The Old Weavers' House
On Gingerguide's self-guided Canterbury audio tour, The Old Weavers' House is a stop worth about ~20 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Canterbury Canterbury guide
About The Old Weavers' House
A much-photographed Tudor timber-framed house leaning over the River Stour, named for the Huguenot and Walloon 'Strangers' who brought cloth-weaving to Canterbury in the 1500s.
The Old Weavers' House is a half-timbered, timber-framed building on the River Stour beside the King's Bridge, at 1–3 St Peter's Street. Its street-front fabric is largely 15th and 16th century, with later alterations, and it presents three gables to the street. It is named after the Huguenot and Walloon refugees, known as 'the Strangers', who settled in Canterbury from the 16th century and set up weaving workshops by the river.
Queen Elizabeth I granted the Walloon and Flemish weavers the right to establish their trade in the city, producing cloth such as 'bays and says' and grosgrains. A carved sign reads '1500', but this is decorative, and the building's direct link to working looms is a strong local tradition rather than firmly documented. It is Grade II* listed (as 'The Weavers') and today houses a riverside restaurant; boat trips on the Stour leave from beside it.
Did you know? The house is named for the Huguenot and Walloon weavers, known as 'the Strangers', who fled religious persecution and settled in Canterbury from the 1500s, reviving the city as a cloth town.
How much time do you need at The Old Weavers' House?
Around ~20 min works well for The Old Weavers' House — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at The Old Weavers' House?
Yes — The Old Weavers' House made the cut as one of 13 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Canterbury. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Canterbury
Day 1 of the Canterbury in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of The Old Weavers' House
Preview the Canterbury tour free in the Gingerguide app.