Local history

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is home to one of the most important maps of the Medway area. At the Guildhall Museum you can see a copy of this map, which covers the river Medway from Rochester Bridge to Upnor and includes rare details of the city of Rochester, Chatham Dockyard and Upnor Castle.

The map is dated 25 May 1633 and was drawn by one Richard Smith. The Medway itself is full of naval vessels, clearly anchored in mid-stream along Chatham Reach. Each one is named. They are protected by Upnor Castle, two “sconces” (gun batteries) and by a structure called the Barricado, which stretches across the river to form a floating barrier. Nearby, St Mary’s Creek is blocked by a row of piles driven into the river bed.

Much building had taken place in the dockyard just before the map was drawn and the results are clearly shown. Structures include the Rope House (1621) and the Master Gunner’s house at the end of what is now Dock Road.

The approach towards Rochester along Chatham High Street reveals the original buildings of Sir John Hawkins’ Almshouses, as well as the Victualling Office, which supplied the fleet.

In Rochester itself, Satis House and Restoration House can be seen – the latter labelled on the map as “Mr Clarke’s house.” There is also a very rare view of the city’s east gate, now long gone, and the old Corn Market, which stood in the middle of the road just inside the city walls. The cartographer’s usual accuracy deserts him in his depiction of the castle and cathedral and it seems likely that these were not drawn from first-hand observation.

^ (back to top)