Rochester City and Castle

Despite living in Kent and London all my life, I had only been to Rochester once and never to the castle.  Younger Daughter has just finished making a lapbook about Knights and Castles so this was the right time to visit a castle.

Rochester is a walled city. Its cathedral dates from Saxon times although the nave appears to be the oldest part still in existence and dates from the times of the Normans.

Right next to the Cathedral is the Norman Castle. The main part still standing is the keep.

It was a bitterly cold and windy day. My children now have a very good understanding that living in a castle would not have been comfortable. 

The main walls are still standing but after years and three sieges  much of the interior is missing.

The walls have great slots which would have held floor boards.

It is easy to see why this castle was important: it guards the entrance to the river Medway.

Rochester, itself, is like many English cathedral cities, with a mishmash of architecture.

This house dates from the reign of Elizabeth I and is a charity for "poor travellers."

This is from the reign of another Queen, Anne.

Wonderful Victorian buildings.

Traditional weatherboarding.

Difficult to believe that we hadn't explored this historic city, so close to London, before.