Power and People

Today’s walk is all about power and how it has shaped the lives of Canterbury people. For most of our history almost all work was done by human muscle. This meant lives of exhausting drudgery for the poor who supported a tiny wealthy elite. Gradually new forms of energy were harnessed from animals, water and wind until the opening of the Canterbury and Whitstable railway allowed plentiful fossil fuel in the form of coal to enter the city and stimulate industry, warm its houses, light its streets and create general wealth. Learn how energy shapes political power and how this was challenged by the spiritual power of the Church. Discover Canterbury’s forgotten genius scientist who laid the foundations for the electrical power grid on which our lives now depend and how history shows us that a warming climate may not be such a bad thing after all!

All this and more on a lovely springtime walk through some of Canterbury’s finest gardens and historic places. All welcome. There is a charge of £5 for this Timewalk. You can pay by card or cash on the day.