Canterbury

By the time of the Vikings Canterbury had become established as the main centre of the Church in the south of England (the northern centre being in York). It was already the centre of the Arch-Diocese that survives to this day in the Church of England.

It is known that most of the street layout surviving in Canterbury today dates from the Saxon period. Recent excavation as part of the regeneration of the city centre (in 2000-01) round the area where the Whitefriars Friary used to be has revealed evidence of 9th Century town planning. The dig revealed evidence of houses being demolished so that a planned street layout could be implemented. The dig also revealed evidence of a large Saxon granary on the site.