Unlike most monastic establishments where the cloister (‘enclosed'/’seperate’ - the monastic part of the medieval Cathedral Precinct) ranges are to the south of the nave the cloister at Rochester is situated to the south of the presbytery and quire.
Read MoreArchaeologist Alan Ward reviews the archaeology of the Cathedral Precinct. Featured in The Hidden Treasures, Fresh Expressions Project Archaeology Report, Keevill Heritage 2021.
Read MoreBeverley Jacobs leafs through the oldest volume in the Chapter Library dating to circa 1100 AD.
Read MoreRochester Cathedral Archaeologist Graham Keevill discusses the results of a Ground-Penetrating Radar survey of the Cloister Garth in 2017 revealing what is thought to be the foundations for Bishop Gundulf’s short-lived cloister.
Read MoreRandolph Jones writes about a revolutionary time when the future and soul of the country hung in the balance.
Read MoreSome of the most enigmatic graffiti at the Cathedral are the hundred large decorative sketches on 12th century fabric, comprised of scenes from the gospels and their writers the Evangelists.
Read MoreDr Christopher Monk introduces the ‘Custumal of Rochester’, a thirteenth-century customs book from the Cathedral Priory of St Andrew full of vivid details not just of the lives of the monks but also offering valuable insight into the servants of the priory.
Read MoreThree areas of graveyards in the vicinity of the Cathedral were used until the mid-nineteenth century.
Read MoreDr Jayne Wackett explores the tiny fifteenth-century Book of Hours.
Read MoreStuart Palmer, University of Kent, shares with us a mighty message.
Read MoreSuzy Micklewright hunts down the well-known but seldom-seen bookworms.
Read MoreRochester Cathedral features twelve intact medieval coffin-tombs spaced around the east end of the building in proximity to the high altar. They were the final resting place of bishops of priors.
Read MoreA previously unrecorded thirteenth-century altar slab identified within a garden feature at King’s Orchard.
Read MoreA rare misprinted bible printed by John Baskett of Oxford in 1717, also known as the Vinegar Bible, was conserved by Lara Meredith in 2015 in advance of its exhibition in the Cathedral Crypt.
Read MoreIndex of contents in the Textus Roffensis by Dr Christopher Monk.
Read MoreDr Christopher Monk explores Anglo-Saxon characters and reads from a selection of Old English from the Textus Roffensis: King Æthelberht’s Code from the turn of the seventh century, Alfred’s Domboc (‘Book of Laws’) from the late ninth century, and a charm for stolen livestock possibly from the late tenth to the early eleventh century.
Read MoreDr Christopher Monk explores the scribal practices in Textus Roffensis.
Read MoreThe monks of Saint Andrew’s Priory were buried to the east of the Cathedral, beneath the site of the Old Deanery and Cathedral car park. Excavations during works over the past 30 years have revealed many skeletal remains from the area.
Read MoreIn 1573, the scholar William Lambarde came to Rochester Cathedral to examine Textus Roffensis. He was amazed to find that its opening document, Æthelberht’s law-code, was one he thought no longer survived. Moved by the importance of his discovery, he added a comment in the right margin, urging others to take note.
Read MoreRochester Cathedral – a place of Christian worship since AD604. Located in the heart of Rochester on the banks of the River Medway in Kent.
Rochester Cathedral
The Chapter Office
Garth House, The Precinct
Rochester
Kent, ME1 1SX
Telephone 01634 843366
Email info@rochestercathedral.org
Registered Charity Number 1206900
Cathedral opening hours 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday 1pm - 3pm Sunday
