It proudly stands outside The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, which includes Canterbury Library and Museum, to celebrate the city’s passion for heritage and literature.
Her Majesty unveiled the sculpture on 25 February before being given a tour around The Beaney, including the Library and Museum.
Canterbury Beaney is delivered in partnership between Kent County Council (KCC) and Canterbury City Council.
KCC’s Head of Libraries, Registration and Archives James Pearson said: "Canterbury Beaney is a much visited destination and the Library stands as one of our most popular libraries in the county.
"It was such an honour to showcase these wonderful services to Her Majesty the Queen on Tuesday and for her to see what we do and the wonderful staff team who deliver our service every day.
"It is a cherished cornerstone of the community offering a warm and welcoming environment for people to sit, relax, read and learn."
Her Majesty the Queen talking to children in the library.
"It currently houses over 50,000 books including books about Aphra Behn and her works and this financial year the team have already delivered nearly 650 events, and support 27 reading groups.
"The service has recently introduced a collection of books in Ukrainian to support those who have temporarily relocated to Canterbury at such a difficult time for Ukraine.
"The modern Canterbury Library continues to evolve in step with the ever changing and diverse needs of the community – forever fostering a love for reading, community, connection to others, inclusivity and lifelong learning.
"It is a place where everyone is truly welcome."
Unveiling the statue of Aphra Behn
Her Majesty the Queen unveiling the statue.
Aphra (1640–1689) was baptised in Harbledown, just outside Canterbury, and spent her formative years in the city during the English Civil War.
She became one of the most popular playwrights of the 17th century.
The creation of the bronze statue by sculptor Christine Charlesworth followed an extensive period of research, consultation and fundraising.
After an international design competition, four shortlisted maquettes were toured across the UK and the public asked which they thought would be the most fitting memorial.
The design by Christine Charlesworth won the public vote.
The winning design presents Aphra as a 17-year-old, book in hand and theatrical mask behind her back, looking wistfully about her as she sets out for London with her family.
The statue has been given to Canterbury City Council, and therefore to the city, by the Canterbury Commemoration Society.
Her Majesty the Queen standing next to the statue of Aphra Behn.
The Queen’s visit celebrated the work both Kent County Council, and Canterbury City Council, undertakes around health and wellbeing.
The visit included:
- An Aphra Behn workshop with Year three children from St Peter’s Primary School
- A look around the library with a focus on community engagement, storytime with pupils from year three and four of Wickhambreaux Primary School volunteering, its collection of literature from Ukraine, and wise words for Wellbeing Creative Writing and Reading Well Group
- A look around The Beaney’s Curious Stories exhibition and the different ways of experiencing it with the Sensing Culture Visually Impaired Group and their assistance dogs and the Power of the Object Group which supports people living with dementia and their carers
- A performance of an excerpt from the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Behn’s play The Rover directed by Loveday Ingram
- A reading by Pilgrims Way Primary School pupil Ahmad Raza of his poem All About Me which won the five to eight-year-old category in the Canterbury Festival’s Poet of The Year competition
- A reading by St Anselm’s School pupil Emily Corbett of her poem Counting Stars which won the nine to 11-year-old category in the same competition
- A reading of a Behn poem by Gyles Brandreth, President of the Aphra Behn Society of Canterbury.
Her Majesty was also invited to view the first edition of Behn’s novel Oroonoko and meet its donor, Anna Astin, before signing the visitors’ book at the end of the visit.
Note to editors
Photographs are credited to Tim Stubbings.
