Rochester Castle
Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway in Kent, England, guarding the main road into London from the coast. Bishop Gundulf built the stone castle in 1087-1089; Archbishop William de Corbeil added the great keep around 1127 -- at 113 feet tall with walls 12 feet thick at the base, one of England's finest surviving Norman keeps.
Three major sieges tested its walls, none more dramatic than King John's in 1215, when miners packed an undermined corner with the fat of 40 pigs and set it alight, collapsing a corner of the tower. Henry III's repairs rebuilt the collapsed corner as a cylinder, conspicuously round rather than square. Managed by English Heritage.
Visitor information
- Location
- United Kingdom
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Tier
- C (Worth a visit if you're already in the area)
- Coordinates
- 51.3898, 0.5016
- Official site
- https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rochester-castle/
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Rochester Castle?
- Rochester Castle is in United Kingdom, United Kingdom (approximately 51.3898, 0.5016).
- Can you visit Rochester Castle?
- Yes — Rochester Castle is open to visitors; see the official site at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rochester-castle/ for hours and tickets.
- What tier is Rochester Castle on the Castle Atlas?
- Rochester Castle is rated C tier on the Castle Atlas — Worth a visit if you're already in the area.
- What can you see at Rochester Castle?
- Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway in Kent, England, guarding the main road into London from the coast. Bishop Gundulf built the stone castle in 1087-1089; Archbishop William de Corbeil added the great keep around 1127 -- at 113 feet tall with walls 12 feet thick at the base, one of England's finest surviving Norman keeps.
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