This great abbey, marking the rebirth of Christianity in southern England, was founded shortly after AD 597 by St Augustine. Originally created as a burial place for the Anglo-Saxon kings of Kent. The light coloured stone with arches are what remains of the north wall of the Norman cathedral which stood here until the Dissolution, at which time Henry VIII had this part of the former abbey converted into a royal palace. The red bricks in the upper storeys date from this time. Beneath the tree is part of the ruined Ethelbert Tower, some stones of which may date from the original Saxon minster on the site.

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