Canterbury, England — The Year of Our Lord 1067, Part 1

Conquest of Albion — Dark Ages Vampire LARP

The City Before the Coming of the Roman Wolves

Canterbury surrendered to William the Conqueror in October 1066, avoiding the destruction that prolonged resistance might have brought. Its old Roman walls, early Christian churches, and important position in Kent made it a valuable possession for the new king. St Martin's Church already had centuries of history, while the great cathedral suffered a devastating fire in 1067.

The City of Canterbury

Kent, England — 1067 AD

Under the Rule of King William I, Before the Death of Lord Eadric

In the year of our Lord 1067, the ancient city of Canterbury stands as one of the most important settlements in the Kingdom of England. Situated among the fertile lands of Kent, along the River Stour and the roads connecting London to the southeastern ports, Canterbury remains a prosperous center of religion, trade, and local government.

The city has survived the Norman conquest remarkably well.

When William of Normandy marched through Kent after his victory at Hastings, Canterbury's leaders chose surrender over open resistance. They opened the gates, offered assurances of loyalty, and spared the city the destruction that might otherwise have followed.

Although Canterbury now answers to the Norman king, established Anglo-Saxon families and local officials still control much of its daily administration. A Norman military presence watches over the city, and the king's representatives ensure that taxes and obligations are honored, but the inhabitants have largely been permitted to return to their ordinary affairs.

The people have not forgotten the war, nor do they entirely trust their new rulers. Nevertheless, Canterbury has been granted something many other English settlements desperately desire: time to recover.

And under the direction of its principal landholding lord, Eadric of Canterbury, the city has begun to prosper once more.

The Streets and Homes of Canterbury

Canterbury is an old city, built upon the foundations of Roman Durovernum Cantiacorum. Portions of the ancient Roman walls still surround much of the settlement, although centuries of neglect, repairs, and rebuilding have left some sections stronger than others.

Merchants, craftsmen, farmers, and travelers keep the main streets busy. Timber houses, generally standing one or two stories high, line the roads. Their walls are heavy wooden frames filled with wattle and daub, and their roofs are covered with thatch, wooden shingles, or, in wealthier districts, clay tiles.

Successful merchants' homes often have workshops and storerooms on the ground floor, with living quarters above. Smaller dwellings crowd the narrow side streets, where chickens, pigs, and other domestic animals share the muddy passageways with pedestrians.

The better roads retain portions of old Roman stonework, but many lesser streets are packed earth and gravel. Rain regularly leaves deep ruts, particularly where carts and wagons carry goods toward the markets.

The River Stour provides water and supports the movement of goods through the settlement. Small bridges connect neighborhoods, while watermills outside the busiest districts grind grain brought from the surrounding farmland.

The marketplace remains the center of everyday life.

Here, farmers from the countryside sell grain, vegetables, eggs, cheese, livestock, and freshly slaughtered meat. Fishmongers offer catches from the rivers and coastal waters, while merchants display wool, cloth, leather, pottery, iron tools, timber, and imported goods.

English remains the common language, though Norman French is increasingly heard among soldiers, visiting nobles, and merchants seeking favor with the new government.

Despite the uncertainty of Norman rule, Canterbury is a city of considerable activity and growing wealth.