Dane John Gardens
Situated within the city walls, the Dane John Gardens run alongside the Eastern element of city walls. This open space dates back to the 12th Century when it was the site of a Norman motte and bailey castle although the large mound, after which the garden is named, is reputed to date back to the 1st Century AD and may have been a Roman burial mound. It only became a set of gardens in the late 1700s when a local Alderman called Simmons laid out the current shape and size of the area. Today you can take a walk to the top of the mound and take a good view at the city, as well as see the memorial to the Alderman. Either way, it is the perfect place for a stroll, or a picnic, with the tree lined promenade providing a natural element of sound proofing against the hustle and bustle of the City that surrounds you.
For little ones there is a fantastic new playground that is very sympathetic to the beautiful surroundings. My grandson loves to charge around there and will spend hours expending his energy there. The Gardens are open all year and are free to enter. It is a central location where, throughout the year all sorts of markets and festivals are held, so keep in touch with the site and I will keep you up to date with what is going on there. Return to Canterbury Explorer Homepage from Dane John Gardens
|
It was renovated by the City Council in 1999 and now includes a beautiful fountain and a bandstand; I would highly recommend this as a place to stop and watch the world go by. I often find myself grabbing a sandwich in the town and coming here to people watch on a Saturday afternoon. Sometimes I'm even lucky to hear some of the music that is played in the bandstand over the summer.
