Rochester
Rochester photos (102 available)
Rochester maps (2 available)
Map of Kent
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
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Rochester books (30 available)
- 17 photos on Rochester appear in 6 Frith books - View photos of Rochester
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Rochester and Kent
Rochester memories
Read and share memories of Rochester and Kent inspired by Frith photos
Traffic Jams at Star Hill
I regularly went across this junction on the bus to and from home in Rochester and school at Chatham between 1955 and 1961. The Gaumont cinema was directly across the road from Bourne & Hilliers Dairy. I went to Saturday morning pictures, and ocassionally to the Victor Sylvester Ballroom Dancing classes, also at the cinema. Unlike the photo, Star Hill and the New Road were gridlocked morning and evening for the school run.
Contributed by Keith Mungham
Rochester Sweeps Festival and Whitethorn Morris
The Rochester Sweeps festival celebrates the traditional May Day holiday that chimney sweeps used to enjoy. It is a glorious mixture of dancing, music and dressing up with visitors from all over Britain bringing their entertainment to Rochester High Street each year. The festival attracts morris dancers and musicians who are delighted to perform in front of the huge crowds thronging the High Street. Most years the dancers from Whitethorn Morris join in the Rochester Sweeps Festival together with the Whitethorn Band of accordians, melodeons, fiddles and drums. Its a colourful display of red white and blue with lively music and always draws a crowd of onlookers all day long. Fortunately many of the dance venues arranged by the Festival organizers ...read more here
Contributed by John Howard Norfolk
M2 Bridge worker in St. Bart's Hospital
I remember being in St. Barts Hospital in 1961 or 1962, aged 11 or twelve, to have my appendix removed. At that time there was a construction worker recovering from a very serious injury received while working on the bridge. His whole arm had been removed, leaving him only his right shoulder.I met him during a mass held in the ward and he was amazingly cheerful and determined to stand and kneel as required by the service.
Contributed by Keith Mungham
Kent memories
Traffic Jams at Star Hill
I regularly went across this junction on the bus to and from home in Rochester and school at Chatham between 1955 and 1961. The Gaumont cinema was directly across the road from Bourne & Hilliers Dairy. I went to Saturday morning pictures, and ocassionally to the Victor Sylvester Ballroom Dancing classes, also at the cinema. Unlike the photo, Star Hill and the New Road were gridlocked morning and evening for the school run.
A memory of Rochester contributed by Keith Mungham
Extracts From Rochester & Kent books
Founded by the Romans, where Watling Street
bridged the Medway, Rochester has been
important for nearly 2,000 years. The
cathedral, founded in AD 604, is second only
to Canterbury in age. It was rebuilt by the
Normans, who also built the castle. The town
retains its ancient High Street, with many fine
buildings including College Gate. Charles
Dickens knew the city well.
An extract from from"Kent Photographic Memories".
Rochester Cathedral, founded in 604, is second only to Canterbury in age. It was rebuilt by the Normans, who also built Rochester's castle, from which we view the cathedral in this photograph. The central tower was rebuilt in 1904 and crowned with a spire.
An extract from from"50 Classics - Cathedrals".
This fascinating view of Rochester Cathedral was taken from the
castle. The central tower was rebuilt ten years later, and was crowned
with a spire. Beyond is a glimpse of the industrial Medway.
An extract from from"Kent Photographic Memories".
This Victorian boatman seems to be having problems managing his sails! There seemed to be a swell on the River Medway that day, but the photographer kept a steady hand to capture the imposing sights of the Norman castle and the cathedral. The city was known as the home of the novelist Charles Dickens, who died in 1870.
An extract from from"Kent Revisited Photographic Memories".
Here we see the three-masted barque ‘Akarod’. By the 1890s it was not just the hulls of merchant sailing ships that
were being constructed of iron or steel; many also carried steel masts, spars and fittings. Though there were many
advantages, there was one great disadvantage, in that these vessels required shipyard facilities for refits and repairs;
it was different in the days of wooden construction, when the crew would be capable of carrying out almost any type
of repair, even a refit, themselves.
An extract from from"Victorian and Edwardian Maritime Album".