Unique Tours of Rochester

by an Experienced Guide and Local Historian

Planning to visit Rochester, Kent? Why not get the most out of your visit by booking a personal tour for you, your party, group or team? All ages can be catered for.

Cost? An agreed donation to the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance – why pay a commerical firm/rate when your commision could help a local charity?

Drawing material from old newspapers, learned books and research papers, I’ve gained a sense of bygone Rochester based on the experiences of those who lived or visited the City over the centuries.

Each tour lasts about 90 minutes – or the time of the slowest walker!

‘Available’ tours – which can be delivered as a talk/presentation.

1). Get to Know Rochester: A general tour making connections between Rochester and historical events of local and national significance: Henry VIII first saw Anne of Cleaves here at Rochester, and had it not been for the bequeath of Richard Watts, would St Barts have been built?

2). Life in Rochester during WW1: This was the first total war that was directly experienced by us at ‘home’. Previously soldiers went away to fight battles in other countries. During WW1 we were bombed and there was a canon in France that could shell us.

3). What the French did for us? in addition to building the Cathedral and Castle! Just think back to your courting days. When another showed ‘interest’ in the person you fancied you ‘upped your game’. Same between us and the French – when one achieved something the other tried to top it!

4). Dickens’ Rochester – a “dirty and disagreeable place” – where in 1854 the deaths of 10 people living on the high street was put down to the miasma (stench) from the local abattoir. Ever counted the number of boot-scrappers there are along the high street? This tour tells of a 19th century Rochester and makes connections with Dickens and with his novels.

5). A Dry Pub Crawl: offering insights into life in bygone Rochester told through events associated with existing and long gone pubs. Until the railway crossed the River Medway, Rochester to London took six or seven hours by stage coach. Rochester was therefore a conglomerate of ye olde travel lodges – and things happen in and around them!

6). A Meander Along the High Street – drawing on material from my various tours. This is a new tour rather like pop-stars releasing an album of their greatest hits!

A Talk: I can also give a talk on the life and times of Richard Watts – “A Man of his Time – A Charity of its Time” Locals maybe aware of the Six Poor Travellers’ House on Rochester High Street that was funded by the Will of Richard Watts. Fewer maybe aware that his Charity enabled the building of St Barts hospital and established what may have been the first District Nursing Service.

Gallery of Walks and Tours

*A Tour for Tour Guides* – *Life in Rochester during the Great War* / WW1

*A Tour for Cubs – Preparing for their Memorial Day March*

*Dogs are usually welcome on my tours – but please check first* – *not all have been as chilled as this one!*

*And a picture from my more youthful days!*

Compass didnt work amongst the megaliths so we followed the ley line!

My walks and tours are based on personal research making them quite unique. I’ve often compiled my research into books that have been sold to raise money for the cause I’m supporting.