel which housed St. Thomas' shrine (the murdered Archbishop of Canterbury) from 1220 until 1538 when it was demolished and removed by order of King Henry VIII.  

A single candle marks the location where the Archbishop Thomas Becket's (St. Thomas) shrine stood until it was removed by King HenryVIII.  After the Pope refused to annul the King's marriage from one of his (six) wives, Henry was infuriated and initiated the English Reformation, separating the Church of England from papal authority.  He appointed himself the Supreme Head of the Church and dissolved convents and monasteries.  Removal of the shrine was part of his Reformation. 

After lunch we drove to Sissinghurst Castle in Biddenden and visited a world-famous garden at the heart of the estate. The estate has a varied history with many owners.  At one time it was a pig farm and during the seven-years war (1756-1763) it served as a prison camp for 3000 captured French Sailors.  In the 1930s the garden was created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson.

The garden contains thousands of beautiful plantings, water features and an orchard.

Gene climbed 7-stories to the roof of the castle to view the entire garden.

Jan remained, her feet attached to the ground, waiting for Gene's safe descent. 

We are at sea tomorrow as we head for Dublin.