Rochester has been around for centuries. Its two main attractions, the medieval Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral can attest to the fact. But historical records claim that this small town along the banks of the River Medway in Kent is much older than these two.
Nowadays Rochester is one of five towns comprising the Medway area : Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham. But it is mostly Rochester that foreign and local tourists visit during the summer months for the open air concerts in the castle grounds and Dickens festival and in December for the Dickens Christmas Market.
So, here is Rochester in pictures.
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A plaque on a centuries old wall in the
grounds of Rochester Cathedral showing the coat of arms
of what was then the City of Rochester
(© Jessica Hawkins)
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| The tower is what remained of the medieval Rochester Castle |
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| Rochester Cathedral viewed from a slight elevation at Rochester Castle |
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| Eastgate House from a different perspective. Built in the late 1590s by Sir Peter Buck, Clerk of the Cheque at Chatham Dockyard and is an excellent example of an Elizabethan town house. |
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A sign in Corporation Street welcomes visitors to the town. The building on the right
is a pub (public house)and restaurant named after one of Charles Dickens's books
"Great Expectations". As of this writing, it is being refurbished.
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| rare and antique books dealer shop in High Street |
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Buntings above High Street, on the left is the
pub (public house)and restaurant the George Vault and on the right are gift, souvenir and specialist shops.
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autumn trees and bench
on the road between the castle
and the cathedral |
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| an old door next to the cathedral gates |
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| displays in one of the gift shops |
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| flower shop |
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The Coopers Arms,the sign says: "Believed to be
the Oldest Pub in Kent".
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| Coat of Arms on Rochester Bridge |
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| Antique and collectibles |
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| Greengrocer in High Street across the cathedral |
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Sweet Expectations, some shops, public houses and restaurants
are named after characters or titles of books by Charles Dickens. The author had a very strong connection with Rochester;
having spent his early childhood in the town.
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A side gate at Rochester Cathedral
depicts the insignias of the British Armed Forces
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| tourist sign |
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| everyday street scene in the High Street |
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| Snowman by the entrance of an art gallery |
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| colourful candy store in the High Street |
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| display outside a novelty shop |
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local wine and gift packs
in Rochester's visitor centre
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| houses in the Esplanade along the River Medway |
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| Rochester Motorway Bridge over the River Medway |
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| hills along the Esplanade, overlooking the River Medway |
I hope you enjoyed viewing the images and that they gave you an idea of what a typical English town is like. Thank you for visiting. :-)
