| Page Views: 1,034 Last Visit to Rochester: April, 2006 | Rochester - Dickens stomping ground by nhcram - last update: May 3, 2006 |
| View over the River Medway |
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|  | A brief but informative day We thought it was about time we explored the city of Rochester.
It has so much to offer. A cathedral, a castle that is like a real castle should be because there are lots of uneven steps and you can go to the top and get magnificent views over the River Medway.
The city dates back to 43AD but is was after the Norman invasion in 1088 that it got its first stone castle. This was built on the remains of the old Roman fort.
The connection with Dickens is evident everywhere you go.
His family moved to Chatham near Rochester when his was five years old. After moving away from Chatham he later returned to Gads Hill place in Higham. (This is now a school.)
Many of the building in Rochester appear in his novels.
If he loved England then he must have adored Rochester to have spent so much time here and including it in so many of his novels.
Rochester has many festivals throughout the year. Summer concerts are held in the castle grounds. There is a Dickensian Christmas and the lamp light procession through the streets of the city every year. The main theme of the festival is the Dickens novel A Christmas Carol. There is also a festival in June, which celebrates his works. The city is very busy for the duration of the festivals so I recommend taking the train.
Our trip also took us to the tiny village of Cooling where Pip saw the graves of his five little brother in Great Expectations. An amazing part of Kent and where the books of Dickens seem to come alive. |
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| Pros: | "So much history and culture in one place." | | Cons: | "A little bit run down." | | In A Nutshell: | "A memorable place and worthy of a visit." |
nhcram's Rochester Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 8 - Photos: 12 | | | Restaurants
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 1 - Photos: 2 | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 nhcram's Rochester Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for nhcram about Rochester | | | | |
jumpingnorman Wed Feb 25, 2009 22:31 UTC
Nice photo of the Rochester Cathedral on your intro and great pics and tips=== also like the gravestones! I visit cemeteries during travels... Norman :) | HORSCHECK Tue May 22, 2007 21:24 UTC
Gorgeous little page. I especially find the Gravestones at Cooling tip interesting. | whitecliff62 Sun Apr 23, 2006 19:42 UTC
My work takes me to Roch quite a bit, but its the same old story, never got time to stop and look, shame really |
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