The interior length of the cathedral, from east to west, is 514 feet ; the length of the choir 180 feet ; the length of the nave to the bottom of the choir steps, 178 feet, and from thence to the screen at the entrance of the choir, 36 feet ; the breadth of the choir is 40 feet, the length of the east transept, from north to south, is 154 feet ; the length of the west transept, 124 feet ; the breadth of the nave and its aisles, 71 feet ; the height from the pavement to the vaulting of Trinity chapel, 58 feet : height of the choir, 71 feet ; height of the nave, 80 feet ; height of the great tower, 130 feet ; extreme height of the great tower, 235 feet ; height of the south west tower, 130 feet ; height of the north-west tower, 100 feet.
At a little distance from the cathedral, in the eastern part of the city, are the remains of St Augustine's abbey, which was the first Christian establishment in this king dom. It was founded in 598, and at one period it almost vied in magnificence with the cathedral itself. The pre cincts of the abbey included a space of about sixteen acres ; and the surrounding walls are in a gi eat measure entire. The west front was 250 feet long, with a gate at each extremity, which still remain. St Augustine's gate, which formed the principal entrance, is an elegant building; but it is now much dilapidated, and has been converted into a brewery. The other entrance, cal0e the cemetery gate, has been recently altered into a mo dern dwelling: The remains of the abbey church air.,rd a beautiful specimen of Norman architecture. The west end, called St Ethelbcrt's tower, is a lofty and elegant ruin, Nv bid' displays various ranges of semicircular arches, beautifully ornamented with mouldings and sculpture.
The principal churches in Canterbury, are Holy Cross church, a low but spacious edifice, built in the reign of Richard 11.; St Alphage chu•i It, a spacious and respec table building containing many sepulchral monuments ; St Margaret's; St Andrew's, which was built of brick in the year 1764 ; St \luiy hireling, a small but ancient structure ; St Mary Magdalen's church ; St Mildred's church, which is spacious and tvell built ; St Dunstan's church, situated on the London road, near the entrance of the city; St Paul's church, which stands without Burgate, in the eastern suburb ; and St Mullin's church, which stands on a rising ground a little beyond the pre cincts of St Augustine's abbey.
The town-hall, which was partly rebuilt in forming a new street, is a respectable building, and contains some good portraits. The public assembly rooms, in the high street, were erected by the gentry of last Kent. The ball-room is a spacious and elegant apartment, and be neath it is a public bank. The theatre, which is a hand
some building, stands in Orange-st•eet, and was opened in the year 1790. The royal cavalry hA•racks, built of brick, were erected in 1794, and in 1798 additional bar racks for 2000 infantry were constructed. New build ings, for a similar purpose, have been lately raised on the ground formerly belonging to St Gregory 's Priory. On the eastern branch of the river Stour, is a lofty and spacious flour mill, called Abbott's Mill, erected from the design of the celebrated engineer All• Sineaton. It is capable of and dressing into flour 500 quar ters of corn weekly. Besides these buildings, there are numerous hospitals and other charitable establishments ; two libraries, a free grammar school, &C. An agricul tural soci• ty was established here in tare year 1793, under the • or toe Kent Society ffw the Encouragement of Agriculto eau,d I imustrv." and upwards of 7011. have atm .sly be. n distributed as premiums for promoting the objects of t.
e leanuf teture of silk goods was first established in Canterbury by the French refugees, who settled in this town alter 'evocation of the edict of Nantes, and the labouring chts:ies found full employment in the fabrica tion of lustrings, brocades, satins, ac. From the rapid extension oldie cotton trade, however, and other causes, the silk trade gradually declined ; and, in the year 1789, Mr John Callaway it troduced the manufacture of cottons, and discovered the method of fabricating the piece goods called Canterbury and Chamberry 'mishits, damasks, Sc. in which silk and cotton twist are united in the same fa bric. Though this manufacture is carried on in other parts of England, it still flourishes in Canterbury. Ac cording to Hasted, about 1000 individuals are employed in the dilferent branches of the silk, cotton, and wool trades. Many of the inhabitants of Canterbury derive their support from the hop plantations round the town, which cover about 2000 acres of ground.
Number of houses in 1800, 1741. Population 9000, of whom 5195 were females, and 3805 males; and those employed in trade and manufactures amounted to 1325. Population in 1811, 10,200. For a full account of this interesting town, see Somncr's Antiquities of Canterbury, 1610 ; Gosling's Walk in and about the City of Cantcr bury, 1774; Burnby's Historical Description of the Me tropolitical Church of Christ, Canterbury, 1783 ; Hasted's History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, 12 vols. 8vo, 1797-1801 ; The Canterbury Guide, 1805; hut particularly Brayley and Britton's Beauties uf England and lrales, vol. viii. p. 753, where a full account of the ancient and modern history of this town will be found. (.7)