Page 70 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

68  ENGLAND ' S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

View of Rochester Castle and Cathedral from across the River Medway
1 Rochester historic warships. Nearby Fort his death in 1965, and is full
Amherst was built in 1756 to of reminders of the great
Kent. Map E1. * 27,000 3 @
n 95 High St; 01634 338141. protect the dockyard from attack, man. Before he became prime
( 3rd Sun. _ Dickens Festival: Jun; and has 1,800 m (5,906 ft) of minister in 1940, he expended
Dickens Christmas Festival: Dec. tunnels that were hewn by a lot of his energy on improving
Napoleonic prisoners of war. Chartwell, and with Lady
Clustered at the mouth of the Churchill he created a magnifi-
River Medway are Rochester, E Historic Dockyard cent garden, with lakes, a rose
Chatham and Gillingham, all Main Gate Rd, Chatham. Tel 01634 garden and gorgeous views over
rich in naval history, but none 823800. Open 10am–4pm daily (Apr– the Kent Weald. There is also the
more so than Rochester, which Sep: to 6pm). Closed Dec–mid-Feb. famous wall he built himself
occupied a strategic position & 7 except parts of ships. 0 - when he took up bricklaying as
on the London to Dover road. = ∑ thedockyard.co.uk a hobby. His greatest hobby,
England’s tallest Norman keep + Fort Amherst though, was painting, and his
is at Rochester Castle, worth Dock Rd, Chatham. Tel 01634 847747. specially built studio is lined
climbing for views over the Open Grounds: dawn–dusk daily. with beautiful landscapes and
Medway. The town’s long history, & for tours only. 8 Tunnels: 11am & portraits he painted at Chartwell
from the Romans to Nelson’s 2pm daily (11am in winter). - = and on his international travels.
era, is visible in its historic ∑ fortamherst.com After he died, Lady Churchill
streets. Rochester Cathedral, left the house almost imme-
begun in 1080, has a fine diately, and the main rooms
Norman nave and crypt. 2 Chartwell are still preserved almost
exactly as the couple left them.
Mapleton Rd, Westerham, Kent.
+ Rochester Castle Map D1. Tel 01732 868381. Enormously atmospheric, they
Castle Hill. Tel 01634 335882. 3 Sevenoaks or Oxted, then taxi. are full of books, family photos,
Open 10am–4pm daily (Apr–Sep: Open House: Mar–Oct: 11:30am–5pm cigar stubs, letters, memorabilia
to 6pm). Closed 1 Jan & 24–26 daily; Nov–Feb: 11am–3pm. Gardens and gifts from various world
Dec. & 9 7 grounds only. = & Studio: times vary, check website. figures, giving a rich flavour
œ ∑ english-heritage.org.uk Closed 24 & 25 Dec. & 7 limited. of his life and personality.
- = ø ∑ nationaltrust.org.uk
Environs
The Historic Dockyard, located in This grand Victorian house 3 Knole
Chatham, is now a naval museum was the home of Sir Winston Sevenoaks, Kent. Map D1.
and has a submarine and other Churchill from the 1920s until
Tel 01732 462100. 3 Sevenoaks,
then taxi. Open Showrooms: Mar–
Charles Dickens (1812–70) Oct: noon–4pm Tue–Sun & public
hols. Tower: 10am–5pm daily (to
Considered the greatest English novelist of 4pm in winter). Park: dawn–dusk
the Victorian era, Charles Dickens was born daily. & 8 7 limited to Great
in Portsmouth, but moved to Chatham aged Hall and park. - = ø
5. He set many of his stories – in particular ∑ nationaltrust.org.uk
Great Expectations – in the Rochester area.
Although he later moved to London, Dickens One of England’s grandest
kept up his Kent connections and spent private houses, this stunning
his last years at his country home at Gad’s Elizabethan mansion was
Hill, near Rochester. The town celebrates built in the 15th century.
the famous connection with an annual In 1566, Knole was acquired
Photo of Charles Dickens Dickens festival each June. by Thomas Sackville, Earl of
Dorset, a favourite of Elizabeth I,
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp174–5 and pp185–6

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