Canterbury in Kent, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Wulfric's Rotunda

St Augustine's Abbey

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, March 29, 2025

1. Wulfric's Rotunda Marker

Inscription. Abbot Wulfric II built an unusual tower here to link two Anglo-Saxon churches together. You are looking at its crypt.

In the 7th century, a church dedicated to St Mary was built to the east of Augustine's original church. Abbot Wulfric, one of the last Anglo Saxon abbots at the monastery, added this circular building known as a rotunda to join the two together, probably in the 1050s.

Above its crypt, the rotunda probably stood two or three storeys high but we do not know if it was ever finished, nor can we be sure how it was meant to be used. The Norman monk Goscelin, who recorded events at the abbey in the 1090s, thought that it was 'unsuitable for monastic use'.

It was demolished with the other Anglo-Saxon buildings around 1072, when the Normans built their new church. Its remains were revealed by archaeological excavations in 1914-15.

Erected by English Heritage. (Marker Number 5.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 51° 16.689′ N, 1° 5.304′ E. Marker is in Canterbury, England, in Kent. It can be reached from Monastery Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Monastery Street, Canterbury, England CT1, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East.

Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Crypt (here, next to this marker); A Centre of Learning (a few steps from this marker); Tombs of kings and archbishops (a few steps from this marker); Abandonment and Ruin (within shouting distance of this marker); The End of the Abbey (within shouting distance of this marker); Reuse and Rediscovery (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to St Augustine's Abbey (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Norman Church (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Canterbury.

St Augustine's Abbey Ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, March 29, 2025

2. St Augustine's Abbey Ruins

Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2025, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.