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Rochester is situated on the River Medway. It dates back many centuries and is intrinsically linked with the famous Victorian author, Charles Dickens, who lived in the area as a child and then later as a successful writer.
In 43AD, the Romans conquered England and turned Rochester into an important town and stronghold. Rochester Cathedral was founded in 604 and is the second oldest in England, after Canterbury (KArtsCon’s original home). In front of it is Rochester Castle, one of the tallest keeps in the country, built by the Normans on top of a Roman wall to defend the crossing of the Medway river.
It is impossible to talk about Rochester without mentioning Charles Dickens. He lived in Chatham as a child, and then returned to Gads Hill as an adult. He died while writing ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’, which, like many of his other novels, featured many buildings in Rochester that can still be seen today. Walk around the town and see blue plaques commemorating their appearance in a Dickens novel, or its role in his life. Among the buildings are the Guildhall Museum, the Six Poor Travellers House, Restoration House (home of Estella and Miss Havisham in ‘Great Expectations’), and even our venue, the Corn Exchange.
Rochester is full of quaint and independent little shops selling handmade items and foods, thus making it a worthy place to hold KArtsCon. There is no shortage of cafés, restaurants and pubs when you feel the need to refresh yourself.
Browse, do a walking tour, enjoy.
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