In a week that has seen the final two TV programmes on a year in the life of Canterbury Cathedral, it seems appropriate to mention another event that will similarly shine a spotlight on the city of Canterbury as well as its cathedral.

The Black Prince’s effigy at Canterbury Cathedral

Prince Edward, the Black Prince: an enigmatic figure – tall, well-built, handsome; personally brave, chivalric; a sound military tactician and natural leader; genuinely pious; generous to his friends and yet a stern landlord and today his conduct on campaign can be construed as nothing short of criminal (G. Corrigan, A Great and Glorious Adventure. A Military History of the Hundred Years War (2013), pp. 142-3.

For if the history of Canterbury Cathedral is indeed the history of England, as was said by the commentator, then its medieval past might be envisaged as its golden age, when the international renown of St Thomas Becket’s cult well and truly put Canterbury on the map in medieval Christendom. So with this in mind, I thought I would mention the Centre’s Canterbury History Weekend ‘Exploring the Middle Ages’ that will take place on 1–3 April 2016. This event, staged in conjunction with Canterbury Cathedral, will take place at Canterbury Christ Church University and the Cathedral Lodge, and amongst a splendid array of speakers will be Professors Michelle Brown and Richard Gameson, and acclaimed historians Helen Castor and Ian Mortimer. As a consequence participants will be able to hear lectures on a diverse range of medieval topics, including manuscript treasures, warfare (the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses) and the early Tudors, and there will also be a number of guided visits on offer to include a special exhibition at the cathedral library. Preparations for this event are well under way and it is envisaged that tickets will be available on-line through the University’s website in April 2015, so do watch this space because more information will be forthcoming early next year.