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Archives and local studies |
 Learning from maps
|  Map of Rochester in 1717
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| Rochester in 1717 |
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The full size map shows a mixture of streets in plan view and 3D pictures of buildings. The writing uses an old-fashioned form of the letter s which resembles the modern f. It has two keys. The letters show who rents which parts of the city from the Bridge Wardens (the people who look after Rochester bridge). The numbers point out important features of the city.
Compare it with the appearance of Rochester today in this modern map.
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What has disappeared?
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This part of the map (left) shows part of the vanished fortifications of Rochester Castle: the old main gate of the castle bailey. Although already ruined in 1717, it survived until the castle grounds were turned into a public garden in the 1870s, when its last fragments were removed.
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The 14th century bridge (above) over the River Medway was demolished in 1857. Its replacement, although much altered, is still with us today, carrying traffic across the river to Strood. The map shows the stone arches of the medieval bridge quite clearly and its position, downstream of Rochester High Street and the "Kay" (quay) where boats could unload cargo.
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The top lefthand corner of the castle ditch is the location of the Court of Pie Powder (left). Under an elm tree here, the mayor pronounced judgement on disputes which had arisen in the city market. The name comes from pied poudre, which is French for dusty feet. This was because many of the people involved were travelling traders. The tree was cut down in 1831 but a plaque still marks the spot.
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This gate (right) runs between the west front of the Cathedral and Boley Hill. It was taken down in 1788. It is called the Precinct Gatehouse on the map because it was originally the main entrance to the monastery which lay to the south of the Cathedral. This was founded in 1082 and was run by Benedictine monks.
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At the top of the map is Satis House (left), once the home of Richard Watts, elected MP for the city in 1563 and founder, by his will, of the Six Poor Travellers in Rochester High Street. The house's name was taken from a comment made by Queen Elizabeth I, who expressed her approval of her reception there with this single word, which means enough in Latin.
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Only 30 years old in 1717, this building (right) on the High Street served as a court as well as a meeting place for the city government. It is now better known as the Guildhall and has housed a fascinating local museum since 1979.
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The arch of the Cemetery Gate (left) spans the road which leads down from the Cathedral to the High Street. The road has now been moved to the right to admit cars but it is still possible to walk through the arch in the way people would have done in 1717. Charles Dickens used this gatehouse as the model for the home of John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
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The Mural Towers (right) were completed around 1370 and can still be seen today. The map captures the way in which the tower to the south (here the one at the top) sits across the wall. The other tower should be sticking out towards the Cathedral, not in towards the keep. By 1900, the castle ditch was filled with houses and gardens; you can see a few here. All are now gone.
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| Related A-Z index |
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Map of Rochester in 1717 | Loans, donations and bequests | Location map | Web click licence | Rochester Esplanade Improvements | The Bligh family | Cobham Hall | The estate and its tenants | Servants and estate workers | Leisure, pastimes and cricket at Cobham | Upnor Castle | Parish records | Cricket at Cobham | What resources does MALSC hold? | Planning your visit to MALSC | Enquiry service | Exhibitions and events programme at MALSC | Information for visitors | About Medway Map Service | School visits | all related items » |
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