insideKENT Magazine Issue 50 - May 2016 | Page 115

DAYSOUT

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN HISTORY AT

The Canterbury Tales
Canterbury is the loveliest of cities, and within its ancient walls lie many
surprises. No one visit ever has to be the same thanks to the many events,
visitor attractions and historic sites there, including my most recent
destination: The Canterbury Tales. by Lisamarie Lamb

Located in St Margaret’s Street, a stone’s throw
from the famous cathedral, award-winning The
Canterbury Tales is not just for scholars of Middle
English literature – it really is for everyone.
We visited on a dull, dreary April day but that
didn’t put off those who wanted to learn more
about the pilgrims who travelled to Canterbury
to pray at the shrine of murdered archbishop
Saint Thomas Beckett. There was quite a crowd
when we arrived, and for a moment I worried
that it might be an uncomfortable experience
with so many people vying for space, but I needn’t
have been concerned; the staff (all dressed in
14th-century costume, which really adds to the
enjoyment) were clearly well versed in ensuring
that everyone would be able to enjoy the whole
attraction, and they split the throng into smaller
groups. With just a 10-minute wait between each
group, it wasn’t long before we were following
our guide into Southwark’s Tabard Inn, ready to
start our journey.
Before we began, everyone was handed an audio
guide, but for the first three scenes these weren’t
needed because, from stepping into the Tabard
Inn until the first story begins to be told, our guide

was on hand to let us know not just where we
were, but when, and why. He also spoke rather
wonderful Middle English as he regaled us with
some poetry and elicited a small but genuine
round of applause.
Since the journey from Southwark would be a
long one – about four days, all told – our guide
explained that the innkeeper, a Mr Harry Bailey,
had designed a competition to keep everyone’s
spirits up. Each pilgrim was to tell a story, and
the best one would receive a free meal at the
Tabard Inn when they returned.
And so it began…
Introductions swiftly but amusingly made for each
of the five characters who would be telling stories
on our brief visit, it was time to put our audio
guides up to our ears and listen well. It was rather
heartening and something of a comfort as we
stepped into the darkness to discover that the
voice talking to us all was unmistakably Bernard
Cribbens. The audio guides come in a number
of different languages, and there is a special
children’s version too which, after hearing the
rather bawdy nature of the stories, seems to be
a good idea!

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As we made our way through the passageways,
we heard stories from The Wife of Bath, The
Knight, The Miller, The Nun’s Priest and The
Pardoner. Some were familiar, others less so,
but each had a moral to teach whether they were
funny (as in the case of the Miller’s Tale) or deadly
serious (such as the Pardoner’s tale). With well
made mannequins – I was particularly impressed
by their hands, which looked utterly lifelike – and
well told stories, this was a treat for the senses
and the mind.
When the stories were finished, we pilgrims were
met with another guide who led us on the final
leg of our long journey. We found ourselves in
Canterbury Cathedral itself, where we learned
about Thomas Beckett and finally reached his
shrine.
From beginning to end, The Canterbury Tales is
an absorbing, interesting, and surprising day out,
and certainly should not be missed.
For more details, visit
www.canterburytales.org.uk
or call 01227 784600.