Charles Dickens & Rochester Dickens Festival Rochester Guildhall Restoration House

Restoration House, Charles II & Great Expectations Dickens

Restoration House in Rochester was so called because it played host to Charles II pre-the Restoration of the monarchy, Charles II stayed in the house on 28/29 May 1660 whilst moving up from Dover to London having spent 15 years in exile. The Kings Room inside has a convenient exit shaft adjacent. Beautifully conserved and furnished to period, the house is an architectural gem with elaborate original ceiling plasterwork, original floors, wood panelled walls and stunning fireplaces. Samuel Pepys was another celebrity guest, staying in the house on the 30th June 1667. Charles Dickens found it inspirational indeed, using it as the model for Satis House - Miss Havisham's house in Great Expectations. Apparently he was seen leaning against the property's main gates on the day before he died - no doubt musing over using it again in his last unfinished work The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

The house is thought to have been built between 1580 and 1600, and is actually two medieval houses combined in the late 16th/early 17th century to form one large mansion house. Strong Royalist links were set in motion by first owner Henry Clerke, who together with his son, served as Royalist members of parliament. During the English Civil War the house was taken over by Cromwell's forces, specifically Cromwell's commander in the South East Colonel Gibbon.

Some fascinating work done in preparation for the stay of Charles II on route to London has been uncovered fairly recently by the current owners. These include the insertion of French doors and various paint effects, the style of the period brought over from elsewhere in a context of Cromwelian suppression of innovation. These features are particularly interesting viewing during the tour, alongside the extensive walled garden around the house covering three quarters of an acre! Fascinating for its architectural detail and with links to Dickens and Charles II, a further bonus inside the house is a superb collection of artworks on display inside. Highlights include numerous lesser known works by Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney portraits, a selection of Joshua Reynolds and work by Constable. The focus of this collection, accumulated over 20 years by the present owners, is English Primitives, early portraits and English landscape. Gainsborough, Reynolds and Romney fans won't want to miss a viewing of this outstanding collection which sits perfectly in this historic house.

Restoration House, 17-19 Crow Lane, Rochester, Kent. ME1 1RF. Tel. 01634 848520. Opening times are over the Summer period only, on Thursday & Friday, 10-5pm, 29th May to 26th September 2008. Find Crow Lane just off Rochester's High Street. Ample pay and display parking is nearby.

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Guildhall Museum & Charles Dickens Festival Rochester

Much of Dickensian London was obliterated during the bombing of the 2nd World War, but old Dickensian Rochester remains, making it a particularly special pilgrimage for Dickens fans. Visit Restoration House, which not only has Dickens' links as the 'Miss Havisham' Satis House of Great Expectations but also played host to Charles II on-route to London to reclaim the throne. Other pertinent Dickens buildings and landmarks are numerous in Rochester, most of which are marked by plaques. Examples include the Six Poor Travellers House (The Seven Poor Travellers in Dickens' Christmas Story) and Rochester Castle, Cathedral and Eastgate House all mentioned in Pickwick Papers.

The Guildhall in Rochester, now a museum, gets a mention too in Great Expectations. Within this superb local Medway history museum you'll find the Dickens Discovery Room. This fine civic building is one of Kent's best, dating from 1687. The amazing roof-top weather vane has stood since 1780. Note also inside the spectacular staircase and ceilings and the elegant Guildhall Chamber on the first floor which stands as one of the finest 17th century civic interios in Kent. The Chamber was featured by Charles Dickens in his novel 'Great Expectations'. The Dickens Discovery room contains a special Dickens exhibition with personal Dickens items on display, touch screens, film show and Charles Dickens memorabilia. The exhibit focuses on Dickens' links with the Medway area.

Guildhall Museum & Dickens Discovery Room, High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PY. Tel. 01634 848717. Open daily 10am to 4.30pm. Closed Mondays,

Gad's Hill Place, Dickens' last house where he lived from 1856 until his death in 1870, sits in nearby Higham and is now an independent school, so unfortunately not generally open to the public (Tel. 01634 318825 for details). The Dickens annual festival in Rochester however is certainly a big public affair, kicking off annually at the end of May/beginning of June. Daily parades in Victorian dress, rides on the Kingswear Castle Paddle Steamer, quizes, stalls and fairs, walking tours and more all form part of this premier Dickens festival. Well worth being in Rochester around this time of year for all things Dickens. See the Offiicial Medway Tourist webguide right for details. The Six Poor Travellers House on High Street, immortalised by Dickens in his Christmas short story 'The Seven Poor Travellers' is free to enter. Originally a Tudor charity house dating from 1563 and founded by Richard Watts the local MP, the house offered free lodging to poor travellers. Open from March to October, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Six Poor Travellers House, High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX. Tel. 01634 845609.

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