Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Sun Inn was built by Christ Church Priory in 1437-38 in Sun Street, (by the Buttermarket in what is now known as Burgate), as a large Pilgrim's Hostel in the area of the medieval 'Rush Market'. Now the inn is compromised of three listed buildings in the Burgate.

Monument Types

• INN (Medieval to Modern - 1437 AD to 1931 AD)

Full description

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The Canterbury UAD states that The Sun Inn was built by Christ Church Priory in 1437-38 in Sun Street, (by the Buttermarket in what is now known as Burgate), as a large Pilgrim's Hostel in the area of the medieval 'Rush Market'. Amongst a body of documentary evidence relating to the construction of the Sun, there is a reference relating to John Goneld of Bury St. Edmund's, carpenter, who received livery from the Prior of Christ Church whilst he was making timberwork at 'le Sunne'.

The Chamberlain's Accounts of 1502 include an item, 'For a communication hadde with My Lorde Chief Justyce (Sir John Fyneux) with Maister Maire or, they went into Christ Church at the Sonne for a quart of wine, iid'.

In 1510-1517 the west end of the building was altered when the construction of Christ Church Gate entrance to the Cathedral was built.

The Sun Inn was imortalized by Charles Dickens in David Copperfield as the 'Little Inn' where Mr Micawber occupied a little room, and sat waiting 'for something to turn up'. In the 1908 Penny Guide it was advertised as the Sun Hotel, Sun Street and offered good stabling and served by the Margate Four-Horse Brakes daily; proprietress: Miss Pullen & Miss Davies. In the Official guide of 1924 it was no longer advertised as the Sun Hotel, instead part of the building had become The Cathedral Tea & Luncheon Rooms, but still offered rooms to let. In the Kelly's Directory for 1931, No. 35 was occupied by Wm James Pye, Jeweller; No. 36 by Houlden & Sons Drapers and No. 37 The Cathedral Tea Rooms H. E Mears.

Today (2002) the old building has been renovated and is occupied by Pizzaland (since 1986) and the Cathedral Gate Hotel. Building recording work was carried out by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust during 1986.

The Sun Inn is now compromised of three listed buildings;
35 Burgate (MKE 23998)
36 Burgate (MKE25243)
37 Burgate (MKE 25035)

15th century walls (TR 15 NE 1975) thought potentially to relate to the Sun Inn were excavated in 2016 as part of an evaluation at Canterbury Cathedral. (6)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1991, The Pilgrim Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE30157.

<2> Hone, D., 1986, Interim Report on work carried out in 1986 by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust Nos 35-37 Burgate (Article in serial). SKE30158.

<3> Kelly's Directory, 1931, Kelly's Directory of Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, & with map (Article in serial). SKE29963.

<4> Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, 1908, The Penny Guide to the City of Canterbury and to its Historic Port - Fordwich (Article in serial). SKE30135.

<5> Enderby, H. M., 1950, The Inns of Canterbury Parts I & II, Lecture to the Canterbury Archaeological Society (Unpublished document). SKE29964.

<6> Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd, 2016, Canterbury Cathedral Welcome Centre Archaeological evaluation report (Unpublished document). SKE52682.

Sources and further reading

Related records