Rochester Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rochester Castle |
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| Rochester, Kent, South East England | |
Inside Rochester Castle's grounds showing the keep as seen from the north-west; clearly depicting the castle's proximity to
Rochester Cathedral. |
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 Rochester Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°23′24″N 0°30′05″E / 51.3899935°N 0.5014843°E |
| Type | Castle |
| Height | 113 feet (34 m) (the Keep) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | English Heritage managed by Medway Council |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruinous |
| Site history | |
| Built | Construction started between 1087–1089 Keep built around 1127 |
| Materials | Kentish Ragstone |
Rochester Castle is a famous castle in Rochester, Kent, South East England. It stands right next to the River Medway. The castle's most impressive part is its huge stone tower, called a keep. This keep was built in the 12th century and is one of the best-preserved towers of its kind in England or France.
Rochester was a very important royal castle because of its location on the River Medway and Watling Street, an old Roman road. In the Middle Ages, it helped protect England's south-east coast from invaders.
The first castle in Rochester was built after the Normans took over England. William the Conqueror likely gave it to his half-brother, Bishop Odo. This first castle saw its first battle during a rebellion in 1088. Bishop Odo used Rochester as his headquarters. After a siege, this early castle was abandoned.
Between 1087 and 1089, King William Rufus asked Gundulf, the Bishop of Rochester, to build a new stone castle. This new castle is on the same spot as the one we see today. In 1127, King Henry I gave the castle to the Archbishop of Canterbury. William de Corbeil then built the massive keep that still stands tall.
Contents
Battles and Sieges
King John's Siege (1215)
During the First Barons' War (1215–1217), a group of powerful barons fought against King John. They took control of Rochester Castle from Archbishop Stephen Langton. King John then laid siege to the castle.
The siege lasted for over seven weeks. It was a very tough fight, with one writer saying, "Our age has not known a siege so hard pressed nor so strongly resisted." The castle was badly damaged, with holes in its outer walls. One corner of the keep even collapsed. The defenders eventually surrendered because they ran out of food.
King John didn't keep the castle for long. In 1216, Prince Louis of France, who was leading the barons, captured it. King John died later that year, and his son, Henry III, became king. The war ended in 1217, and Rochester Castle returned to royal control.
Henry III and the Second Barons' War (1264)
Rochester Castle was attacked for a third time in 1264 during the Second Barons' War. The castle's leader, Roger de Leybourne, supported King Henry III. Rebel armies, led by Simon de Montfort and Gilbert de Clare, tried to capture the castle.
The defenders fought back bravely. After a week, the rebel armies gave up the siege. This happened because King Henry III and his son, Prince Edward, were coming to help. The castle was heavily damaged, and it took a long time to repair.
The Peasants' Revolt (1381)
The castle saw its last battle in 1381 during the Peasants' Revolt. Rebels captured and robbed the castle, also freeing a prisoner. After this, Rochester Castle was used less and less for military purposes. Its stones were even used to build other places.
Early Castle History
Castles were first brought to England by the Normans in the 11th century. They helped the Normans control their new land after the conquest in 1066. Rochester was an important city because it was built where the River Medway and Watling Street met.
The first castle was likely a "motte-and-bailey" type. This meant it had a large earth mound (motte) and an enclosed area (bailey) protected by wooden fences and earth banks.
In 1088, Bishop Odo used Rochester Castle as a base for a rebellion against King William Rufus. The king laid siege to the city and castle. He even built two smaller "siege-castles" to cut off supplies. Conditions inside Rochester were very bad, with sickness spreading. The defenders eventually gave up. After this, the first castle was probably left empty.
Building the Stone Castle
After the first castle was abandoned, a new stone castle was built on the current site between 1087 and 1089. Bishop Gundulf was a skilled architect who helped build the famous White Tower in London. He oversaw the building of Rochester's new stone castle. It was built right next to Rochester Cathedral, showing a close link between the church and the castle.
In 1127, King Henry I gave Rochester Castle to the Archbishop of Canterbury, William de Corbeil. Corbeil then built the huge stone tower, or keep, that we see today. Many castles in England were rebuilt in stone during the 12th century, making them much stronger. Rochester already had a stone outer wall, and the keep added even more strength.
The keep was very important. It was the tallest part of the castle and contained the best living spaces. It also served as a strong fortress during attacks. The keep was so important that it was even shown on the town's seal in the 13th century.
Later Years and Public Park
After the 1264 siege, the castle was badly damaged. It wasn't repaired for a long time. People even stole stones from the castle to use elsewhere. By 1369, most of the castle buildings were in ruins, except for the keep, gatehouses, a hall, kitchen, and stable.
Queen Elizabeth de Burgh was held prisoner in the castle for a few months in 1314.
Between 1367 and 1377, some repairs were finally made. Sections of the outer wall were fixed, and two new towers were built. However, the royal living areas were never repaired, suggesting Rochester was no longer a favorite royal home.
The castle saw its last battle during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. After this, it slowly fell out of use. In the 16th century, stones from Rochester Castle were even used to build Upnor Castle nearby.
By the 17th century, Rochester Castle was already a ruin, but people started visiting it as a tourist attraction. In the 18th century, parts of the outer wall were even pulled down to sell the building materials.
A Place of Inspiration
The castle ruins inspired famous artist J. M. W. Turner to paint one of his first oil paintings in the late 18th century.
Charles Dickens, a famous writer, lived in Rochester and wrote about the castle in his books The Pickwick Papers and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He described it as a "glorious pile – frowning wall – tottering arches – dark nooks – crumbling stones." Like many old buildings, Rochester Castle is also said to be haunted by a "white lady".
Preservation and Today
In the 19th century, people began to work on preserving the castle. In 1870, the castle was leased to the Corporation of Rochester to become a public park. It opened in 1872 as a beautiful ruin with trees and ivy. In 1884, the Corporation bought the castle.
Today, Rochester Castle is looked after by English Heritage and managed by Medway Council. It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled monument, meaning it's a very important historic site that is protected. The castle ruins are open to the public to explore and enjoy.
Castle Architecture
The first castle at Rochester is mostly a mystery. It was likely a "motte-and-bailey" castle with a mound and a wooden fence.
The stone castle built by Bishop Gundulf in the late 12th century had a strong stone wall. It used parts of the old Roman town walls as its base. From across the River Medway, the castle and cathedral would have looked very impressive, showing the power of the church and nobles.
The Great Keep
Rochester's keep is considered one of the best and oldest in England. It's still mostly whole, even though it's a ruin today. The keep was built in a square shape, about 70 by 70 feet (21 by 21 m) wide. It was made from local Kentish Ragstone and fancy Caen stone from Normandy.
The keep is the tallest in England, with its turrets rising 125 feet (38 m) above the ground. Its walls are 12 feet (3.7 m) thick at the bottom! During King John's siege in 1215, one corner of the keep collapsed. King Henry III later rebuilt it as a round tower.
The keep had an entrance on the first floor, reached by a staircase and a drawbridge. Inside, a strong wall divided the keep into two parts. The ground floor was for storage, and the three floors above were for living. The second floor had the best rooms and even a chapel.
Today, the keep no longer has its floors or roof, possibly due to a fire long ago. You can see the openings in the cross wall, with beautiful Romanesque arches. A well shaft ran through the cross wall, providing water to each floor.
Outer Walls and Gateways
The main entrance today is where the original gatehouse stood. This gatehouse was pulled down in the 1870s. An old drawing from 1735 shows it had an archway between two towers.
The western part of the outer stone wall, facing the river, is from Bishop Gundulf's time. It was 4.5 feet (1.4 m) thick at the bottom and about 22 feet (6.7 m) high.
In the south, there's a round tower built in the early 13th century. This tower helped fix the hole in the wall caused by King John's siege. The wall from this tower to the main gatehouse was built later, between 1367 and 1370. It has two more towers, one of which was used as a home.
Except for the side facing the river, the castle was surrounded by a ditch. Much of this ditch has now been filled in.
Images for kids
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A map of Rochester by William Smith (1588) with the castle and cathedral towering over the town. Sloane MS 2596, f.16.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Rochester para niños
