Despite the weather’s best efforts, Summer is upon us once again and we’ve got the perfect activity come sun or rain! Rochester Castle was the recipient of some wonderful improvements last year, such as soundscapes in the entrance, Great Hall and Chapel to help bring the castle to life and immerse visitors in the would-be atmosphere of a bustling castle – however, these weren’t the only improvements implemented to take visitors back in time…
The ‘smell stations’, installed during World Taste and Smell Day in 2023, have been helping to immerse visitors’ senses in a variety of ways. Most visitors will be attracted to the fragrant food store, teeming with smells of herbs, spices and delicacies of the era such as poultry, cheese and wine; those who enjoy a stronger smell will enjoy The Chapel, as incense smells like myrrh, ambergris, cinnamon, saffron, and rosemary occupy that station – but the final stop is only for the strongest noses, the bravest visitors and the most inquisitive historians amongst us… The Cesspit.
Home of the castle’s waste, from both people and animals within the castle walls, there hasn’t been such a smell since the detested King John burned forty pigs to bring down the tower of the keep in his infamous siege during 1215. The stations add to the ever-evolving immersive experience, so that locals and visitors alike can be transported back in time beyond just sights and sounds that similar attractions provide.
So make sure that when you #VisitMedway this summer, that you transport your senses to the medieval period at this iconic Norman fortress, with centuries of stories within.
| Admissions | Adults - £8.50 | Children (5-17yrs) - £4 | Concessions - £6 | Family (2 adults + 2 children) - £22.50 | English Heritage Members and U5s - Free |
Address
Toxic Tales of Rochester Castle
Castle Hill
ME1 1SW
