Rochester is located on the banks of the river Medway between Strood and Chatham. If your interests include history, architecture or maybe you just like to browse through antique shops this is the place for you.
Rochester's quaint high street is lined with period buildings many being shops, tea rooms and restaurants. The Victorian period is most obvious but explore and you will discover that Rochester's history goes far back.
Rochester castle was first raised in 1086 at the time of the Norman Conquest. Between 1087-89 King William Rufus ordered bishop Gundulf of Rochester to rebuild the earlier fortification. This new construction was one of the earliest castles in this country to be fortified in stone.
There has been a Cathedral in Rochester since 604 AD. The present building dates back to work by bishop Gundulf around 1080. Fires destroyed the wooden roof of the nave and damaged the quire in 1137 and 1179.Then in 1642 Cromwell's soldiers left the cathedral in need of major renovations. But with all the destruction throughout the centuries Rochester cathedral is still one of the most attractive and interesting cathedrals in the country.
Charles Dickens first moved to Chatham with his parents in 1817. They lived there until 1822 when they moved to London because of his fathers increasing debts. In his short stay in Chatham Charles fell in love with Gad's Hill. His father told him, if he worked hard one day he might even come to live there.
In 1856 Charles childhood dream came true and he bought Gad's Hill. In 1864 Dickens was given a Christmas gift from a french actor called Mr Fetcher. The gift was a full size Swiss chalet, which Charles had erected in the grounds of Gad's Hill. The two roomed chalet became Charles's hideaway where he wrote Our Mutual Friend.
The chalet was moved later to the grounds of Eastgate House in Rochester high street.
Charles Dickens died in 1870 and was buried at Poets Corner Westminster Abbey.
There is always something going on in Rochester from early spring right up to Christmas. Sweeps festival starts the celebrations in early may and the Christmas Dickens festival finishes the year in December.
