Canterbury's Elizabethan Rebel: Following Christopher Marlowe's Footsteps Through the City

Key Facts

Marlowe's Birth and Family Background

• Birth: Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury, Kent, England; baptised on 26 February 1564 (old style: 1563) at St George's Church
• Family: Second of nine children; oldest surviving child after sister Mary died in 1568
• Father: John Marlowe, a shoemaker in Canterbury
• Mother: Katherine Marlowe, daughter of William Arthur of Dover
• Birth location: The Marlowe family home was on the site now occupied by 47–49 High Street, Canterbury (specific location verified by historical records, though the original building no longer exists)

Education in Canterbury

• The King's School, Canterbury: Marlowe attended from approximately 1578–1579 as a scholarship pupil (aged 14)
• The school was founded in 597 AD and is considered the oldest continuously operating school in the world
• King's School connection today: The school has a day house named "Marlowe House" (established 1936) in his honour
• The school is located at 25 The Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2ES

St George's Church, Canterbury

• Marlowe was baptised here on 26 February 1564
• The church tower (all that survived WWII bombing) still stands today
• Location: Canterbury city centre
• The church was severely damaged during the Baedeker air raids of 1942

Father's Occupation and Shop Location

• John Marlowe's trade: Shoemaker (shoemaker)
• Shop location: The family shoemaker's shop was located on Canterbury High Street (specific address often cited as near the current 47–49 High Street)
• The shop served as both family home and workplace

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (Marlowe's University Years)

• Matriculation: 1580 (aged 16)
• BA degree: Awarded 1584
• MA degree: Awarded 1587 (after Privy Council intervention on his behalf)
• College connection: Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, holds an anonymous portrait discovered in 1952, dated 1585, claimed to depict Marlowe at age 21
• Plaque: A large plaque in Old Court at Corpus Christi College is dedicated to Christopher Marlowe and John Fletcher (both famous playwrights who studied at Corpus)
• Spying allegations: The Privy Council letter of 1587 commended Marlowe for "faithful dealing" and "good service" to the Queen—suggesting possible recruitment as a spy while at Cambridge

The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

• Location: The Friars, Canterbury, Kent, UK (coordinates: 51°16′52″N 1°04′43″E)
• Capacity: 1,200 seats (plus 150-seat performance space)
• History:
• First theatre on St Margaret's Street (pre-WWI), converted to cinema in 1920s, reopened as Marlowe Theatre in 1949
• Second building in The Friars (converted from 1933 Odeon Cinema), opened July 1984
• Third building (current) opened 4 October 2011 after £25.6 million redevelopment
• Architecture: Designed by Keith Williams Architects; distinctive pointed flytower is city centre's second tallest structure after Canterbury Cathedral
• Awards: UK Theatre of the Year 2022 (Stage Awards)
• Operations: Operated by The Marlowe Trust (registered charity)

The Marlowe Memorial (The Muse of Poetry Statue)

• Location: Outside the Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury
• Sculptor: Edward Onslow Ford (1891)
• Unveiling: Originally unveiled in Buttermarket on 16 September 1891 by Henry Irving
• Relocations:
• Moved to King Street (to make way for WWI memorial)
• Moved to Dane John Gardens (1921)
• Damaged in WWII bombing (1940/1942), muse thrown to ground
• Two statuettes stolen (1977)
• Relocated to current location outside Marlowe Theatre (1993), rededicated by Ian McKellen
• Description: Bronze statue of "The Muse of Poetry" (allegorical representation; no surviving contemporary portrait of Marlowe existed when sculpted)
• Plinth: Features statuettes of actors in Marlowe roles (Irving as Tamburlaine, Forbes-Robertson as Faustus, Hackett as Edward II, Alleyn as The Jew of Malta)

Canterbury Locations Associated with Marlowe Today

1. 47–49 High Street: Site of Marlowe's birthplace and father's shoemaker shop (plaque reportedly marks the location)
2. St George's Church tower: Where Marlowe was baptised (St George's Street area)
3. The King's School: Marlowe's former school (The Precincts, near Canterbury Cathedral)
4. The Marlowe Theatre: Named in his honour (The Friars)
5. Marlowe Memorial: The Muse of Poetry statue (outside Marlowe Theatre)
6. Buttermarket: Original location of Marlowe Memorial (1891–WWI era)

Local Events and Marlowe Connections

• King's Week: Annual arts festival at The King's School (established 1952), featuring over 100 events including theatrical performances—some likely featuring Marlowe's works
• Marlowe Theatre programming: Regularly stages productions of Marlowe's plays (Tamburlaine, Doctor Faustus, Edward II)
• Canterbury Festival: Annual event (since 1980s) may include Marlowe-related programming
• Marlowe House (King's School): Day house named after Marlowe, maintaining his legacy within the school

Historical Records and Archives

• Canterbury Cathedral Archives: Likely holds records related to Marlowe's baptism and family
• Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Archives: Hold the anonymous portrait and possible records of Marlowe's time there
• The King's School Archives: Hold historical records of Marlowe's scholarship and attendance

Themes/Angles

1. The Rebel Playwright: Marlowe as Canterbury's most famous rebel—atheist accusations, spy allegations, violent death—contrasted with the city's deeply religious heritage
2. Tracing the Footsteps: A literal walking tour from Marlowe's birthplace (High Street) to his school (King's School) to his memorial (Marlowe Theatre)
3. The Spying Controversy: The Privy Council letter of 1587 suggesting Marlowe's "faithful dealing" and "good service"—was he recruited as a spy while at Cambridge?
4. Marlowe vs Shakespeare: Both baptised in 1564, but Marlowe's tragic early death (aged 29) vs Shakespeare's long career—what might have been?
5. The Lost Portrait: The anonymous portrait at Corpus Christi College—is it really Marlowe? The only possible contemporary image
6. Canterbury's Renaissance Son: How the city remembers (or doesn't remember) its most famous Elizabethan playwright

Sources

1. Christopher Marlowe Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Marlowe - Provided: Birth/baptism details, father's occupation (shoemaker), education at King's School and Corpus Christi Cambridge, dates of degrees, Privy Council intervention 1587

2. Marlowe Theatre Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlowe_Theatre - Provided: Theatre location (The Friars), capacity (1,200), history of three buildings, redevelopment details, awards, architectural details

3. The King's School, Canterbury Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King%27s_School,_Canterbury - Provided: Marlowe's attendance (1579–1581), Marlowe House establishment (1936), school location and history

4. Marlowe Memorial Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlowe_Memorial - Provided: Statue details (Edward Onslow Ford, 1891), unveiling (Henry Irving, 1891), relocations, damage in WWII, current location outside Marlowe Theatre

5. Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_Christi_College,_Cambridge - Provided: Marlowe's matriculation (1580), BA (1584), MA (1587), anonymous portrait discovery (1952), plaque in Old Court

6. Canterbury Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury - Provided: City context, historical background, St George's Church connection

Unverified Claims (Require Additional Research)

• Exact wording and location of plaque at 47–49 High Street
• Details of local walking tours specifically focused on Marlowe
• Information about Marlowe's life in Canterbury after returning from Cambridge (did he visit family?)
• Local historical society events or lectures about Marlowe
• Specific archival records held at Canterbury Cathedral or local record office