~ Historic Dates & Events ~
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619 - The great fire in the city. "The city was in imminent danger of complete destruction, when Archbishop Mellitus, a great sufferer from the gout, caused himself to be carried to the raging flames which had just then laid hold of the church of the Four Martyrs. 'The sick man averted the danger by prayer, which a number of strong men had not been able to perform by much labour. Immediately the wind which, blowing from the south, had spread the conflagration throughout the city, turning to the north prevented the destruction of those places that had lain in its way, and then ceasing entirely, the flames were immeditaely extinguished." J.Charles Cox, Canterbury A history of the Ancient City, 1905
1272 - In king Edward I's reign, anno 1272, there happened at Canterbury a great storm of thunder and lightning, and a sudden inundation; the waters breaking forth seemingly from the caverns of the earth, overflowed the greatest part of the city where they were never before known to come, insomuch that the violence of the current by its impetuosity overturned and laid level many houses and buildings in it, and drowned many man, women and children. Hasteds
1299 - Also in king Edward I's reign, anno 1299, there was an earthquake, which, though not very violent here, was felt as far as Hampton in Middlesex Hasteds
1361 - there was so great a tempest of wind here, that the trees were overturned, and the roofs and steeples thrown down, and so vast was the fury of it, that it seemed as if the whole frame of the universe was involved in ruin. Hasteds
1382 - On May 21st in 1382 at mid-day, there was an earthquake throughout all England. Thorn tells us, it terribly shook and shattered the eastern window of the chapter house, and the western window of the church, as well as other edifices of note, both within the monastery of St. Augustine, and without. Hasteds
1544- It appears by the parish registers, that the plague raged in the city in the years 1544, 1564 and in 1635 again with great violence, from the beginning of August to the end of October. Hasteds
1564- It appears by the parish registers, that the plague raged in the city in the years 1544, 1564 and in 1635 again with great violence, from the beginning of August to the end of October.
1593 - Thomas Long being then mayor, a great plague raged in this city; and it appears by the parish registers, that the plague raged in it in the years 1544, 1564 and in 1635 again with great violence, from the beginning of August to the end of October. Hasteds
1625 - On June 12, 1625, king Charles I with his queen Henrietta Maria of France, came to Canterbury to his palace of St. Augustine's monastery, and there consummated his marriage with her. Hasteds
1635 - It appears by the parish registers, that the plague raged in the city in the years 1544, 1564 and in 1635 again with great violence, from the beginning of August to the end of October. Hasteds
1642 - Protestation Returns
1648 - Christmas Day there were great tumults raised in this city by the means of Michael Page, the puritanical mayor, who encouraged the people to insult and molest those who were going to observe the festival at church, which were with much difficulty appeased by Sir William Man, alderman Sabine, and Mr. Lovelace, a lawyer; but upon this the committee of the county sent forces in form to attack the city; who, though they heard by the way that all was quiet, chose to march in as conquerors, and finding the gates open, took them down and burnt them, threw down several parts of the wall, and committed many to prison upon suspicion, among whom were the three peace-makers. Hasteds
1816 In Kent, not only the wages of labourers of husbandry, but also in all mechanical trades such as blacksmiths, masons, wheelwrights, &c. have been reduced one fifth. NMM1816
1823 Kent - Considerable emigration from this county has lately taken place to New York, principally by agricultural labourers. MM1823
1909 - Flooding of the Stour in Canterbury
1910 - Proclamation