Rochester, Kent

Rochester
Town
Rochester Cathedral viewed from the west at Castle Gardens
Rochester Location within Kent
Population	62,982 (2011 Census)[1]
OS grid reference	TQ739684
Unitary authority	Medway
Ceremonial county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ROCHESTER
Postcode district	ME1, ME2
Dialling code	01634
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Rochester & Strood
List of places UK England Kent 51°22′30″N 0°30′00″E / 51.375°N 0.500°E / 51.375; 0.500

Rochester (/ˈrɒtʃɪstər/ ROTCH-iss-tər) is a town in the unitary authority of Medway, in Kent, England. It is at the lowest bridging point of the River Medway, about 30 miles (50 km) from London. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Chatham, Rainham, Strood and Gillingham. Rochester was a city until losing its status as one in 1998 following the forming of Medway and failing to protect its status as a city. There have been ongoing campaigns to reinstate the city status for Rochester.^[2][3] In 2011 it had a population of 62,982.

Rochester was for many years a favourite of Charles Dickens, who owned nearby Gads Hill Place, Higham,^[4] basing many of his novels on the area. The Diocese of Rochester, the second oldest in England, is centred on Rochester Cathedral and was responsible for founding a school, now The King's School, in 604 AD,^[5] which is recognised as the second oldest continuously running school in the world. Rochester Castle, built by Bishop Gundulf of Rochester, has one of the best-preserved keeps in either England or France. During the First Barons' War (1215–1217) in King John's reign, baronial forces captured the castle from Archbishop Stephen Langton and held it against the king, who then besieged it.^[6]

As well as the historic centre, the suburbs of Borstal and The Delce are also part of Rochester, forming part of the Medway Towns urban area with a population of about 250,000.