Kent Map - South East England - Mapcarta South East England Kent Loading… Kent is the most south-eastern county of South-East England. Popularly known as the "Garden of England". The county council area does not include the Medway towns which are administered separately as a Unitary Authority, but form many purposes they are still considered to be part of Kent, and that is how they are treated here. Ramsgate is a seaside town in Kent close to Dover and Canterbury. Loading… Canterbury is a cathedral and university city in Kent, in the South East of England . Loading… Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in West Kent on the border with East Sussex , in the South East of England . Loading… Broadstairs is a popular coastal town in East Kent. The town lies above a harbour, historically known for smuggling. Loading… Sevenoaks is a town in Kent, in the South East of England . Sevenoaks is a fairly traditional market town, although these days, given its proximity to London , it is known largely as a commuter town. Loading… Folkestone is a town on the Kent coast, in the South East of England . Loading… Dover is a port in East Kent, in the South East of England .

Dover has been a permanent settlement since at least the time of the Romans, who were the first to record its presence, giving it the name Dubris. Loading… Maidstone is a town in Mid-Kent, in the South East of England . Loading… Gillingham is a town on the River Medway in the north of the English county of Kent. Loading… Rochester is a small cathedral city on the River Medway in the north of the English county of Kent. Loading… Margate is a town in Kent and sister town to Ramsgate . Margate is on the whole a rather depressing mixture of fading Georgian and Victorian seaside grandeur and squalid 'bedsit-land' although there are some pleasant residential suburbs. Loading… Tonbridge is a town in West Kent, in South-East England . Situated on the banks of the river Medway, Tonbridge has been a market town since the Earl of Gloucester was granted the right to hold a weekly market in 1259. Loading… Dartford is a town in Kent, England . Note that the Dartford tunnel and bridge are toll roads but do not have booths. Loading… Whitstable is a town in Kent, England .

Whitstable is located on the North Kent Coast. Loading… Faversham is a town in the English county of Kent, UK . The history of the town can traced back 2000 years to Roman times. Loading… Chatham is a town on the River Medway in the north of the English county of Kent, UK . Loading… Sandwich is a village in Kent. The Earl of Sandwich is noted for the 'creation' of the sandwich snack. Loading… Hythe is in the District of Shepway, in Kent. The main roads leading towards Hythe are the M20, which runs from the M25 via Maidstone and on to Ashford, and the A20 to Hythe . Loading… Latitude of center: 51° 11' 24" (51.19°) north Longitude of center: 0° 43' 48" (0.73°) east Average elevation: 25 meters (82 feet) Old English (ca.

450-1100): Cent Persian: کنت Medway - Maps and directions - University of Kent Maps and directions Medway Medway Kent's Medway campus is close to the towns of Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham. The region is steeped in history and rich in maritime heritage with Rochester's splendid castle and cathedral and The Historic Dockyard, Chatham. The area is in north Kent, just 40 minutes by fast train from London and 75 minutes by train from the Channel ports. Historic towns and villages in Kent England > Kent > Gazetteer of Towns and Villages Historic towns and villages in Kent This page Appledore - Chatham Appledore A village on the edge of Romney Marsh, Appledore overlooks the historic Royal Military Canal, built in 1804 as a measure against French invasion. The village used to be on the banks of the Rother, but the river changed course. An earlier waterway is the 13th century Rhee Wall, built to carry away silt from the marshes.

Appledore, Kent, England Ashford A market town in central Kent, Ashford was likely settled in the late 9th century, and was incorporated as a town in 1423. Ashford was the home of Jack Cade, leader of the uprising known as Cade's Rebellion. The parish church is largely 13th century, with 15th century additions. Ashford, Kent, England Aylesford Aylesford is a large village on the River Medway, accessed via a medieval five-arched bridge. There has been settlement here since Neolithic times, as evidenced by the long barrows of Kits Coty to the north of the village. Today Aylesford retains its historic core, but settlement has spread along the river in both directions, with railroad works and a busy shopping outlet bringing a modern bustle further from the historic centre. Aylesford, Kent, England Barfreston The village of Barfreston was a stopover place during the Middle Ages for pilgrims visiting the shrine of St Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. Today, this once important place is little more than a peaceful hamlet set in quite attractive wooded lanes and fields.

Barfreston, Kent, England Benenden A lovely Wealden village near Tenterden, with a long, broad village green where cricket is played in the summer. There are two excellent pubs, the Bull Inn and the Duke of Wellington, located near the large village green, which is lined with attractive half-timbered houses. At the top of the green is the parish church of St George. On the outskirts of Benenden lies Benenden girls school, begun in 1924, using the buildings of Hemsted House, a historic house built by the first Lord Cranbrook in 1857, on the foundations of a much, much older house. Benenden, Kent, England Biddenden A village famous as the birthplace of the Biddenden Maids, a pair of siamese twins who were joined at the hip and shoulder. Marie and Eliza Chulkhurst were born in Biddenden in 1100 and lived here to a respectable age (for that era) of 34. When they died they left 18 acres of land, the income from which was to provide an annual dole of bread and wine to the poor of the parish.

Biddenden, Kent, England Heritage Rating: ? Heritage Highlight: The 12th century Siamese twins called the Biddenden Maids are still remembered in the town sign, and the dole they established is still distributed annually A seaside town on the Isle of Thanet, in northeastern Kent, Broadstairs was settled as early as the Roman occupation. The village was initially a fishing port, but later became prosperous a centre of shipbuilding. Broadstairs, Kent, England Canterbury One of the most historic of English cities, Canterbury is famous for its medieval cathedral. There was a settlement here before the Roman invasion, but it was the arrival of St Augustine in 597 AD that was the signal for Canterbury's growth. Augustine built a cathedral within the city walls, and a new monastery outside the walls. The ruins of St Augustine's Abbey can still be seen today. Canterbury, Kent, England Charing A small village of attractive cottages and the remains of an 11th century palace used by the Archbishops of Canterbury. Charing was a stopover place on the major pilgrim trail to the shrine of Thomas a Becket at Canterbury.

The village has a wealth of historic buildings, and these are outlined in a Village Trail leaflet put out by the Charing and District Local History Society, and available at a number of local outlets. In addition, there is a village tourist map detailing many of these historic buildings. Charing, Kent, England Chatham An historic port town on the Medway River in eastern Kent, Chatham grew up around a naval dockyard. The dockyard was established by Elizabeth I in 1568 and closed in 1984. It is today one of the most popular visitor attractions in south east England. Chatham, Kent, England British History Quiz This first president of the Royal Academy was the foremost portrait painter of the late 18th century He founded the Literary Club, whose first members included Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burke, and dramatist Richard Sheridan This Day in British History 18 January, 1486 Henry VII marries Elizabeth of York Elizabeth is the daughter of Edward IV.

The marriage efectively united the Houses of York and Lancaster, ending the Wars of the Roses Monarch Mayhem This king led his troops at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743, the last English king to lead his men in battle He was followed to the throne by George III Marshside (Self catering) This delightful 18th century cottage is in the heart of the Kent countryside. This lovely Marshside cottage, near Herne Bay, can sleep five people in two bedrooms. Sleeps 5 This delightful detached cottage is situated in the small village of Lenham Heath in Kent, and sleeps four people in two bedrooms. Sleeps 4 Crown Inn A traditional village inn set in leafy grounds with easy access to local attractions and neighbouring business parks. The Crown Inn is Grade 1 listed 15th Century building, fully restored yet still retaining many original features. Brimming with history, the inn boasts visits from scores of glamorous stars of the … more >> More hotels in Kent >> The Bull Hotel The Bull first started trading under the sign of the Bull in 1385, and first licensed under Henry VII in 1495.

Since then the Bull has played its part in History, housing many a weary traveller. The Bull is now fully restored and marries the modern dcor within its original … more >> More hotels in Kent >> Rochester travel guide - Wikitravel 10 Get out Rochester is a small cathedral city on the River Medway in the north of the English county of Kent . Together with its neighbouring towns of Chatham , Strood , Rainham and Gillingham it forms a large urban area known colloquilly as the Medway Towns, or as the unitary authority of Medway (independent of Kent County Council). Rochester Cathedral viewed from the Castle Gardens Understand[ edit ] Rochester has a rich history, with links to many key periods of Britain's past. Rochester lies at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway, 30 miles from London. Charles Dickens[ edit ] Rochester has strong links to Charles Dickens, who lived and worked in the area and based many of his novels in and around Rochester. Many shops and businesses have Dickens related names, and buildings and places featured in his novels are well signposted and a favourite for tourists.

The town holds two Dickens festivals each year - 'The Dickens Festival', traditionally held over the May Bank Holiday over 3 or 4 days, and 'A Dickensian Christmas Festival' held at the beginning of December. Both attract large numbers of tourists from all over the world. Neighbouring Chatham houses the visitor attraction 'Dickens World'. Charles Dickens had wished to be buried in the churchyard at Rochester Cathedral. Instead, his body was buried in Poet's Corner inside Westminster Abbey. Rochester itself appears in the novels 'Pickwick Papers' and 'Great Expectations', as Dullborough Town in 'The Uncommercial Traveller' and as Cloisterham in 'Edwin Drood'. Dickens spent his final years at his home in Gads Hill, near to Rochester. He would often write in his Swiss chalet, in the gardens of his house. It was in this chalet that he suffered a stroke whilst writing the final chapters of 'Edwin Drood' - he died the following day, 9th June 1870. His chalet is now situated in the small garden behind Eastgate House, located on Rochester High Street. Tourists are not permitted inside, but can get fairly close to it.

Dickens sites[ edit ] Eastgate House on the High Street Restoration House, situated on Crow Lane (off the High Street) is also Satis House, the home of Miss Haversham, in Great Expectations Eastgate House, situated on the High Street features (as Westgate House) in Pickwick Papers and (as Nun's House) in Edwin Drood The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel, situated on the High Street. Dickens stayed here many times and the bed he used can now be seen in Bleak House in Broadstairs. The opening scenes of ‘Pickwick Papers’ take place in the Bull and Pip celebrates his ‘Great Expectations’ in the Blue Boar Inn aka the Bull. Chertsey's Gate, situated on the High Street, is the gatehouse home of Mr Jasper in Edwin Drood Monarchy[ edit ] Rochester has had many Royal visits and occaisions over it's long history. The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel Originally just called the Bull Hotel, it’s thought because bull-baiting tournaments were once held near-by, the coat of arms that adorns the front of the building is the Royal arms of George III.

Queen Victoria, while still Princess Victoria was travelling through Rochester in 1835 when a very fierce storm arose. It was feared that the old bridge would not withstand the hurricane-force winds and so Victoria and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, put up at the Bull for the night. It is said that the proprietor then named it after her. Only later was it discovered that in her diary she had written that it was the most uncomfortable bed in which she had ever slept! The current building dates from the late eighteenth century although there has been an inn on the site as early as 1555. In 1855, Victoria returned, accompanied by Prince Albert, to visit wounded Crimean War soldiers at Fort Pitt Military Hospital. Abdication House Best known to local residents as the Lloyds Bank Rochester High Street branch, a plaque on the façade of the building tells something of the colourful past of this building. It was here that King James II arrived in 1688 while escaping England during the revolution that saw him replaced on the throne by King William III and Queen Mary II Restoration House Named after the visit of King Charles II on the eve of his restoration.

Charles had landed in Dover on 25 May 1660 and by the evening of the 28th arrived in Rochester. He was received by the Mayor and eventually retired for the night to the home of Colonel Gibbon. The following day Charles continued to London and was proclaimed King on 29 May, his 30th birthday King Henry VIII The imposing fortress of Rochester Castle was where Henry VIII first met Anne of Cleves, his fourth wife, in the timbered "Old Hall", standing behind the castle on Boley Hill. Anne was taken there shortly after her arrival in England and paraded before the King at the Castle. Henry bitterly disappointed with Anne's looks called her his "Flanders Mare" and six months after the wedding, divorced her. Henry wanted several resting places when travelling through Kent and one of these was the Priory attached to Rochester Cathedral. Always fearing invasion, he constructed the first dockyard at nearby Chatham. Queen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth I came to Rochester in 1573, staying at the Crown Inn (still standing at the bridge end of Rochester High Street, albeit much changed).

She also stayed at the home of Richard Watts, Member of Parliament for Rochester and the founder of the Watts Charity that still runs today. Queen Elizabeth later built Upnor Castle to defend warships anchored on the River Medway. James I James I visited the city three times in the early 17th Century King George VI and Queen Elizabeth King George VI visited the Short Brothers Airplane Works on Rochester Esplanade with his wife the future Queen Mother in 1938 Prince Philip The Prince visited in 1984 to inspect improvements to Rochester High Street Rochester station building. The railway passes at first floor level on a viaduct. From London , take the A2 arterial road (32 miles / 51 km). From Canterbury , take the A2 and the M2 to Junction 3 for the Rochester exit (32 miles / 51 km, about 40 mins). Park and ride facilities are available on Saturdays only, see National Park and Ride Directory Rochester also has lots of car parks around the town, as well as parking for many coaches to house the tourists during peak season. The car parks are all pay and display.

By train[ edit ] Rochester Station is located at the end of Rochester High Street, to the east of Star Hill (about 100 m walk from the High Street) Trains are operated by SouthEastern From London Charing Cross (via Dartford ) (typical journey time 60 - 65 minutes) and Victoria (typical journey time 45 - 60 minutes). Trains from Ramsgate and Dover also serve Rochester, although in some cases it may be necessary to change at Chatham . The new Javelin high speed service operates every 30 minutes between Rochester and London St Pancras with a journey time of 35 minutes. There is a supplement for using this service unless travelling from outside of the London region. The station was opened in 1892 and has served Rochester ever since. The station features 4 platforms and has recently received a newly renovated ticket office and automatic barriers. Also in the station building (at ground level) is a taxi office and small shop selling snacks, drinks and newspapers. Access to the platforms is via the stairs or by lifts.

The London-bound platforms still feature much of the station architecture, shelters, iron work and buildings (public toilets and waiting room), but the coast-bound platforms are devoid of all period platform decoration with just the modern lift, staircase entrance and one small 90's era shelter. Over a million people use Rochester Station each year. There used to be a large and extensive network of sidings attached to Rochester Station, serving the various wharfs, industry and docks alongside Rochester riverside. During the 80's these industries began closing down, leaving the sidings obsolete. All the sidings have now been demolished and the former industrial area is now being redeveloped into a mix of residential and commercial use, although a very small amount of industry does remain. By River[ edit ] The River Medway used to have an established network of piers throughout the Medway Towns, allowing passenger services to operate, as well as other leisure based paddle steamers (with destinations in the local area, plus as far afield as Southend and Herne Bay, and other locations along the North Kent coast).

Today only the pier in Rochester at The Esplanade (privately owned) is operational (Strood Pier is now half demolished and Sun Pier in Chatham lost it's lower portion during a nasty storm in 2007), and it does serve a very limited number of services (all leisure based) per year. There have been efforts in the past to re-establish a river bus network, but none have proved commerically viable. On the 19th March 2013 a new scheme to rebuild the lower pontoon on Chatham's Sun Pier was announced. Medway Council have pledged £180,000 to restore the lost pontoon, which in turn could signal a rennaisance of river travel along the Medway, linking Rochester once more with Strood, Chatham, Gillingham, Medway City Estate, Chatham Maritime and Upnor. By Air[ edit ] Rochester (and the whole of Medway) is served by the small municipal Rochester Airport. The airstrip is at the very top of Rochester's borders, about a 10 minute drive from the town centre. Many small light aircraft use the strip, along with a flying school.

When established in 1933, the airstrip was used by the Short Brothers to develop their aircraft, and manufacturing was done on their works site along the Esplanade. Rochester became famous for the manufacture of Sea Planes and Flying Boats, often tested on the River Medway. During World War Two, the airstrip was heavily bombed. Get around[ edit ] Local buses are operated by Arriva, linking Rochester with the rest of the Medway Towns. Routes to Maidstone, Bluewater (Greenhithe) and West Malling are also available. [1] . Landmarks[ edit ] Rochester Cathedral [2] - free entry, although donations are encouraged. The second oldest cathedral foundation in England, after Canterbury . The Rochester diocese was founded by Justus, one of the missionaries who accompanied Saint Augustine of Canterbury to convert the pagan Southern English to Christianity in the early 7th century. As the first Bishop of Rochester, Justus was given permission by King Ethelbert of Kent to establish a church of St Andrew the Apostle. The cathedral suffered much from the ravaging of Kent by Aethelred of Mercia in 676.

So great was the damage that Bishop Putta retired from the diocese and his appointed successor, Cwichelm, gave up the see “because of its poverty”. Later, in 762, the local king, Sigerd, granted land to the bishop as did his successor, Egbert. The charter is notable as it is confirmed by Offa of Mercia as overlord of the local kingdom. Following the invasion of 1066, William the Conqueror gave the cathedral and its estates to his brother, Odo of Bayeux. Odo misappropriated the resources and reduced the cathedral to near-destitution. The building itself was ancient and decayed. The diocese is one of the smallest English dioceses and, sandwiched between London and Canterbury, has always been financially challenged. The situation could not last. Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury, amongst others, brought Odo to account at the trial of Penenden Heath c. 1072. Following Odo's final fall, Gundulf was appointed as the first Norman bishop of Rochester in 1077. The cathedral and its lands were restored to the bishop.

Gundulf's first undertaking in the construction of the new cathedral seems to have been the construction of the tower which today bears his name. In about 1080 he began construction of a new cathedral to replace Justus' church. He was a talented architect who probably played a major part in the design or the works he commissioned. Rochester Castle Rochester Castle, open daily 10am-6pm (April-September), 10am-4pm (October-March), last admission 45 minutes before closing, admission adults £4, child / student / concessions £3, family £11 - recognised as one of the best preserved and finest examples of Norman architecture in England, the great keep towering over the River Medway, square, massive and one of the tallest in the country, measures 113 feet high, 70 feet square and has walls 12 feet thick in places. Rochester Castle was originally a Roman castrum. A new castle was built on a hill near the site on which the castle now stands after the Norman invasion of 1066. This would have been a wooden motte and bailey type castle.

In 1088 the castle came under attack in the conflict between William Rufus and Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. After William the Conqueror died in 1087 Normandy was split. Odo along with many others supported William's elder brother Robert, Duke of Normandy rather than William Rufus, the Conqueror's younger brother. Odo had control of the castle and it became the headquarters for the rebels. The castle fell to Rufus' army and Odo was forced into exile. Gundulf, the bishop of Rochester, orchestrated the creation of a stone castle alongside the cathedral. Over the centuries the castle was the scene for many conflicts including King John's attempt to regain to castle from rebellious Barons and, in 1264, Simon de Montfort's rebellion. By the 17th century, the castle had become neglected, the keep had been burned out, and the site was being used as a local quarry for building materials. In 1870 the castle grounds were leased to the City of Rochester, who turned them into a public park and eventually, in the 20th century, responsibility for this imposing old structure was taken over by English Heritage.

Today, the castle stands as a proud reminder of the history surrounding the old town of Rochester, along with the cathedral, the cobbled streets and the Dickensian reflections. Museums, Galleries and notable buildings[ edit ] The Guildhall Museum - free entry, featuring permenant exhibitions based on Medway's history. Situated in an historic listed building, it was constructed in 1697 and has been part of the Guildhall Museum since 1979. (The museum extends to the building next door, built 1909. A notable feature is a weathervane dating from 1780 in the form of an 18th century warship. The Guildhall Chamber is said to feature in the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, and the museum includes a room dedicated to the author. The Six Poor Travellers House -a 16th-century charity house in Rochester, Medway, founded by the local MP Richard Watts to provide free lodgings for poor travellers.

Watts left money in his will for the benefit of six poor travellers, each of whom, according to a plaque on the outside of the building, would be given lodging and "entertainment" for one night before being sent on his way with fourpence.The house was the inspiration for Charles Dickens' short story "The Seven Poor Travellers" (with Dickens himself, as narrator, being the seventh traveller). Watts' benevolence and the Dickens story are remembered during Rochester's fancy dress Dickensian Christmas Festival, when a turkey is cooked and ceremonially distributed to "the poor" at the house.The house features restored small Elizabethan period bedrooms, along with a herb garden in the rear, and is open to the public from March through October Restoration House - Restoration House is a fine example of an Elizabethan mansion. It is so named after the visit of King Charles II on the eve of his restoration. Charles had landed in Dover on 25 May 1660 and by the evening of the 28th arrived in Rochester. He was received by the Mayor and eventually retired for the night to the home of Colonel Gibbon.

The following day Charles continued to London and was proclaimed King on 29 May, his 30th birthday. Restoration House is more famously known as 'Satis House', the home of Miss Haversham in Great Expectations. Although essentially a private home, the house and garden are open to the public during the summer. Chertsey's Gate - Chertsey's Gate was once part of the wall that separated Rochester Cathedral from the rest of the City. Made from patterned stone and flint, it dates from the early 15th century. The picturesque timber house on top of the gate was added in the 19th century. In Dickens', The Mystery of Edwin Drood, it is the house of Mr John Jasper. The Gate is named after Edmund Chertsey, and is also known as College Gate Festivals[ edit ] Rochester High Street The Sweeps Festival - Since 1980 the town has seen the revival of the historic Rochester Jack-in-the-Green May Day dancing chimney sweeps tradition, which died out in the early 1900s.

Whilst not unique to Rochester (similar sweeps gatherings were held right across southern England, notably in Bristol, Deptford, Whitstable and Hastings), the Rochester revival was directly inspired by Dickens' description of the celebration in Sketches by Boz. The festival has since grown from a small gathering of local Morris dance sides to one of the largest in the world. The current festival begins with the awakening of the Jack-in-the-Green ceremony, atop nearby Blue Bell Hill at sunrise on 1 May and continues in Rochester High Street over the May Bank Holiday weekend. The Dickens Festival - Rochester's largest annual festival, The Dickens Festival began in 1978 and has been held every year since. The festival is always held over the last weekend of May / early June - usually over three or four days. The event is a celebration on Dickens' links to Medway and features traditional Victorian costume, many people dressed up as Dickens characters, street entertainers, street food, markets and many other cultural events. The event attracts large crowds, both from the local area and tourists from around the UK, Europe and the world. The Castle Concerts - The Castle Gardens host this popular annual series of concerts over four nights during mid-July.

The event has attracted many major artists over the years, including Billy Ocean, Jools Holland, Steps, The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Squeeze, Peter Andre, N-Dubz, Status Quo, The Saturdays, Will Young and Alfie Boe. The 2013 series of concerts will feature The Wanted, Tony Hadley, ABC, Go West, the return of Status Quo and the (now) traditional Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra perfomance of rousing classical music alongside fireworks. Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival - this highly succesful event, a mix between the summer Dickens festival and a traditional European Christmas Market has been extremely poplular and has grown year on year since it's inception. It features the same things as the summer event, but with a large Christmas Market in the Castle Gardens, a snow machine and a wonderful festive feel. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Rochester High Street is notable for its many antiques stores. There are also a number of secondhand bookshops, notably Baggins Book Bazaar near the Guildhall Museum, which claims to be "England's largest secondhand and rare bookshop". [3] Over the last decade, the range of shops has greatly increased.

High Street offerings now include many one-off fashion outlets, homewares, fabrics, fossils, gifts and teddy bears. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] The Golden Lion (Wetherspoons), 147–149 High Street, Rochester ME1 1EL, 01634 880521. Wetherspoon pub with reasonable bar meals. A main course and a drink is generally under £10. The Eagle Tavern, 124 High Street Rochester, Kent, ME1 1JT, [4] . Friendly ran pub, nice food and wonderfull music. Live Music every weekend edit Pizza Express, 21-23 High Street, Rochester ME11LN. National chain of pizza restaurant. Good size, small amount of outdoor dining available in front of the restuarant edit Mama Mia, 4 High Street Rochester ME1 1PT. Delightful authentic Italian restaurant. Owned and run by Italians, this restaurant offers fantastic food in a lovely atmosphere. Check out the specials board. If visiting on a busy evening book ahead to avoid dissapointment. Small amount of outside dining available in front of the restaurant.

edit Thai Four Two, 151 High Street Rochester, ME1 1EL. Fantastic Thai restaurant in a beautiful old building full of lots of character. Owned and run by Thai people, with a great authentic menu. Mid price and good sized portions. Advised to book table ahead of visit. edit The Rochester Coffee Company, 89 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LX. Very professional looking independent Coffee House. Has a superb range of coffees and teas, as well as being licensed to sell alcohol. Nice range of snacks, pastries and cakes. Open until 8pm some nights, so a good alternative to pubs and bars. Limited amount of outside seating available overlooking the Catherdral from the High Street. edit The Singapora Lounge, 51 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LN. Stylish contempory dining and lounge bar, offering 3 Licenced Bars, 2 lounges, a dancefloor, a stunning garden and a secluded restaurant. The menu consists mostly of dishes from the Far East in bar snack, tapas or main menu format. edit The Crown, 2 High Street Rochester, ME1 1PT.

Large popular pub at the far end of the High Street (next to Rochester Bridge). Great affordable option for lunch or early evening dinner. edit Micawbers Fish Bar & Restaurant, 15 High Street Rochester, ME1 1PY. New (opened at the end of 2012) fish & chip restaurant and take-away. Traditional style. edit Cafe La Torretta, 32 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LD. Traditional Italian coffee shop, serving authentic Italian snacks and pastries alongside many imported coffees and other beverages. Venue is also licensed for those who desire alcohol. Also serves good quality ice cream. edit Mandaloun, 186 High Street Rochester, ME1 1EY. Lebanese restaurant. Large and modern with an authentic Lebanese menu. Lunch time specials available. edit Subway, 100 High Street Rochester, ME1 1JT. Popular sandwich chain. Large unit, but only has seating for 8. edit The Precinct Pantry, College Yard, 3 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LB. Small shop selling home-made sanwiches, cakes, ice creams and drinks. Outside seating available with good views of the castle and cathedral.

edit Topes, 60 High Street Rochester, ME1 1JY. Modern British restaurant in a beautiful old building. Popular and highly respected. Book tables well in advance. edit Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] The Crown Pub in Rochester The Eagle Tavern, 124 High Street Rochester, Kent, ME1 1JT,. Friendly ran pub, nice food and wonderful music. Live Music every weekend edit The Golden Lion (Wetherspoons), 147–149 High Street, Rochester ME1 1EL. Wetherspoon chain pub. Frequented by younger more rowdy drinkers on Fri/Sat evenings. See above for food details edit The Singapora Lounge, 51 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LN.. See above for dining options. Popular stylish evening drinking venue. edit The Two Brewers, 113 High Street Rochester, ME1 1JS. The Two Brewers is a traditional style public house dating back to 1683, situated in the High Street. Home to many gigs and performances from bands and vocalists. edit The Crown, 2 High Street Rochester, ME1 1PT.

Large popular pub at the far end of the High Street (next to Rochester Bridge). Very busy at weekends, with an additional upstairs bar used in peak trade periods. No beer garden, but plenty of space at the side and front for smokers and summer drinkers. Food also available. edit The Rochester Coffee Company, 89 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LX. Very slick independent Coffee House. Licensed to sell alcohol also. See above for more details. edit Cafe La Torretta, 32 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LD. Traditional Italian coffee shop licensed to sell alcohol. See above for dining options. Limited outside on-street seating is available. edit Ye Arrow, Boley Hill, Rochester ME1 1TE. Popular large pub just off the High Street by the castle. Hosts many gigs, open mic events and other musical evenings. Also serves food. Large ouside seating area overlooking the cathedral and castle. edit The Jolly Knight, 56 High Street Rochester, ME1 1LD. Traditional, established pub.

edit Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] Medway Manor Hotel Medway Manor Hotel, 14-16 New Road, Rochester, ME1 1BG 01634 847985. Located about five minutes walk up the hill from Rochester station. Ensuite single rooms from £45. The traffic outside can be noisey, so it may be better to ask for a room at the back, which also gives a better view. Holiday Inn Rochester, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME5 9SF, ☎ 0871 942 9069, [5] . checkin: 14.00; checkout: 12.00. The Holiday Inn Rochester is situated with easy access to all the main routes through Kent. The hotel has 149 well equipped bedrooms, a Leisure Club with gym facilities, swimming pool sauna and Jacuzzi. The Traders Restaurant is open to serve breakfast and dinner daily. edit Counties of England Counties in England Exploring the counties of England with history and pictures.

The history of the counties of England dates back to early Anglo-Saxon times when âshiresâ were first formed as a way of raising taxes and when the nation of England was first created. These Anglo-Saxon shires usually had a fortified town at the centre, known back then as the âshire townâ. The word âCountyâ came later, being first introduced by the Normans when they conquered England back in 1066 and has its origins in French, simply meaning a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a âCountâ. The words âcountyâ and âcountiesâ therefore are derived from French (from the Normans) but most of the county names themselves still kept (and retain today) their original Anglo-Saxon names, such as âWorcestershireâ or âBedfordshireâ which is simply the name of the shire or county town, with the suffix of shire.

There are other counties however that got their name differently, such as Cornwall, and Devon, both of which take their names from the Celtic tribes that inhabited the regions, such as the âCornoviiâ in Cornwall . Other exceptions include todays Kent, which derives from the Kingdom of Kent, and Sussex (both East and West) and Essex. These names derive from the East Saxons (Essex) and the South Saxons (Sussex). The county names of Norfolk and Suffolk, derive from the âNorth Folkâ and âSouth Folkâ of the ancient Kingdom of East Anglia. Each county link below will take you to the main county page where we list all the wonderful historic towns, villages and attractions that each county has to offer. You will also find a Picture Tour for each county, offering a diverse selection of the wonderful towns, attractions and varying landscapes. We hope you enjoy viewing the beautiful counties of England.. GenUKI - Kent Genealogy Towns & Parishes Kent This is a maritime county, and one of the most beautiful districts in this island; it includes within its boundaries numerous objects replete with interest, and towns of high importance, magnitude and beauty.

It is situated on the south-east extremity of Great Britain, opposite to France, from which it is distant (at its nearest point, Dover,) about twenty-four miles. Its figure is irregular, but approaches more to the trapezium than to any other. On the north it is bounded by the river Thames; on the east side, and part of the south, it opens to the German ocean and British channel; on the remainder of the south side it is skirted by Sussex , and on the west by Surrey . From east to west (i.e. from the North Foreland to Deptford,) it is about sixty-three miles in length; and in breadth, from the point of Dungeness to the North Foreland, nearly forty miles; while, from the central sides, it is not more than twenty-five wide. The ambit of the county is about one hundred and seventy-four miles; and its area comprises 1,537 square miles, or 983,680 statute acres. In size it ranks as the ninth county in England, and in population as the sixth -- Pigot & Co.'s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the county of Kent, September, 1839.

-- Facsimile edition (ISBN 0-9504069-5-3) � Michael Winton 1993 If you would like a longer quote, try this one from Bartholemew's . Return to County-wide index Archives and Libraries A good starting point is the web page for the Kent County Council Archive, Local Studies and Museums Service . These pages include the Centre for Kentish Studies in Maidstone and the East Kent Archives Centre in Whitfield, just outside Dover. For details of Canterbury Cathedral Archives see the Archives web pages on the Canterbury Catherdral site. For information on the area around the Medway Towns, have a look at Medway Council's CityArk site. Bibliography John Townsend deals in antiquarian books and specialises in genealogy books. His site is organised by county. Return to County-wide index Census Return to County-wide index Church Records 1840 Janet and Richard Mason have transcribed parts of the Pigot 1840 Directory .

Kelly's Directory 1936 Janet and Richard Mason are in the process of transcribing the 1936 Kelly's Directory for Thanet Other Historical Directories There is a terrific selection of local and trade directories spanning the period from 1750 to 1919 on the Historical Directories website . Genealogy Email lists As a general pointer to email lists covering this (or any other) county have a look at this list . RootsWeb supports three open lists covering Kent: Kent-Eng is the main RootsWeb list for Kent, covering the whole of the county.

Question: In which English county are the Medway Towns?
Answer: Kent