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Rochester, Kent

Coordinates:51°22′30″N0°30′00″E/ 51.375°N 0.500°E/51.375; 0.500
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Rochester
Town
Rochester Cathedralviewed from the west at Castle Gardens
Rochester is located in the United Kingdom
Rochester
Rochester
Location within theUnited Kingdom
Population62,982 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid referenceTQ739684
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townROCHESTER
Postcode districtME1, ME2
Dialling code01634
Police
Fire
Ambulance
UK Parliament
List of places
United Kingdom
51°22′30″N0°30′00″E/ 51.375°N 0.500°E/51.375; 0.500

Rochester(/ˈrɒtʃɪstər/ROTCH-iss-tər) is a town in theunitary authorityofMedway,inKent,England. It is at thelowest bridging pointof theRiver Medway,about 30 miles (50 km) fromLondon.The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring townsChatham,Rainham,StroodandGillingham.Rochester was acityuntil losing its status as one in 1998 following the forming ofMedwayand failing to protect its status as a city, the first city to do so in the history of the United Kingdom. There have been ongoing campaigns to reinstate the city status for Rochester.[2][3]In 2011 it had a population of 62,982.

Rochester was for many years a favourite ofCharles Dickens,who owned nearbyGads Hill Place,Higham,[4]basing many of his novels on the area. TheDiocese of Rochester,the second oldest inEngland,is centred onRochester Cathedraland was responsible for foundinga school, nowThe King's School,in 604 AD,[5]which is recognised as thesecond oldest continuously running school in the world.Rochester Castle,built byBishop Gundulf of Rochester,has one of the best-preservedkeepsin either England or France. During theFirst Barons' War(1215–1217) inKing John'sreign, baronial forces captured the castle fromArchbishop Stephen Langtonand held it against the king, who then besieged it.[6]

As well as the historic centre, the suburbs ofBorstaland The Delce are also part of Rochester, forming part of theMedway Townsurban area with a population of about 250,000.

Toponymy

[edit]

TheRomano-Britishname for Rochester wasDurobrivae,later Durobrivis c. 730 and Dorobrevis in 844. The two commonly cited origins of this name are that it either came from "stronghold by the bridge(s)"[7]or is the latinisation of the British wordDourbrufmeaning "swiftstream".[8]Durobrivis was pronounced 'Robrivis. Later, the wordcæster(=castle, from Latincastrum) was added to the name, and the city was calledRobrivis Cæster.Bedementions the city in c. 730 and calls itHrofes cæster,mistaking its meaning as Hrofi's fortified camp. From this came c. 730 Hrofæscæstre, 811 Hrofescester, 1086 Rovescester, 1610 Rochester.[7]The Latinised adjective 'Roffensis' refers to Rochester.[8]

History

[edit]
Main article:History of Rochester, Kent
Eastgate House, Rochester, Kent

Neolithic remains have been found in the vicinity of Rochester; over time, it has been variously occupied byCelts,Romans,Jutesand/orSaxons.During the Celtic period, it was one of the two administrative centres of theCantiacitribe. During theRoman conquest of Britain,a decisive battle was fought at the Medway somewhere near Rochester. The first bridge was subsequently constructed early in the Roman period. During the later Roman period, the settlement was walled in stone.King Æthelberht of Kent(560–616) established a legal system which has been preserved in the 12th-centuryTextus Roffensis.In AD 604, the bishopric and cathedral were founded. During this period, from the recall of the legions until theNorman conquest,Rochester was sacked at least twice and besieged on another occasion.

Themedieval periodsaw the building of the current cathedral (1080–1130, 1227 and 1343), the building of two castles and the establishment of a significant town.Rochester Castlesaw action in the sieges of 1215 and 1264. Rochester's basic street plan was set out, constrained by the river, Watling Street, Rochester Priory and Rochester Castle.

Rochester has produced two martyrs:St John Fisher,executed byHenry VIIIfor refusing to sanction the divorce ofCatherine of Aragon;andBishop Nicholas Ridley,executed byQueen Maryfor being anEnglish Reformationprotestant.

Military history

[edit]
Rochester Castle from across theMedway(engraving, G.F. Sargent c. 1836)
Further information:The Nore

Rochester has for centuries been of great strategic importance through its position near the confluence of theThamesand theMedway.Rochester Castlewas built to guard the river crossing. In 1667, the city wasraided by the Dutch fleetas part of theSecond Anglo-Dutch War.The Dutch, commanded byAdmiral de Ruijter,broke through thechainatUpnor[9]and sailed to Rochester Bridge capturing part of the English fleet and burning it.[10]

TheRoyal Navy Dockyard's establishment atChathamwitnessed the beginning of theRoyal Navy's long period of supremacy. The town, as part of Medway, is surrounded by two circles offortresses;the inner line built during theNapoleonic warsconsists ofFort Clarence,Fort Pitt,Fort AmherstandFort Gillingham.The outer line ofPalmerston Fortswas built during the 1860s in light of the report by theRoyal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdomand consists ofFort Borstal,Fort Bridgewood,Fort Luton,and theTwydall Redoubts,with two additional forts on islands in the Medway, namelyFort HooandFort Darnet.

During theFirst World WartheShort Brothers'aircraftmanufacturing company developed the first plane to launch a torpedo, theShort Admiralty Type 184,at its seaplane factory on the River Medway not far from Rochester Castle. In the intervening period between the 20th century World Wars the company established a world-wide reputation as a constructor of flying boats with aircraft such as theSingapore,Empire'C'-Class andSunderland.During theSecond World War,Shorts also designed and manufactured the first four-enginedbomber,theStirling.

TheUK's decline in naval power and shipbuilding competitiveness led to the government decommissioning the RN Shipyard at Chatham in 1984, which led to the subsequent demise of much local maritime industry. Rochester and its neighbouring communities were hit hard by this and have experienced a painful adjustment to apost-industrial economy,with much social deprivation and unemployment resulting. On the closure of Chatham Dockyard the area experienced an unprecedented surge in unemployment to 24%; this had dropped to 2.4% of the local population by 2014.[11]

Civic history and traditions

[edit]

Rochester was recognised as a City from 1211 to 1998. The City of Rochester's ancient status was unique, as it had no formal council or Charter Trustees nor a Mayor, instead having the office of Admiral of the River Medway, whose incumbent acted asde factocivic leader.[12]

Since Norman times Rochester had always governed land on the other side of theMedwayinStrood,which was known asStroodIntra;before 1835 it was about 100 yards (91 m) wide and stretched to Gun Lane. In theMunicipal Corporations Act 1835the boundaries were extended to include more of Strood and Frindsbury, and part of Chatham known asChatham Intra.

Like many of the medieval towns of England, Rochester had civicFreemenwhose historic duties and rights were abolished by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. However, theGuildof Free Fishers and Dredgerscontinues to the present day and retains rights, duties and responsibilities on the Medway, between Sheerness and Hawkwood Stone.[13]This ancient corporate body convenes at the Admiralty Court whoseJuryof Freemen is responsible for the conservancy of the River as enshrined in current legislation.[which?]The City Freedom can be obtained by residents after serving a period of "servitude", i.e.apprenticeship(traditionally seven years), before admission as a Freeman. The annual ceremonialBeating of the Boundsby the River Medway takes place after the Admiralty Court, usually on the first Saturday of July.[citation needed]

Ecclesiastical parishes

[edit]
Arms of diocese of Rochester
For parishes in the wider Rochester area, seeStrood § Churches,andFrindsbury § The Church of All Saints.

There were three medievalparishes:St Nicholas',St Margaret'sand St Clement's. St Clement's was in Horsewash Lane until the last vicar died in 1538 when it was joined with St Nicholas' parish; the church's last remaining foundations were finally removed when the railway was being constructed in the 1850s.St Nicholas' Churchwas built in 1421 beside thecathedralto serve as a parish church for the citizens of Rochester. The ancient cathedral included theBenedictine monasticprioryofSt Andrewwith greater status than the local parishes.[14]Rochester's pre-1537 diocese, under the jurisdiction of the Church of Rome, covered a vast area extending into East Anglia and included all of Essex.[15]

As a result of the restructuring of the Church during theReformationthe cathedral was reconsecrated as theCathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Marywithoutparochialresponsibilities, being a diocesan church.[16]In the 19th century the parish of St Peter's was created to serve the burgeoning city with the new church being consecrated in 1859. Following demographic shifts, St Peter's and St Margaret's were recombined as a joint benefice in 1953 with the parish of St Nicholas with St Clement being absorbed in 1971.[17]The combined parish is now the "Parish of St Peter with St Margaret", centred at the new (1973) Parish Centre in The Delce (St Peter's) with St Margaret's remaining as achapel-of-ease.Old St Peter's was demolished in 1974, while St Nicholas' Church has been converted into the diocesan offices but remains consecrated. Continued expansion south has led to the creation of an additional more recent parish of St Justus (1956) covering The Tidewayestateand surrounding area.[18]

A church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin atEastgate,which was of Anglo-Saxon foundation, is understood to have constituted a parish until the Middle Ages, but few records survive.[19]

Governance

[edit]

On 1 April 1974, the City Council was abolished under theLocal Government Act 1972,and the territory was merged with the District of Medway,Borough of Chathamand most ofStrood Rural District,including the parishes ofCuxton,HallingandCliffe,and theHoo Peninsula,to form a new alocal government districtcalled theBorough of Medway,within the county of Kent.Medway Borough Councilapplied to inherit Rochester'scity status,but this was refused; insteadletters patentwere granted constituting the area of the former Rochester local government district to be the City of Rochester, to "perpetuate the ancient name" and to recall "the long history and proud heritage of the said City".[20]TheHome Officesaid that the city status may be extended to the entire borough if it had "Rochester" in its name, so in 1979, Medway Borough Council renamed the borough to the Borough of Rochester-upon-Medway, and in 1982, Rochester's city status was transferred to the entire borough by letters patent, with the district being called theCity of Rochester-upon-Medway.[12]TheAdmiralof the River Medway wasex-officioMayor of Rochester and this dignity transferred to the Mayor of Medway when that unitary authority was created, along with the Admiralty Court for the River which constitutes a committee of the Council.[21]

The Guildhall,Rochester

On 1 April 1998, the existing local government districts of Rochester-upon-Medway andGillinghamwere abolished and became the newunitary authorityofMedway.TheDepartment of Environment, Transport and the Regionsinformed the city council that since it was thelocal government districtthat officially held City status under the 1982 Letters Patent, the council would need to appointcharter trusteesto preserve its city status. However, no trustees were appointed and the city status was therefore lost when Rochester-upon-Medway was abolished as a local government district.[22][23][24][25][26]The incoming Medway Council apparently only became aware of this when, in 2002, it was advised that Rochester was not on theLord Chancellor's Office's list of cities.[27]

In 2010, Medway Council started to refer to the "City of Medway" in promotional material, but it was rebuked and instructed not to do so in future by theAdvertising Standards Authority.[28]Subsequently, Medway Council has applied for City status for Medway as a whole, rather than merely for Rochester. Medway applied unsuccessfully for City status in 2000 and 2002 and again in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year of 2012.[29]Any future bid to regain formal City status has been recommended to be made under the aegis ofRochester-upon-Medway.

The 2011 definition of Rochester includesStroodto the northwest and is defined as an urban subdivision with a 2011 population of 62,982.[1]Strood makes up the majority of Rochester's population on the west bank of the river, making the town of Rochester itself on the east bank actually smaller and less populated than its neighbouring town; should the two towns ever separate Strood would be the larger of the two.

Lauren EdwardsMPis the current Labour parliamentary representative forthe constituency.

Geography

[edit]
Further information:Geography of Kent

Rochester lies within the area, known togeologists,as theLondon Basin.The low-lyingHoo peninsulato the north of the town consists ofLondon Clay,and thealluviumbrought down by the two rivers—theThamesand theMedway—whose confluence is in this area. The land rises from the river, and being on the dip slope of theNorth Downs,this consists ofchalksurmounted by the Blackheath Beds of sand and gravel.

As ahuman settlement,Rochester became established as the lowest river crossing of the River Medway, well before the arrival of the Romans.

It is a focal point between two routes, being part of the main route connecting London with the Continent and the north-south routes following the course of the Medway connectingMaidstoneand theWeald of Kentwith the Thames and the North Sea. The Thames Marshes were an important source ofsalt.Rochester's roads follow north Kent's valleys and ridges of steep-sidedchalkbournes.There are four ways out of town to the south: up Star Hill, viaThe Delce,[30]along the Maidstone Road or throughBorstal.The town is inextricably linked with the neighbouringMedway Townsbut separated fromMaidstoneby a protectiveridgeknown as theDowns,a designatedarea of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

At its most limited geographical size, Rochester is defined as the market town within thecity walls,now associated with the historic medieval city. However, Rochester historically also included the ancientwardsof Strood Intra on the river's west bank, and Chatham Intra as well as the three oldparisheson the Medway's east bank.

Thediocese of Rochesteris another geographical entity which can be referred to as Rochester.

Climate

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Rochester has anoceanic climatesimilar to much of southern England, being accordedKöppen Climate Classification-subtypeof "Cfb"(Marine West Coast Climate).[31]

On 10 August 2003, neighbouringGravesendrecorded one of the highest temperatures since meteorological records began in theUnited Kingdom,with a reading of 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit),[32]only beaten byBrogdale,nearFaversham,22 miles (35 km) to the ESE.[33]The weather station at Brogdale is run by a volunteer, only reporting its data once a month, whereasGravesend,which has an official Met Office site at the PLA pilot station,[34]reports data hourly.

Being near the mouth of the Thames Estuary with the North Sea, Rochester is relatively close tocontinental Europeand enjoys a somewhat less temperate climate than other parts of Kent and most of East Anglia. It is therefore less cloudy, drier and less prone toAtlanticdepressionswith their associated wind and rain than western regions of Britain, as well as being hotter in summer and colder in winter. Rochester city centre's micro-climate is more accurately reflected by these officially recorded figures than by readings taken at Rochester Airport.[35]

North andNorth West Kentcontinue to record higher temperatures insummer,sometimes being the hottest area of the country,eg.on the warmest day of 2011, when temperatures reached 33.1 degrees.[36]Additionally, it holds at least two records for the year 2010, of 30.9 °C[37]and 31.7 °C.[38]Another record was set during England's Indian summer of 2011 with 29.9 °C, the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK for October.

Climate data for Stanford-le-Hope (nearest climate station to Gravesend) 1981–2010
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.9
(46.2) 		8.0
(46.4) 		10.9
(51.6) 		13.2
(55.8) 		16.8
(62.2) 		19.9
(67.8) 		22.1
(71.8) 		22.2
(72.0) 		19.4
(66.9) 		15.2
(59.4) 		10.8
(51.4) 		8.1
(46.6) 		14.5
(58.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.2
(36.0) 		1.6
(34.9) 		3.3
(37.9) 		4.7
(40.5) 		7.5
(45.5) 		10.5
(50.9) 		13.0
(55.4) 		12.5
(54.5) 		10.3
(50.5) 		7.4
(45.3) 		4.4
(39.9) 		2.4
(36.3) 		6.7
(44.0)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 47.9
(1.89) 		36.7
(1.44) 		37.6
(1.48) 		40.9
(1.61) 		48.0
(1.89) 		41.1
(1.62) 		52.5
(2.07) 		44.8
(1.76) 		45.5
(1.79) 		64.9
(2.56) 		57.8
(2.28) 		53.8
(2.12) 		571.5
(22.51)
Mean monthlysunshine hours 60.0 77.7 113.4 161.5 194.3 198.7 208.7 195.5 151.1 117.9 74.0 48.6 1,601.4
Source:Met Office

Buildings

[edit]

Rochester comprises numerous important historic buildings, the most prominent of which are theGuildhall,theCorn Exchange,Restoration House,Eastgate House, as well asRochester CastleandRochester Cathedral.Many of the town centre's old buildings date from as early as the 14th century up to the 18th century. ThechapelofSt Bartholomew's Hospitaldates from the ancient priory hospital's foundation in 1078.

In the 21st century the Riverside area north of the railway line has been redeveloped to provide new housing and a primary school.[39]

Economy

[edit]
See also:Chatham Dockyard
Rochester High Street

Thomas Aveling started a small business in 1850 producing and repairingagricultural plant equipment.In 1861 this became the firm ofAveling and Porter,which was to become the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery andsteam rollersin the country.[40]Aveling was elected Admiral of the River Medway (i.e. Mayor of Rochester) for 1869-70.

Tourism is now a sector.[41]

Culture

[edit]

Sweeps Festival

[edit]

Since 1980 the city has seen the revival of the historic RochesterJack-in-the-GreenMay Daydancingchimney sweepstradition, which had died out in the early 1900s. Though not unique to Rochester (similar sweeps' gatherings were held across southern England, including in Bristol, Deptford, Whitstable and Hastings), its revival was directly inspired by Dickens' description of the celebration inSketches by Boz.

The festival has since grown from a small gathering of localMorris dancesides to one of the largest in the world.[42]The festival begins with the "Awakening of Jack-in-the-Green" ceremony,[43]and continues in Rochester High Street over the MayBank Holidayweekend.

There are numerous other festivals in Rochester apart from the Sweeps Festival. The association with Dickens is the theme for Rochester's two Dickens Festivals held annually in June and December.[44]The Medway Fuse Festival[45]usually arranges performances in Rochester and the latest festival to take shape is the Rochester Literature Festival, the brainchild of three local writers.[46]

Library

[edit]

A newpublic librarywas built alongside the Adult Education Centre, Eastgate. This enabled the registry office to move from Maidstone Road, Chatham into the Corn Exchange on Rochester High Street (where the library was formerly housed). As mentioned in a report presented to Medway Council'sCommunity Services Overview and Scrutiny Committeeon 28 March 2006, the new library opened in late summer (2006).[47]

Huguenot Museum

[edit]

A new Huguenot Museum, which includes items from the collections of theFrench Hospital,was opened in Rochester on 13 May 2015, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and individual donations.[48]

Theatre

[edit]
Sweeps festival in 2006

There is a small amateur theatre, Medway Little Theatre, on St Margaret's Banks, Rochester High Street (the part of the High Street that continues from Star Hill towards Chatham) and just opposite the former railway station.[49]Converted from a building which in its almost 200-year history had been, amongst other things, a wine merchants, warehouse and printing works the theatre's first season was in 1958. Since then hundreds of plays have been presented ranging from Shakespeare to Ayckbourn, modern classics to timeless farces along with many plays presented for the first time in the Medway Towns and, indeed, Kent. Medway Little Theatre also has a thriving youth company and a children's workshop for younger people. Every summer the Duncan Rand One-Act Play Festival (named after one of Medway Little Theatre's founders) attracts groups from far and wide.[50][51]

Media

[edit]

Local newspapers for Rochester include theMedway Messenger,published by theKM Group,and free papers.

The local commercialradio stationfor Rochester isKMFM Medway,owned by the KM Group. Medway is also served by community radio stationRadio Sunlightwhich is now an online service. The area also receives broadcasts from county-wide stationsBBC Radio Kent,Heart,GoldandSmooth,as well as from variousEssexandGreater Londonradio stations.[52] Rochester is part of theITV MeridianandBBC South Eastarea, receiving television signals from theBluebell Hilltransmitter on the crest of theNorth Downsto the SE, supplemented by a low power relay transmitter in central Chatham.

Sport

[edit]

Footballis played with many teams competing in Saturday and Sunday leagues.[53]The local football club isRochester United F.C.Rochester F.C. was its old football club but has been defunct for many decades.Rugbyis also played;Medway RFCplay their matches at Priestfields andOld Williamsoniansis associated withSir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School.[54]

Cricketis played in the town, with teams entered in theKent Cricket League. Holcombe Hockey Clubenter teams in both theMen'sandWomen's England Hockey Leagues.[55][56]Speedwaywas staged on a track adjacent to City Way that opened in 1932. Proposals for a revival in the early 1970s did not materialise and theRochester Bombersbecame theRomford Bombers.[57]

Sailing and rowing are also popular on the River Medway with respective clubs being based in Rochester.[58][59]

Film

[edit]

The 1959James BondnovelGoldfingerdescribes Bond driving along theA2through the Medway Towns from Strood to Chatham. Of interest is the mention of "inevitable traffic jams" on theStroodside ofRochester Bridge,the novel being written some years prior to the construction of theM2 motorwayMedway bypass.

Rochester is the setting of the controversial 1965Peter Watkinstelevision filmThe War Game,which depicts the town's destruction by a nuclear missile.[60]The opening sequence was shot inChatham Town Hall,but the credits particularly thank the people ofDover,GravesendandTonbridge.

The 2011 adventure filmIroncladis based upon the1215 siege of Rochester Castle.There are howeverareas where the plot differs from accepted historical narrative.

A scene in the 2001 filmLast Orders,starring Bob Hoskins and Tom Courtenay, was filmed in Rochester High Street.[61]

Notable people

[edit]
Charles Dickens

The historic city was for many years the favourite ofCharles Dickens,who lived within the diocese at nearbyGads Hill Place,Higham,many of his novels being based on the area. Descriptions of the town appear inPickwick Papers,Great Expectationsand (lightly fictionalised as "Cloisterham" ) inThe Mystery of Edwin Drood.Elements of two houses in Rochester, Satis House andRestoration House,are used forMiss Havisham's house inGreat Expectations,Satis House.[62]

Edmund of Hadenham

A monk of Rochester,Edmund of Hadenham(fl.1307) was an English chronicler.

John Stevens Henslow

The priest, botanist and geologistJohn Stevens Henslow(1796–1861) was born in Rochester.

Dame Sybil Thorndike and Russell Thorndike

The actress DameSybil Thorndikeand her brotherRussellwere brought up in Minor Canon Row adjacent to the cathedral; the daughter of acanonof Rochester Cathedral, she was educated atRochester Grammar School for Girls.A local doctors' practice,[63]local dental practice[64]and a hall at Rochester Grammar School are all named after her.[65]

Sir Peter Buck

Sir Peter BuckwasAdmiral of the Medwayin the 17th century;knightedin 1603 he andBishop BarlowhostedKing James,theStuart royal familyand theKing of Denmarkin 1606. Acivil servanttoThe Royal DockyardandLord High Admiral,Buck lived atEastgate House, Rochester.

Denis Redman

Major-GeneralDenis Redman,aWorld War IIveteran, was born and raised in Rochester and later became a founder member ofREME,head of his Corps and aMajor-General in the British Army.

Kelly Brook

Themodeland actressKelly Brookwent to Delce Junior School in Rochester and later theThomas Aveling School(formerly Warren Wood Girls School).

Education

[edit]
For a full list of schools serving Rochester, seeList of schools in Medway.

Medway council run aselective system of education,similar to other local authorities in Kent, but call theirsecondary modern schoolssecondary schools.Almost all secondary schools in Rochester have opted foracademystatus.

In 1701,Sir Joseph Williamsonleft a bequest to establish theMathematical School,a boys' grammar school, also referred to either asRochester MathorThe Math School.Unlike earlier educational foundations, such asThe King's School,it was not tied to a religious establishment, but was opened for practical instruction of boys in navigation and mathematics.

TheUniversity for the Creative Arts,formerly theKent Institute of Art & Design,is located on the boundary of Rochester with Chatham.[66]

Transport

[edit]
The oldRochester Station(overground):
the rail tracks run along aviaduct.
Road

Rochester is on theA2,which crosses the Medway atRochester Bridge– the route roughly follows theancient roadknown asWatling Street,first paved by the Romans, but used by earlier Britons for centuries before the Roman invasion. Nowadays vehicular traffic is largely diverted onto the nearbyM2 motorway. Watling Streetpasses through the town, and slightly to the south both theM2 motorwayand theHigh Speed 1railway line bridge theRiver Medway.

Bus

Bus services are operated byArriva Southern Counties,which took over the locally ownedMaidstone & Districtbus company in the 1990s. Other local bus companies including Nu-Venture provide certain services, some contracted from the local council.

Rail
Medway Towns Rail
Legend
High Speed 1
toLondon St Pancras
Chatham Main Line
toLondon Victoria
North Kent Line
toLondon Charing Cross
Bromley South
Dartford
London Boro' of Bromley
Borough of Dartford
Ebbsfleet
International
Longfield
Borough of Dartford
Borough of Gravesham
Borough of Dartford
Borough of Gravesham
Meopham
Gravesend
Sole Street
Hoo Junction
Staff Halt
Borough of Gravesham
Borough of Medway
The
Hundred of
Hoo Railway
Medway Valley Line
toMaidstone
Higham
Halling
Borough of Gravesham
Borough of Medway
Cuxton
Higham and
Strood Tunnels
3931 yd
3595 m
High Speed 1
M2 motorway
Strood
(Old Terminus)
 Strood
Rochester
Bridge
(LCDR)
River Medway
Rochester Bridge
Goods station
Rochester Common
Rochester
Chatham Central
Fort Pitt Tunnel
428 yards (391 m)
River Medway
 Chatham
Chatham Tunnel
297 yards (272 m)
Gillingham Tunnel
897 yards (820 m)
Gillingham
toChatham Dockyard
Gillingham EMU depot
Rainham
Chatham Main Line
toDover&Ramsgate

Rochester railway stationis on theChatham Main Lineand theNorth Kent Line.High speed services toSt Pancrasin London run via the North Kent Line with a junction east ofEbbsfleet Internationalgiving a journey time of slightly under 40 minutes.[67]All railway services are provided bySoutheastern.

Air

Rochester Airportbegan in September 1933 when Rochester City Council purchased some land as the site for a municipalairport.One month later the aircraft manufacturersShort Brothersleased the land for test flying. By 1934–5 Short Brothers had taken over the site, and moved in some of their personnel from the existingseaplaneworks. The inaugural flight into Rochester was fromGravesend,John Parker flying the Short BrothersShort ScionG-ACJI.

In 1979 the lease reverted to the City Council. After giving thorough consideration to closing the airport,GEC(then comprisingMarconiand instrument makersElliot Automation) decided to take over management of the airport. It maintained two grasslanding stripswhile releasing some land for light industrial expansion.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Marsh, Ronald (1974).Rochester: the evolution of the city and its government.Rochester: Rochester City Council.ISBN0904317005.
  • Smith, F. F. (1928).A History of Rochester.London: C. W. Daniel.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abUK Census(2011)."Local Area Report – Rochester Built-up area sub division (E35001444)".Nomis.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved9 August2020.
  2. ^"Error costs Rochester city status".BBC.16 May 2002.Retrieved10 July2021.
  3. ^Edwards, Jade."Medway announces intention to enter Her Majesty The Queen's city status competition".Medway Council.Retrieved10 July2021.
  4. ^"Gads Hill Place - Discover Gravesham".www.discovergravesham.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2016.Retrieved28 December2014.
  5. ^"King's Rochester - First Rate Independent Education".www.kings-rochester.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2017.Retrieved28 December2014.
  6. ^"English Heritage Rochester Castle".English-heritage.org.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 5 March 2010.Retrieved1 September2010.
  7. ^abThe Place names of Kent. Judith Glover. 1976 Batsford. 1982 Meresborough Books.ISBN0-905270-61-4
  8. ^abKelly's Directory of Rochester 1951.
  9. ^"Fortified Places > Fortresses > Upnor Castle".www.fortified-places.com.Archivedfrom the original on 10 February 2015.Retrieved21 December2014.
  10. ^The Dutch Raid,published by the City of Rochester Society 1998.
  11. ^"Chatham Dockyard closure 'very positive for the area'".BBC News.31 March 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2017.Retrieved21 June2018.
  12. ^ab"No. 48875".The London Gazette.28 January 1982. p. 1173.Publishing Letters Patent dated 25 January 1982, text also available fromMedway Council archives websiteArchived27 June 2007 at theWayback Machine
  13. ^[1][dead link]
  14. ^"Houses of Benedictine monks: The cathedral priory of St Andrew, Rochester - British History Online".www.british-history.ac.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2014.Retrieved22 December2014.
  15. ^www.churchofengland.orgArchived21 November 2014 at theWayback Machine
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