Geoffrey Chaucer is known as ‘the father of English literature’ (many of us remember A-levels trying to fathom out Olde English in his Canterbury Tales – stories of pilgrims travelling to the ancient city). He’s buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.
There is no evidence to suggest Chaucer actually visited the historic city of Canterbury, but it has been a pilgrimage site since the assassination of the Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170.
It’s also thought that he would have attended the funeral of the brother of the Duke of Lancaster (he was a household member), and that tomb is in Canterbury Cathedral.
Geoffrey Chaucer was likely a butler to aristocrats, with his son Thomas being Speaker of the House of Commons for several years (who bought Donnington Castle in Berkshire for his daughter).
Alice Chaucer was married at age just 11 (her husband dying soon after, leaving her a wealthy widow before her teens).
Back in the days of Chaucer, most people in England spoke French and Latin, hence the difficult language the (unfinished) tales are written in.
Charles Dickens (born in Portsmouth) set his novel David Copperfield mostly in this city too.
