Rochester is a Town in the county of Kent.
Rochester has a historic castle and cathedral. It has at times been a Saxon fortress and Roman garrison.
Today Rochester is a tourist destination, especially for those who wish to visit its famous castle.
Rochester’s history as a fortress dates back to the Roman period, when it was used as a base of supply and later as a safe haven along Watling Street by the Romans (documented in the Antonine Itinerary).
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral is the second oldest Norman cathedral in England. The first building was founded by Bishop Gundulf of Rochester, also known as St. Gunwald, in 1077 to replace a Saxon church built on the site of an earlier Roman basilica which had been burnt down. This burned down and was rebuilt between 1089 and 1093. The building we see today is mainly 13th century.
There are great places to visit near Rochester including some great towns, historic buildings, beaches, parks, museums, castles, shopping centres, cities, ruins, country parks, lakes, coastal parks and airports.
Faversham, Broadstairs, St Peter's, Ramsgate, Chatham, Margate, and Dover are some of Rochester best towns to visit near Rochester.
The area around Rochester boasts some of the best historic buildings including Nuckell's Alsmshouses, The Old Curiosity Shop, The Palace Cinema, Clock Tower Broadstairs, The Look Out House, Bleak House, and Home for Smack Boys.
There are a several good beaches in the Rochester area like Viking Bay, and Dumpton Gap.
Places near Rochester feature a number of interesting parks including Victoria Gardens.
Ramsgate Maritime Museum is a great place to visit close to Rochester if you like museums.
Rochester has some unmissable castles nearby like Dover Castle, Rochester Castle, Leeds Castle, and Tonbridge Castle.
The area around Rochester boasts some of the best shopping centres including Royal Victoria Place, and Bluewater Shopping Centre.
There are a number of cities near to Rochester including Canterbury.
Don't miss Tonbridge Castle's ruins if visiting the area around Rochester.
There are a several good country parks in the Rochester area like Haysden Country Park, and Barton's Point Coastal Park.
There are a number of lakes near to Rochester including Barden Lake.
Coastal Parks to visit near Rochester include Barton's Point Coastal Park.
There are a number of airports near to Rochester including Lydd Airport.
Rochester History
There are some historic monuments around Rochester:
Places to see near Rochester
History of Rochester
Rochester has produced two martyrs: St John Fisher, executed by Henry VIII for refusing to sanction the divorce of Catherine of Aragon; and Bishop Nicholas Ridley, executed by Queen Mary for being an English Reformation protestant. The city was raided by the Dutch as part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch, commanded by Admiral de Ruijter, broke through the chain at Upnor and sailed to Rochester Bridge capturing part of the English fleet and burning it. Rochester has for centuries been of great strategic importance through its position near the confluence of the Thames and the Medway. Rochester Castle was built to guard the river crossing, and the Royal Dockyard’s establishment at Chatham witnessed the beginning of the Royal Navy’s long period of supremacy. The town, as part of Medway, is surrounded by two circles of fortresses; the inner line built during the Napoleonic wars consists of Fort Clarence, Fort Pitt, Fort Amherst and Fort Gillingham. The outer line of Palmerston Forts was built during the 1860s in light of the report by the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom and consists of Fort Borstal, Fort Bridgewood, Fort Luton, and the Twydall Redoubts, with two additional forts on islands in the Medway, namely Fort Hoo and Fort Darnet.
