View of the Great Stour River in Westgate Gardens, Canterbury, England.
The Westgate Gardens can be found close to the City centre, just next to the West Gate Tower. The eleven acres of public gardens provide an ideal setting for a gentle stroll along the banks of the River Stour, while the less energetic can sit back, unwind and absorb the tranquil beauty of the garden and its wildlife. The meandering river provides the perfect environment for swans, ducks and moorhens to settle and raise their young. In the summer, the garden provides an ideal setting for open air events, exhibitions or as a picnic area. This site has been a public space since the Middle Ages, although late Iron Age and early Roman pottery has been found on site. During the 1400s, this area was called the Rosier - with five gardens and meadow land. Throughout this period many disputes arose between the residents and the Prior of Christ Church concerning the site's ownership. In 1427, the Prior claimed that the townspeople had stolen hay from the meadow lands. They in turned accused the Prior of diverting the course of the river to feed one of the mills. Judgement was made by Archbishop Chichele, who decided that they hay had been stolen and the monks should return the river to its natural course. The historic city of Canterbury lies at a junction of four Roman roads, where their Watling Street connected with the sea. Within the city the river flows in two channels, one through the centre of the city, and the other to the north of the city wills. The two channels rejoin to the east of Canterbury, before the river reaches Fordwich, a former outport of Canterbury and the current tidal limit of the river. The River Stour /ˈstaʊər/ is the river in Kent, England that flows into the North Sea at Pegwell Bay. Above Plucks Gutter, where the Little Stour joins it, the river is normally known as the Great Stour. The upper section of the river, above its confluence with the East Stour at Ashford is sometimes known as the Upper Great Stour or West Stour.
Size: 5078px × 3744px
Location: Westgate Gardens, Canterbury, Kent,
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: canterbury, gardens, great, kent, leisure, park, pine, public, reflections, river, stour, tourism, travel, tree, trees, walking, water, weeds, westgate
