session planner

Rochester
Dickens
31 May ~ 2 June 2013
Festival
A spectacular festival of
music, dance, drama, street theatre
and colourful parades
www.enjoymedway.co.uk
Welcome...
We are delighted that you have chosen to join us
for Rochester's 2013 summer Dickens Festival.
Medway is proud of its association with this
national legend, who created some of the world's
most memorable fictional characters and
remains generally regarded as the greatest
novelist of the Victorian period. His novels and
short stories remain widely popular.
Charles Dickens spent his formative years in
Medway while his father worked at the
Dockyards - a period which greatly influenced
his writing. Many of his novels and characters
have been based on the places he visited and
people he met whilst living in the area.
Every year we strive to make the festival more
spectacular than the last, and 2013 is no different
- with wonderful costumed character parades, lots
of free activities, street entertainment and
readings - get involved with the spirit of the
festival by dressing in Victorian costume and
taking part in the parades and competitions too.
Your views can help us shape future festivals, so
please do give us your feedback. Collect a
questionnaire from one of our stewards, or go
online and give us your views at
www.enjoymedway.co.uk
We would also like to thank all those that make
the festival happen - without their
commitment and hard work, the festival
simply would not be possible.
Councillor Howard Doe
Portfolio Holder for Housing
and Community Services
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...to the Rochester
Dickens
Festival
A spectacular festival of music, da nce, drama, street theatre and colourful parades
The Amazing Travelling
Camera Obscura
4th Battalion
Royal Foot Artillery encampment
Throughout the festival
Throughout the festival
Miss Kay Rouse and Mr Tony Atthow present the
Amazing Travelling Camera Obscura with a show
of their celebrated Eye Magic curiosities at the
Vines gardens, Rochester. All is entirely safe and
respectable for gentlemen, ladies and children
(even those of
the most
sensitive nature).
Step inside the
camera obscura
to see the magic
of moving
pictures in full
and glorious
colour: view the
whole panorama
of the gardens,
control the
actions of your fellow visitors and enjoy all the
activities of the festival.
Charles Dickens was born during the time of the Napoleonic
wars. The French Revolution had taken place and many noble
heads had fallen. The events of the time fired the imagination
of this brilliant young author.
Look into the world of the peep, peer through
the Stanhope viewer, experience the beauties of
the spinning and pedestal kaleidoscopes, marvel
at the wonders of the phenakistoscope – and
even more. Come and find out exactly what a
Thaumatrope is – then make your own to take
home as a free souvenir of your visit.
Over the weekend the unit will be participating in parades
through the streets of Rochester and will have an encampment
within the moat of Rochester Castle with authentic cooking,
discipline and the occasional visitor to partake in a spot of tea. The
gunners will be available to answer any questions you may have.
The Artillery can be seen at Fort Amherst on the first Sunday of each
month where new recruits are always welcome.
Craft fair
Throughout the festival
A traditional craft fair with stalls
selling all types of wares: knitted
children’s clothes, jewellery, china,
preserves and home-made fudge.
The emphasis is on hand craft and
individuality, set within an old-time
fair environment.
Smith’s traditional
fun-fair
Throughout the festival
A selection of traditional
fairground rides for all
the family.
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The Rapscallions
Dizzy O’Dare presents Dicken:
Saturday and Sunday
About
Throughout the festival
We are obsessed with his writing, but just who was
Charles Dickens the man; a writer, a traveller, a
rockstar, a superhero? What was it like to be Charles
Dickens, father of ten, grandfather to millions
(probably)? What did he expect to see when he visited
America? Which side of the bed did he get out of? How did
he dance? Find out the answers to all these vitally
important questions and many more in this comedy caper
exploring the life of our greatest writer. From the creators
of the immeasurably successful Dikipedia comes
another masterpiece of wit and stupidity.
The Duel - back by popular demand
Saturday and Sunday
Rochester Castle Gardens arena
Despite the passing of several years, the two old adversaries are
still at odds with each other. Major Sir Peter Digby and Count
Antoine Chevalier are, again, in dispute over gambling debts and
the improper behaviour of the count towards the Lady
Cassandra. Blood pressures have been raised and a challenge to
fight a duel issued.
Join us to witness this most English of spectacles in the pursuit
of honour and justice. Feel free to raise a hearty cheer to spur on
your favourite (they need all the help they can get).
Dizzy O'Dare Presents
Cabinet of Curiosities
Saturday and Sunday
Canterbury's sixth funniest magician makes a welcome
return to Rochester Library to perform some fun magic
shows and bring back his overdue books.
Dizzy O'Dare Presents
The Last Apothecary
Saturday and Sunday
Brimming with goods, the Cabinet of
Curiosities is full of weird and
wonderful artifacts for ‘sale’. Spot
this eccentric duo as they try
anything to tell a tale.
Sunday
A roaming treatment centre full of daft and nutty treatments for
equally foolish ailments. Armed with only a few brain cells between
them, Floggit and Skarper have the cure for you.
Festival competitions
Friday, 31 May 2pm
Gillingham Lions tea
tent and charity stalls
Baby and children’s Victorian costume competition. Open to children aged 0-15 years. A child may
only enter into one age group; under three, three - six, seven -11 or 12-15.
Saturday and Sunday
Friday, 31 May 2.30pm
Serving drinks and light snacks,
raising money for local
charities with a variety
of activities.
Children’s Dickens character competition. Dress your child as their
favourite Dickens character. Open to children aged up to 15 years.
Friday, 31 May 3pm
Children’s gurning competition. A child may only enter into one age
group; under three, three - six, seven -11 or 12-15.
Friday, 31 May 3.30pm
Widow Corney’s workhouse tea party. Enjoy a limited supply of
gruel (ice cream). Open to children in Victorian costume, up to the
age of 12 years.
Gerald Dickens performs
Saturday, 1 June 2.45pm
A child’s journey with Dickens
Best-dressed Dickens adult character – ladies and gentlemen. Dress as
your favourite Dickens character and show the audience your knowledge of
this character to be in with a chance of winning.
Throughout the festival
The Guildhall Chamber
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Meet a group of like-minded
individuals who portray
characters living the down
and dirty side of Victorian
life. Witness bare-knuckle
fights, try your luck at games
of chance, see beggars, the
flower seller and ladies of a
not altogether honest nature.
Relish the sight of the peelers
who try to impart law over
the disorder.
El Baldhino
During his 1868 reading tour of America, Charles Dickens,
tired and in poor health, gave one performance in Portland,
Maine. As he travelled to Boston on the following
morning a 10-year-old girl precociously took a seat next
to him and proceeded to engage the greatest celebrity of
the age in conversation. Many years later Kate Douglas
Wiggin, now an author in her own right, wrote a charming
account of their train journey together. Along with
descriptions of Dickens’ arduous reading tour, Gerald’s
performance features a retelling of this delightful
meeting, taking on the personas of the adult and child
Kate, as well as that of Dickens himself.
Sponsored by Mirror Group Newspapers
Saturday, 1 June 3.30pm
Adult gurning competition. Can you contort your features to fantastical effect? Then put your
mouth where your nose is and get gurning.
Sunday, 2 June 2:45pm
Best-dressed ladies competition. Ladies, this is your chance to parade your finest attire in front
of the judges and the arena audience. At least two items of the costume must be home-made.
Sponsored by Mirror Group Newspapers.
Sunday, 2 June 3.30pm
Best-dressed gentleman competition. At least two items of the costume must be home-made. This
will be followed by the presentation of The Spirit of Dickens Award, a new award for 2013.
Sponsored by Tony Knight and Family.
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Festival parades
Join us for a colourful and spectacular parade
of Dickensian characters and Victorian
costumes. From the well-heeled to the
humble street urchin, all are represented in
this festival highlight.
Led by the mayor of Medway, the parade will
form at Star Hill end of the High Street and
move along to its junction with Corporation
Street and into Rochester Esplanade,
before making its way into Rochester
Castle Gardens.
Friday, 31 May
12noon opening parade and
mayor’s welcome speech
Saturday, 1 June
12noon grand parade
4.45pm afternoon parade
Sunday, 2 June
12noon grand parade
4.45pm afternoon parade
and closing ceremony
Edith May sailing barge
Play on Words Theatre, with
The Brook Youth Theatre, present
Dickensian Family Fun
- an interactive Victorian fair
Saturday and Sunday
Guildhall forecourt
Join with all the fun of the fair: hoop the
hoopla with Pip, scatter the skittles with
Scrooge, and delight in the antics of
Punch & Judy alongside Oliver Twist. Our
fortune teller awaits you, do you dare to
discover what Dickens has in store?
Meet Dickensian characters and see
them come alive in unexpected and
exciting ways.
Friday, 31 May
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
10.45am
Guildhall forecourt
Boley Hill performance area
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Castle Gardens
Blue Boar Lane performance area
10.45am
11am
St Mary’s Meadow
The City Wall stage
12noon
Parade
12.30pm
The City Wall stage
Saturday and Sunday
The character of Mr Boffin in
Our Mutual Friend was based on
the famous bargeman Henry
Dodd, who made his fortune
transporting London’s rubbish
out of the capital by sailing
barge. The Edith May, built in
1906, will be running hour-long
trips from Rochester Pier, so
step aboard and enjoy a flavour
of life from the age of sail.
For sailing times, more
information and bookings visit
www.edithmaybargecharter.co.uk
Dickens Festival Ball
Thursday, 30 May 7.30pm, Corn Exchange
Due to the nature of this vessel there is no
disabled access onto the barge.
Three course meal followed by dancing in the grand ballroom. Victorian
costumes are a must. Tickets £24.50, phone 01795 843317 or email
[email protected]
The Trials and Tribulations of Mr Pickwick
Saturday, 1 June 7.30pm, Corn Exchange
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At a glance
A very funny look at how Mr Pickwick, through various misunderstandings,
is committed to trial for breach of promise of marriage and finds himself
incarcerated in the Fleet debtors’ prison. On his travels he meets some of
the most vivid and eccentric characters that Charles Dickens created.
Tickets £10 (£7.50 students and under-16s)
Available from www.medwayticketslive.co.uk or phone 01634 338338.
Also available in person from Medway Visitor Information Centre.
your complete guide to
what’s on, where and when.
1.15pm
1.30pm
1.30pm
1.30pm
1.45pm
2pm
2pm
2pm
2.15pm
2.15pm
2.30pm
The Lamplighter
Dance Alley performance
Bagpipe music from the Glenduart Pipe Band
Punch ‘n’ Judy with Crazee Hazee
The Three Towns Theatre Company perform
a Victorian Music Hall
Music from Allcock and Brown
CAMINE – Two young and demure ladies perform
drawing room Victorian music using harp, violin
and guitars, as well as charming voices
CAMINE – Two young and demure ladies perform
drawing room Victorian music using harp, violin
and guitars, as well as charming voices
Boley Hill performance area
Dance Alley performance
Blue Boar Lane performance area The Lamplighter
Castle Gardens
Punch ‘n’ Judy with Crazee Hazee
St Mary’s Meadow
Frumpid Stumblestone, juggling, unicycling and
slapstick humour with a dash of silliness thrown in
for good measure
Guildhall forecourt
Visitors can come and have their picture
taken with Fagin
Rochester Library
Oliver Twist Enters the Den of Thieves from the
novel Oliver Twist. A reading by the Rochester
and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
The City Wall stage
CAMINE – Two young and demure ladies perform
drawing room Victorian music using harp, violin
and guitars, as well as charming voices
La Providence
Photo opportunity with members from
The Rochester Pickwick Club
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
The Three Towns Theatre Company perform
a Victorian Music Hall
Visitor Information Centre
Guided walking tour of Rochester led by The City of
Rochester Society. The tour will last 90 minutes and
is free of charge but donations to the society are
welcome
Guildhall forecourt
Bagpipe music from the Glenduart Pipe Band
7
2.45pm
2.45pm
3pm
3.15pm
3.15pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
4pm
4pm
4pm
4pm
4.15pm
4.30pm
Boley Hill performance area
Frumpid Stumblestone, juggling, unicycling and
slapstick humour with a dash of silliness thrown
in for good measure
St Mary’s Meadow
Music from Allcock and Brown
Blue Boar Lane performance area The Lamplighter
Rochester Library
Oliver Twist Enters the Den of Thieves from the
novel Oliver Twist. A reading by the Rochester
and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
The Guildhall Chamber
Gerald Dickens will be reading
‘A childs’ journey with Dickens’
The City Wall stage
CAMINE – Two young and demure ladies perform
drawing room Victorian music using harp, violin
and guitars, as well as charming voices
Castle Gardens stage
Widow Corney’s workshouse tea party. Enjoy a
limited supply of gruel (ice cream); open to children
up to 12 years in Victorian costume
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Bagpipe music from the Glenduart Pipe Band
Guildhall forecourt
Visitors can come and have their picture
taken with Fagin
Boley Hill performance area
Music from Allcock and Brown
St Mary’s Meadow
Frumpid Stumblestone, juggling, unicycling and
slapstick humour with a dash of silliness thrown in
for good measure
Castle Gardens stage
Dance Alley performance
Blue Boar Lane performance area The Three Towns Theatre Company perform
a Victorian Music Hall
8
10.30am
10.30am
10.45am
10.45am
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Eastgate House gardens
Outside Rochester Bar
Rochester
Children’s Library
Boley Hill performance area
Castle Gardens stage
St Mary’s Meadow
Blue Boar Lane performance area
11am
The City Wall stage
Eastgate House gardens
11.30am
11.30am
Boley Hill performance area
The City Wall stage
12noon
Festival Grande Parade
12.30pm
The City Wall stage
1pm
1.15pm
Boley Hill performance area
Rochester
Children’s Library
The City Wall stage
1.15pm
1.30pm
1.30pm
1.45pm
1.45pm
1.45pm
2pm
2pm
2pm
2pm
Saturday, 1 June
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
11.15am
City of Rochester Pipe Band
Dicken: About
The Lamplighter
Punch ‘n’ Judy
Right Royal Revels
Dance Alley performance
Music from Allcock and Brown
The Three Towns Theatre Company perform
a Victorian Music Hall
SKINNERS RATS – A couple of salty old sea dogs
with some rumbustious songs and tunes.
Join in if you wish
2pm
2.15pm
2pm
2.30pm
2.45pm
2.45pm
Visitors can come and have their picture taken
with Fagin
BAE Systems Brass Band
Greg McDonald, self styled former colour-sergeant
of the Rochester Highlanders presents his own
portfolio of songs
SKINNERS RATS – A couple of salty old sea dogs
with some rumbustious songs and tunes.
Join in if you wish
BAE Systems Brass Band
Punch ‘n’ Judy
Greg McDonald, self styled former colour-sergeant
of the Rochester Highlanders presents his own
portfolio of songs
Blue Boar Lane performance area The Lamplighter
Castle Gardens
Punch ‘n’ Judy with Crazee Hazee
Boley Hill performance area
Dance Alley performance
Castle Gardens arena
The Duel
St Mary’s Meadow
Music from Allcock and Brown
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Right Royal Revels
Eastgate House gardens
Dicken: About
Rochester Library
Oliver Twist Enters the Den of Thieves from the
novel Oliver Twist. A reading by the Rochester
and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
The Guildhall Chamber
Gerald Dickens will be reading
‘A childs’ journey with Dickens’
La Providence
Photo opportunity with members from
The Rochester Pickwick Club
Visitor Information Centre
Guided walking tour of Rochester led by The City of
Rochester Society. The tour will last 90 minutes and
is free of charge but donations to the society are
welcome.
The City Wall stage
SKINNERS RATS – A couple of salty old sea dogs
with some rumbustious songs and tunes.
Join in if you wish.
Boley Hill performance area
BAE Systems Brass Band
The City Wall stage
Greg McDonald, self styled former colour-sergeant
of the Rochester Highlanders presents his own
portfolio of songs
Outside Rochester Bar
Bagpipe music from the City of Rochester Pipe Band
9
2.45pm
Eastgate House gardens
2.45pm
2.45pm
Castle Gardens Stage
Rochester
Children’s Library
Blue Boar Lane performance area The Lamplighter
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
The Three Towns Theatre Company perform
a Victorian Music Hall
Rochester Library
Oliver Twist Enters the Den of Thieves from the
novel Oliver Twist. A reading by the Rochester
and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
St Mary’s Meadow
Music from Allcock and Brown
Eastgate House gardens
Dicken: About
Boley Hill performance area
Dance Alley performance
The City Wall stage
SKINNERS RATS – A couple of salty old sea dogs
with some rumbustious songs and tunes.
Join in if you wish
The Guildhall Chamber
My Grandma’s Bloomers. A lighthearted insight into
a Victorian lady’s undergarments. Janet Peters will
entertain you with stories about her very own
grandmother and her bloomers.
Castle Gardens stage
Adult gurning competition
Blue Boar Lane performance area Right Royal Revels
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Bagpipe music from the City of Rochester Band
Castle Gardens
Punch ‘n’ Judy with Crazee Hazee
The City Wall stage
Greg McDonald, self styled former colour-sergeant
of the Rochester Highlanders presents his own
portfolio of songs
2.45pm
3pm
3.15pm
3.15pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
3.45pm
4pm
4pm
4.15pm
4.45pm
Visitors can come and have their picture taken
with Fagin
Best-dressed Dickens adult character competition
Punch ‘n’ Judy
Parade
11am
The City Wall stage
11.15am
Eastgate House gardens
11.30am
11.30am
Boley Hill performance area
The City Wall stage
12noon
Festival Grande Parade
12.30pm
The City Wall stage
1pm
1.15pm
Boley Hill performance area
Rochester
Children’s Library
The City Wall stage
1.15pm
1.30pm
1.30pm
1.45pm
1.45pm
1.45pm
2pm
2pm
2pm
2pm
2pm
Sunday, 2 June
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
10.30am
10.45am
10.45am
10
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Eastgate House gardens
Outside Rochester Bar
Rochester
Children’s Library
Boley Hill performance area
Castle Gardens stage
St Mary’s Meadow
Blue Boar Lane performance area
City of Rochester Pipe Band
Dicken: About
The Lamplighter
Punch ‘n’ Judy
Right Royal Revels
Dance Alley performance
Music from Allcock and Brown
The Three Towns Theatre Company perform
a Victorian Music Hall
2pm
2.15pm
2.30pm
2.45pm
2.45pm
WILGRESS-WHIPPS & GREW – Fugitives from the
debtors’ prison, goodness knows what they
have to sing about
Visitors can come and have their picture taken
with Fagin
BAE Systems Brass Band
Swinging the Lead Dockyard shantymen from the
pubs of Chatham
WILGRESS-WHIPPS & GREW – Fugitives from the
debtors’ prison, goodness knows what they
have to sing about
BAE Systems Brass Band
Punch ‘n’ Judy
Swinging the Lead Dockyard shantymen from the
pubs of Chatham
Blue Boar Lane performance area The Lamplighter
Castle Gardens
Punch ‘n’ Judy with Crazee Hazee
Boley Hill performance area
Dance Alley performance
Castle Gardens arena
The Duel
St Mary’s Meadow
Music from Allcock and Brown
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Right Royal Revels
La Providence
Photo opportunity with members from
The Rochester Pickwick Club
The City Wall stage
WILGRESS-WHIPPS & GREW – Fugitives from the
debtors’ prison, goodness knows what they
have to sing about
Eastgate House gardens
Dicken:About
Rochester Library
Oliver Twist Enters the Den of Thieves from the
novel Oliver Twist. A reading by the Rochester
and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
The Guildhall Chamber
Gerald Dickens will be reading
‘A childs’ journey with Dickens’
Visitor Information Centre
Guided walking tour of Rochester led by The City of
Rochester Society. The tour will last 90 minutes and
is free of charge but donations to the society are
welcome
Boley Hill performance area
BAE Systems Brass Band
Outside Rochester Bar
Bagpipe music from the City of Rochester Pipe Band
Eastgate House gardens
Visitors can come and have their picture taken
with Fagin
11
Festival performers
2.45pm
2.45pm
2.45pm
3pm
3.15pm
3.15pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
3.30pm
3.45pm
4pm
4pm
4.15pm
4.45pm
The City Wall stage
Swinging the Lead Dockyard shantymen from the
pubs of Chatham
Castle Gardens stage
Best-dressed Dickens adult character competition
Blue Boar Lane performance area The Lamplighter
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
The Three Towns Theatre Company perform
a Victorian Music Hall
Rochester Library
Oliver Twist Enters the Den of Thieves from the
novel Oliver Twist. A reading by the Rochester
and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
St Mary’s Meadow
Music from Allcock and Brown
Eastgate House gardens
Dicken:About
Boley Hill performance area
Dance Alley performance
The Guildhall Chamber
My Grandma’s Bloomers. A lighthearted insight into
a Victorian lady’s undergarments. Janet Peters will
entertain you with stories about her very own
grandmother and her bloomers
Castle Gardens stage
Adult gurning competition
Blue Boar Lane performance area Right Royal Revels
Outside Oliver’s Wine Bar
Bagpipe music from the City of Rochester Band
Castle Gardens
Punch ‘n’ Judy with Crazee Hazee
The City Wall stage
Swinging the Lead Dockyard shantymen from the
pubs of Chatham
Parade
Whilst every effort is made to ensure that information is correct at time of going to press,
the programme is subject to alteration without prior notice.
The Queen of Heaven
Friday, 31 May, Rochester Cathedral
In 2013 world-renowned choir The Sixteen will present its most far-reaching
Choral Pilgrimage tour yet, encompassing 34 concerts around the UK.
The tour, entitled The Queen of Heaven, will see Harry Christophers CBE
and his choir perform glorious music in churches and cathedrals
for which it was written. The group will take you through the musical
evolution of the Allegri’s legendary and much-requested Miserere.
The programme also features stunning music by the ‘Prince of Music’
Palestrina, as well another brilliant yet contrasting setting of the
Miserere by James MacMillan.
Tickets: £10/15/25 BOOKING NOW OPEN
National box office: 01904 651485
Local box office: Medway Visitor Information Centre 01634 338141
Doors open at 6.30pm Pre-concert talk at 7pm
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BAE Systems Brass Band
Colin Greenslade, ‘Fagin’
Cyril Baldwin, ‘Samuel Pickwick’
Dance Alley
Dizzy O’Dare
Frumpid Stumblestone
Gerald Dickens, the great great grandson
of Charles Dickens
Glenduart Pipe Band
City of Rochester Pipe Band
Janet Peters, ‘Mrs Pocket’
Kay Rouse, Camera Obscura
Keith Beckford, ‘The Lamplighter’
Phil Haze, ‘Crazee Hazee’
Play on Words Theatre Company
Right Royal Revels
Robert Styles, Punch and Judy
Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
Rochester Pickwick Club
Sandi and Peter Digby, The Duel
Seven Dials Rapscallions
Shirley Goodhew
Three Towns Theatre Company
Wilgress-Whipps & Grew
Skinners Rats
Camine
Swinging the Lead
Greg McDonald
Allcock and Brown
Acknowledgements
Medway Council acknowledges support from:
Arriva
Rochester Cathedral
City of Rochester Society
Rochester City Centre Forum
Confucious Chinese restaurant
Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship
Dockyard, Chatham
Slinders Florist
Shirley Goodhew and Angela Maybourne
St John Ambulance (Kent)
Kent Police
Thelma Grove
Gillingham Lions
Simon Kelsey (photographer)
Mirror Group Newspapers
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Treasures of Rochester
St Margaret's Church
Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June, 10am – 5pm
Explore Rochester's historic parish church,
climb the 15th century tower and appreciate
some fine views of Rochester and the Medway
Valley, or simply enjoy a few moments of
peace and quiet away from the crowds with a
little light refreshment. St Margaret's Church is
in St Margaret's Street approximately 15
minutes walk from the cathedral and castle.
Eastgate House and gardens
Dickens used Eastgate House as inspiration for
The Nun’s House in The Mystery of Edwin
Drood and as Westgate House Seminary in The
Pickwick Papers. In the gardens of Eastgate
House is the
Swiss chalet from
Gad’s Hill Place,
Dickens’ last
home. It was in
the chalet that
Dickens was
writing the final chapters of The Mystery of
Edwin Drood just before his death on 9, June
1870. The chalet was bought by the Dickens
Fellowship in 1960 and presented to Rochester
City Corporation. As a result of its fragile
condition the chalet may be viewed from the
outside only.
Eastgate House is a nationally significant
Grade I listed building. A project is currently
being developed with the support National
Lottery Funding to conserve this wonderful
building as a distinctive, valued and vibrant
community resource for Medway and its
visitors. If you would like to find out more or
become a friend of Eastgate House, please
14
contact us at [email protected]
or follow Eastgate House on Facebook.
Guildhall Museum
Enter the Dickens Discovery Room and watch a
short film about the
great man and Rochester.
Enjoy the 19th century
prison hulks experience
or view Victorian toys,
ornaments, furniture and
costumes on display and
get a bird’s eye view of
Rochester, with the
Rochester Riverside Eye.
Visitors can also visit a new temporary
exhibition Gadgets & Gizmos - a unique
collection of over 150 gadgets from the 19th
and 20th centuries. From hair curlers to
vacuum cleaners this entertaining exhibition
opens on Friday, 31 May and will run until
28 February 2014.
Restoration House
Restoration House is inextricably woven into
the fabric of Great Expectations as Satis House
- the dark, foreboding home of Miss Havisham.
Its ancient and venerable
allure impressed the
young Dickens who first
saw it as a boy, his
imagination making it the
unforgettable setting for
the enigmatic Miss
Havisham.
The large but compressed architectural
composition took its present form in the 16th
and 17th centuries, but its origins go back to at
least 1450, its soaring chimneys and gables and
array of small secretive windows set behind a
brick wall and iron gate still possess a strong
charge to this day, aided by the sensitive private
ownership. While Dickens never entered the
house, today's visitors can see ravishing interiors
of great poetic resonance, splendid formal
gardens and the emerging restoration of the
newly acquired Tudor garden.
Special Dickens festival openings: Thursday, 30
May Friday, 31 May and Saturday, 1 June 12noon to 5pm. The charity teashop will also
be open.
Six Poor Travellers House
This charming Tudor almshouse is situated in
the High Street, next door to the Visitor
Information Centre. The house is the
inspiration for Dickens’ short story, The Seven
Poor Travellers. The original travellers’ rooms
are open to the public and the house has a
beautiful herb garden. Framed extracts from
Dickens story allow visitors to experience the
house through Dickens’ eyes.
During the festival the house is open from
10.30am to12.30pm and 1pm to 4.30pm
(closed during parades).
Rochester Cathedral
Service times:
This is the second oldest cathedral in
England and has been a regular place of
pilgrimage for historians and worshippers
since Bishop Justus founded it in 604 AD.
The present building was started in 1080
by King William’s
architect Bishop
Gundulf. The
cathedral
features one
of the largest
collections of
medieval wall
paintings. The
first real fresco
to be painted in
an English
cathedral for 800
years is on view to the
public. Audio tours will be available from
the welcome desk to hire outside of
service times.
Friday, 31 May
8am
Morning Prayer
8.30am Holy Communion
5.30pm Said Evening Prayer
Saturday, 1 June
8am
Morning Prayer
8.30am Holy Communion
3.15pm Choral Evensong
Sunday, 5 June
8am
Holy Communion BCP - High Altar
9.45am Choral Mattins
10.30am The Cathedral Eucharist
3.15pm Coral Evensong and Commemoration of
Charles Dickens, sung by the Rochester
Cathedral Voluntary Choir. The service
will include the Oration which will be
given by Mr Gerald Dickens, great great
grandson of Charles Dickens. Attended
by members of The Dickens Festival and
The Pickwick Club.
8pm
Taize Prayer
15
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
10am to 5pm
Rochester Castle Gardens
Medway National Childbirth Trust (NCT) will
provide nappy changing and feeding facilities
throughout the festival. Information on local
groups, classes and general advice in Medway
can be obtained from the NCT marquee.
Baby changing and feeding
rch
Rochester Pier
Rochester Castle Gardens
Guildhall Museum
The Corn Exchange
Boley Hill/Castle Moat
St Mary’s Meadow
City Wall stage
Blue Boar Lane performance area
Eastgate House and gardens
Rochester Community Hub
Oliver’s Wine Bar
5
6
Chu
1
1
2
4
ret’s
Entertainment areas
To London,
Civic Centre,
Strood
Strood Station
3
arga
St M
7
8
10
11
Park and ride
drop-off/pick-up point
Coach parking
Car and coach parking
Limited car parking is available near the centre of Rochester. Public car parks are indicated on the
festival map. Car parking is also available at the former Civic Centre site in Strood, throughout
the festival. Coaches may use the drop-off and pick-up point, also shown on the map.
Park and ride
Operating from Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Buses start from Dockyard at 9am, last bus leaves Rochester at 6pm.
Train
Rochester station is only a five minute walk from Rochester High Street and has excellent links
between London and the coast. For more information visit: www.setrains.co.uk
Travel information
9
Disabled parking
Car parking
Coach drop-off/pick-up point
First Aid point
Toilets