Rochester Bridge Chapel

Heritage and Gardens

Come and discover over 600 years of history and soak in the atmosphere of a rare surviving medieval Bridge Chapel and Victorian Bridge Chamber.

While there has been a crossing over the River Medway at Rochester since Roman times, following a petition to King Richard II by two medieval knights, the Rochester Bridge Trust was founded in 1399 to maintain the bridge in perpetuity.

The medieval bridge continued to provide the only crossing at Rochester for over 450 years. With the increase in road and river traffic, a new bridge designed by Sir William Cubitt opened in 1856. It was renovated in 1914 and later joined by a second bridge opened by HRH The Princess Margaret in 1970.

In addition to maintaining Rochester Bridge, the Trust is also custodian of a rare surviving medieval Bridge Chapel commissioned by Sir John de Cobham in 1393. The Chapel was a key stopping point for travellers along Watling Street until it was suppressed during the Reformation. It was later used as a pub, a house, and a fruit and sweet shop before being sensitively restored by Sir Herbert Baker in 1937. An adjoining Victorian Chamber with beautiful views across the River Medway and Rochester Castle was designed by Kent architect Martin Bulmer and completed in 1879. It houses key pieces from the Trust’s art collection and historic furniture including a Mouseman table.

This year, on display for the first time, visitors will be able to view ‘The Crown looking on to Rochester Bridge’ by Dame Tracey Emin, created during her time as a student at Maidstone College of Art.

An exterior shot of the Rochester Bridge Chapel

A picture of the intricate stonework on the exterior of the building

The interior of the Chapel showing a majestic medieval room

Accessibility Information

There is a sesame lift and platform lift to enable access from the Bridge Chapel on the ground floor to the Bridge Chamber on the first floor. The public toilets, including an accessible toilet and baby changing table, are located on the ground floor. Assistance dogs are welcome in the building and there is a water bowl at the entrance to the Bridge Chapel. Large print and braille guides are available to help visitors navigate the space and learn about the historic surroundings.

The Bridge Chapel and Chamber are situated a short walk along the Esplanade from Rochester High Street, and at the junction with Castle Hill. There is ample on-street parking directly outside the Bridge Chapel and Chamber and just round the corner on Castle Hill. Rochester train station is located 0.3 miles away and is easy to navigate either along the A2 or via Rochester High Street. There is step free access to all platforms at Rochester train station and accessible toilets. Many bus routes pass the Esplanade. The nearest bus stop is located opposite Castle Hill, a short walk from the entrance to the Bridge Chapel. Nu-Venture bus route 156 from The Queen Mother Court, Rochester to Chatham Waterfront Bus Station stops here.