Canterbury Cathedral — Library & Deanery
1 June 1942 · Canterbury, Kent
View this record on the map →- Date
- 1 June 1942
- Record type
- Historic bombing site
- Bomb type
- incendiary
- Location
- Canterbury, Kent
- Position accuracy
- Confirmed event, landmark point
What happened
Sixteen bombs fell in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral, but the church itself survived largely undamaged. The Cathedral Library and the Deanery were badly damaged, and four fire watchers on the roof extinguished incendiaries before they could take hold.
Casualty note
No casualties are attributed to the Cathedral precincts.
Also worth knowing
The medieval stained glass had been removed and stored beforehand; later Victorian windows left in place were destroyed. The cathedral's survival owed as much to the men on its roof as to luck.