Pre-Roman – Evidence of Neolithic settlement nearby at Kit's Coty. Belgic remains were found in 1961 by R E Chaplin under the Roman levels. Coin moulds suggest that this was a centre of some importance.

AD 43 – Romans found a fortified town by a bridge - they called it Durobrivae (one theory). Alternatively, Aulus Plautius set up a small fort, which was not needed long, as Kent was soon settled. The Roman settlement provides us with the present High Street and Northgate/Boley Hill.

190+ – Systematic earthen fortifications were established.

225+ – This was replaced by stone, which is still extant. There is evidence that the Romans bridged the river at the same point as the present bridge, and constructed a causeway 14 ft wide, over the marshy ground the Strood Side of the river.

410–604 – Tradition states that Rochester was continuously occupied by Celts, Jutes and/or Saxons. The Jutish brothers Hengist and Horsa landed at Ebbsfleet in AD 449, and defeated the Britons at Aylesford. Jutish traditions were different from the Saxons.

604 – Augustine of Canterbury sends Justus to found a cathedral at Rochester, 42 ft high and 28 ft wide. The apse is marked in the present cathedral. This was the second see after Canterbury.

676 – Rochester was sacked by Ethelred of Mercia.

842 – Sacked by the Danes.

877 – Alfred of Wessex orders the building of ships to fight the Danes. This could be the start of Medway's military shipbuilding history.

884 – Under siege from the Danes again.

930 – Rochester has a right to mint coins.

All this is evidence of an important and thriving continuous civic life.

1077 – Gundulf is consecrated as Bishop.

1080 – Gundulf commences the new cathedral, on the site between the Roman wall and Watling Street, over the previous cathedral.

1087 – Gundulf commences building the Norman Castle. Its curtain wall follow Roman walls, and its keep is 113 ft high, 70 ft × 70 ft in breadth.

1130 – The Norman cathedral is complete.

1215 – Besieged by King John. It fell on November 30.

1227 – Completion of Early English quire at the cathedral.

1264 – City attacked by Simon de Montfort.

1343 – Central tower at cathedral raised.

1461 – The first mayor.

1470 – The great window at the cathedral is built.

Rochester Cathedral is one of England's smaller cathedrals, yet it demonstrates all styles of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

1504–1535 – St John Fisher, bishop. 1535 appointed cardinal and executed by Henry VIII because he refused to sanction the divorce of Catherine of Aragon.

1547–1550 – Nicholas Ridley, bishop. 1554 executed by Queen Mary for demands of faith: a Protestant martyr.

1559 – Construction of Upnor Castle to protect the Chatham Dockyard. Upnor is an estuarine water castle.

1560 – Sir Francis Drake born in Devon, was six and moved to Upchurch when his father was made Vicar of Upchurch.

20 May 1666 – Sir Francis Clarke entertained King Charles II on the eve of his restoration to the throne. His home, Restoration House, in Crow Lane, was used as the basis of Satis House in Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.

December 1689 – King James II spent his last night as King at Abdication House in the High Street.

11 June 1667 – Dutch Raid on the Medway. In the Second Anglo-Dutch War the Dutch under de Ruijter broke through the chain at Upnor and sailed to Rochester Bridge capturing and firing the English fleet. Samuel Pepys, who was responsible at the Navy Board, describes the last successful invasion of British soil in his diaries. Tophies from the raid are in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

1687 – Construction of the Guildhall – the ceiling being given by Sir Cloudesley Shovell.

1765 – HMS Victory was launched in neighbouring Chatham. It became flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Trafalgar.

This page was last updated: 12 September 2005

Town history extracts are taken from Wikipedia and are licensed under GFDL