The Canterbury Tour 1920 Part 2

Shot from the back of a truck, this film takes the viewer from one end of 1920 Canterbury to the other, through, in this extract, some pretty heavy traffic as cars, pedestrians, bikes, horses and the omnibus all head down the medieval streets at the same time.
Pity the poor policeman standing in the middle trying to direct it!
Watch more footage from our Film Archive or get creative in our Editor's Room at www.learningcur...

[@vals5816]

Its so weird to see Canterbury city center as it was the year my grandad was born. Hes spent his life in Canterbury (until this year when he had to move into a care home in westgate). But seeing footage like this shows how much my grandad has seen the world change during his lifetime.

[@shaun5944]

Thank you National Archives UK, amazing footage, I've lived around Canterbury for most of my life and it's great to see the town like this, ah the good old days 👍

[@richiethomfr]

2:18 to 2:40 is the area that was most heavily bombed in the 1942 raid: the Cattle Market. If you pause the video at 2:36, you can see the city wall descending - this is where the bike shop opposite Fenwicks is now. If you ask me, such a missed opportunity a few years ago when they built Whitefriars - they should've rebuilt to the old plans - Canterbury could've been a stunning tourist attraction. The design they chose will be obsolete in a few years' time.

[@tri5ia]

I live 10 miles from Canterbury and used to work there. So much is instantly recognisable, but so much was lost in the bombing in 1942 and it’s fascinating to see it. I suppose you’d have to have been born no later than 1935 to have a clear memory of pre-war Canterbury, so soon there will be no one left who remembers.

[@debbiet5130]

Amazing to see footage of Canterbury before it was bombed. I grew up there as a teenager in the 70s and knew the Longmarket built after the war. Going back after they demolished that, I was sad to see the open vista of the cathedral had been lost with the new development and to me it seemed claustrophobic.

[@85scampi]

Fascinating glimpse!.

[@slapavisionarchival]

amazing archive!

[@secretarchitect288]

I wish Canterbury still looked like it did in this film.

[@balebonce]

incredible old footage! I wish I could work out where we are between 2:18 and 2:40 as I dont recognise it at all.....can't be where the bus station is now as there is no sign of the city wall

[@balebonce]

on second thoughts I think it ends near where blockbusters is now

[@ERobbins1234]

How ironic? The only change is that there aren't any cars there now.

[@horseburger]

Pause at 1:04 isnt that starbucks now?

[@misterx2099]

2021 canterbyri rabisch bin

[@Jeztastic]

They're no different now, just sold a playing field off to developers...