© P.E. Blanche 1999	ST. MARTIN'S CHURCH, CANTERBURY
	A World Heritage site

The picture above is taken from the Chancel looking West into the Nave of the Church. The Chancel is probably the oldest part of the building and the place where Queen Bertha came to pray each day. Although parts of the stonework in the Nave are later, dating from probably the 7th Century, there are many additions and repairs including Norman work. The entry to the Church was once by a North door which was Norman in origin.

The far West end of the Nave (the wall facing you in the picture) was altered in the 13th and 14th Centuries when the present West door was added and the tower was added to the building. It is probable that the present roof of the Nave was added in the late 14th Century at the same time as the tower. In the wall there is evidence of two Roman "type" windows and this area is also known to have Saxon and early Norman elements.

The picture below is of the only tomb in the Chancel which is built into a recess. It has (or had) always been known as Queen Bertha's tomb and was said to have contained her remains. However, it was opened in Victorian times and found to contain the bones of an old man so the whereabouts of Queen Bertha is now a mystery

© P.E. Blanche 1999