Monastic Gardens Tour - Canterbury Cathedral

Discover the history of the gardens at Canterbury Cathedral on a tour focusing on the Herb Garden, Water Tower Garden and Memorial Garden.

The first caretakers of Canterbury Cathedral were the Benedictine monks who lived on site throughout the middle ages. The tended the gardens around the Cathedral to provide food for the monastery and plants which provided a variety of uses from healthcare to writing ink.

We trace the history of the monastic gardens and look at how plants were used during the middle ages. We trace how the gardens changed over time, with the Memorial garden moving from a place to grow food, to a recreation ground, to its final use as a tranquil place for reflection and remembrance.

We also look at how the gardens were tended after the monasteries were dissolved by King Henry VIII and how they are looked after today.