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Visiting Medieval Rochester Castle in England

Rochester Castle is one of the best examples of a medieval castle in England and has a lot of history behind it. It’s also very conveniently located not far from London in the county of Kent.

It’s a must-see castle if you have any interest in castles and this is a guide on the history as well as practical information for your visit.


History of Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle.

Rochester Castle holds a very strategic position on the River Medway protecting an important bridge crossing the river. Even before the castle was built there were old Roman fortifications on the same spot showing the importance of the area.

The Normans were the ones who brought the concept and construction of castles to Britain. Castles from that time were not just for defence but also to show the power of the ruler in the area.

As with many of the medieval castles in England, the first origins of Rochester Castle as it’s known today came from after the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William The Conqueror had the castle built.

It was initially just an earth and timber construction common to what could be found in Normandy, France.

The construction of the stone castle began in the late 11th-century following a rebellion by the Earl of Kent, a title given to William The Conqueror’s half-brother Odo who was given possession of Rochester Castle and the lands around it.

When William The Conqueror died in 1087 he left his lands to his two eldest sons, who shared the land. Odo’s lands fell into both of these men’s territories and when one of them was crowned King William II of England, is when Odo chose to rebel.

The king took his forces and eventually captured Odo at another castle he was at and took him to Rochester Castle demanding that the garrison there surrender. Instead, they charged out of the castle and rescued Odo!

The king besieged the castle angrily for several weeks until they all finally surrendered. It was then that the construction of the stone castle began under the king’s orders.

By 1127 the new king, Henry I, gave custodial duties of the castle to the Archbishop of Canterbury, William de Corbeil. This is when construction of the great keep started and was completed by 1136.

By 1215 the country was in civil war after King John signed the Magna Carta to appease his barons who were vast landowners and then swiftly took it away, prompting the barons to rebel led, and starting what would be known as the First Barons’ War, led by the rebellious Robert Fitzwalter against the king.

The barons controlled London and in order to counteract this, the king gathered his forces in Kent to attack. The barons took control of Rochester Castle for defensive purposes but the king launched an attack and took the all-important bridge over the Medway River and then lay siege to the castle.

The castle eventually fell after King John’s miners destroyed a part of the outer wall and the western keep and, running low on supplies, the rebels surrendered and their lives were spared by the king.

The damage to the castle was enough that reconstruction started in 1217 and the castle would be important in the upcoming Second Barons’ War.


Tip: There’s a good medieval movie about this siege called Ironclad (Amazon affiliate link) that’s worth a watch, although it is a movie, so take the historical accuracy with a pinch of salt, so to speak.


Yet again the castle was besieged in 1264 in the Second Barons’ War. Unlike the siege in the First Barons’ War, it was not the rebels but the royal forces who held the castle.

The Earl of Leicester lay siege to the castle and captured the keep forcing the defenders into the inner keep where they managed to hold out any further attacks. However, when Henry III was defeated in battle elsewhere the castle was handed over to the rebel forces, only to be given back to the royals a year later when they were eventually defeated.

Some repairs were made following the war but not everything was fixed, and with other royal residences being built that became better than Rochester Castle, the castle fell into disrepair. But during the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 when the castle and bridge were attacked, Richard II built new defences for guns to protect a newly built bridge after the old one was destroyed.

Moving up the years to the 16th-century and the castle became less and less important, especially with the building of an artillery fort called Upnor Castle (see under the visiting information section below for more on that) not far from the castle.

The castle fell into a more ruinous state after a fire took over the building and lay in disuse.


These days you can wander by the castle walls, ascend the towers, and take in the history of Rochester Castle, one of the most important castles in English history.

Facts about Rochester Castle:

The first castle was built by the Normans.

In the 12th-century the first stone castle was built.

The castle was captured by barons in the First Baron’s War.

In the Peasants Revolt, it was captured and damaged.

By the 17-18th-centuries the castle was falling into ruin.


Information For Visiting Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle is easy to reach from London and other parts of Kent.

Rochester Castle is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10-17:00.

Prices: £7.20 for adults and £3.10 for children/teenagers up to 17 years old. If you are a group of 10 or more then you get a 15% discount.

There is no parking at the castle itself but nearby there are public pay and display parking spaces.

The best way to reach the castle if you don’t have your own transport is to take the train as Rochester is well connected to London and Kent. The train station is around a 10-minute walk from the castle.

Tip: If you are an overseas visitor you can get the excellent English Heritage Pass for overseas visitors that gives you access to over 100 historic places in England, including many castles. Rochester Castle is included in the pass.

Be sure to visit Rochester Cathedral which is right next to the castle and you can also go and see the smaller Upnor Castle, which is an artillery fort from the 16th-century and is only two miles away from the castle.

Address of Rochester Castle: Castle Hill, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SW

Prices and opening times may change so it’s best to check with the official site of the castle before going to be sure.


Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle is without a doubt one of the best medieval castles in the UK to visit and if you have an interest in castles should be visited at least once.

Personally, I visited the castle as a teenager and still have fond memories of my time there. I’ve always loved castles and history!

Take a look at the 15 best castles in Kent to visit.


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