A-Z of Rochester
Rochester, the city of Great Expectations, will not disappoint. The Romans thought it an ideal strategic place to build a bridge and the Normans followed, building a castle and an awe-inspiring cathedral — so why not cross this four-in-one bridge to see a Russian submarine, explore the Roman walls, climb to the top of the castle for a birds-eye-view of the town, or discover the delights and hidden stories in the cathedral?
Royalty also made their mark here. As well as a visiting queen or two, Rochester is in the unique position, apart from London, of being the only town to entertain a king on his way to reclaiming the throne and a later king on his way to exile on the continent. Restoration House and Abdication House, which is no longer standing, both have stories told within this book.
Charles Dickens fell in love with everything that Rochester has to offer. You can meander along the High Street following in his footsteps and spot the many references to his novels and characters. The impressive Guildhall has a magnificent Dickens museum and images of the great author can also be found in Eastgate House.
The festivals are the town’s highlights of the year which should not be missed. The Sweeps Festival held on May Day celebrates those brave, hard-working men and boys who were acknowledged by Dickens and who were only allowed this one day’s holiday a year; the Dickens Summer Festival includes a parade of Victorian-costumed characters, the women complete with parasols (although this has sadly been cancelled for the past two years, due to lack of funding); and likewise, the Dickens Christmas Festival with its candlelight parade evoking nostalgic times past.
This A-Z of Rochester has all the information you need. It covers places, people and history and will ensure you don’t miss a thing. It will certainly leave you asking ‘Can I have some more?’
Extract from the book:
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