About
The Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library represents one of the oldest and most significant documentary collections in the entire English-speaking world. As the mother church of the Church of England and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the cathedral has been accumulating, preserving, and transmitting written records since the very earliest days of English Christianity — a continuous archival tradition stretching back to the arrival of Augustine in 597 AD. The result is a collection of documents and manuscripts of quite extraordinary historical depth and national importance.
Among the treasures held within this archive are records contemporary with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury murdered in the cathedral on 29 December 1170. Letters, administrative documents, and chronicles from the late 12th century illuminate one of the most dramatic and consequential episodes in English medieval history, when Becket's martyrdom transformed Canterbury into one of the foremost pilgrimage destinations in Christian Europe. The archive holds original documents from the era of Henry II's conflict with the Church, making it a primary source of unparalleled value for medievalists worldwide.
The library's holdings extend from Domesday-era records through the entire medieval period, the Reformation, and beyond into the modern era. Among the most precious items are illuminated manuscripts of exceptional beauty, early printed books from the dawn of English printing, papal bulls, royal charters, and the vast administrative records of the Archbishop of Canterbury's province — the most senior ecclesiastical province in England. The collection spans over 1,400 years of continuous institutional life and is truly without parallel in the country.
The reading room is open to researchers and members of the public by appointment, providing access to the archive's catalogued holdings under professional supervision. Guided tours of the archive and library, available at scheduled times, offer visitors the chance to see original medieval manuscripts and documents at close range, with expert guidance on their content and historical context. The archive also collaborates with Canterbury Cathedral's wider UNESCO World Heritage Site interpretation, helping visitors understand the living documentary legacy of one of England's greatest historic institutions.
Situated within the Cathedral Precincts — themselves a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the archive and library occupy historic buildings that are part of the monastic complex established by Augustine's mission. The setting reinforces the profound sense of historical continuity that makes this one of the most important heritage destinations in Kent and indeed in England.
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Plan Your Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- Book your archive tour or reading room visit well in advance via the cathedral website
- Allow time to explore the Cathedral itself — the archive is most meaningful in its full context
- Heritage Open Days in September offer free access to the archive
- Photography of documents may be restricted — check policy before your visit
- The online catalogue is freely accessible before your visit — worth browsing to plan what to see
- Combine with Canterbury Roman Museum (0.3 miles) for a full day of Canterbury history
- The Cathedral Precincts are atmospheric in early morning before the tourist crowds arrive
Highlights
Documents from 597 AD — England's Oldest Archive
The Canterbury Cathedral Archives holds documentary records stretching back to the very foundation of English Christianity in 597 AD, when Augustine arrived in Kent at the direction of Pope Gregory the Great. This extraordinary continuity — over 1,400 years of unbroken institutional record-keeping — makes it one of the oldest functioning archives in the world.
Early documents, though fragmentary, chart the emergence of the English Church, the establishment of Canterbury's primacy, and the first steps in creating the administrative and ecclesiastical infrastructure that would shape English civilisation for over a millennium.
Thomas Becket Era Records
Among the most historically electrifying documents in the Canterbury Archive are those relating directly to Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in the cathedral on 29 December 1170 by knights acting on the orders of King Henry II. The archive holds letters, chronicles, and administrative documents contemporary with Becket's archiepiscopate and his conflict with the crown over Church liberties.
These primary sources illuminate one of the defining episodes of medieval English history, the immediate aftermath of which saw Canterbury become a major European pilgrimage destination and Becket canonised within three years of his death.
Illuminated Medieval Manuscripts
The library's medieval manuscript collection includes examples of illuminated texts of exceptional beauty and scholarly significance, created by monastic scribes in Canterbury and elsewhere between the 8th and 15th centuries. Canterbury was one of the great centres of manuscript production in early medieval England, and the library preserves works that reflect the extraordinary artistic and intellectual culture of the monastic community.
These manuscripts — combining exquisite calligraphy, decorated initials, and miniature paintings — represent the peak of pre-print literary and artistic production and are among the most treasured objects in the collection.
Domesday and Royal Charters
The archive holds significant records from the era of the Domesday Survey (1086) and a collection of royal charters spanning the medieval period. These documents reflect Canterbury's unique position at the intersection of royal and ecclesiastical power, with successive English monarchs granting rights, confirming lands, and conducting negotiations with the Archbishop of Canterbury across the centuries.
The charters bear the seals of medieval kings and provide direct evidence of the legal and constitutional framework of medieval England, including the complex relationship between Crown and Church that dominated medieval English politics.
Collections
Records from 597 AD onwards; medieval illuminated manuscripts; documents relating to Thomas Becket (1162–1170); Domesday-era records; royal charters; early printed books; archiepiscopal administrative records spanning 1,400 years.
Archive and Library Heritage Display
Permanent interpretation of the archive's holdings, history, and significance, located within the archive building and integrated into Cathedral heritage trails.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.