St Augustine’s Abbey
Longport Canterbury CT1 1PF
The abbey of St Augustine was founded in the early 7th century by Augustine himself, the man sent from Rome to convert Britain to Christianity. As such it was one of the earliest and greatest Christian foundations in the country, but its great wealth and power led to its dissolution in 1538, when most of the buildings were destroyed. Today it’s entirely ruined but a lovely spot, with well-signed remains set in a large grassy area, with plenty of room to sit and contemplate.