Rochester is a city full of treasures. The 2nd place settled by the Christian missionaries sent from Rome by Pope Gregory the Great to convert southern England in 597AD, the Cathedral is the 2nd oldest after Canterbury. But the Romans were here long before as this is the perfect place to cross the River Medway & the bridges are still an important part of the city today. Then 1066 & the arrival of the Normans heralds the gradual rebuilding of the cathedral as well as the construction of a huge stone castle - second only to the Tower of London. Kings have stayed in the city on their way to mainland Europe whilst escaping political tumult and also on their way back to reclaim their thrones. Henry VIII met his 4th wife Anne of Cleves here for the first time & he also had one of the city's most famous Bishops executed for not supporting him as supreme head of the Church of England. More recently Charles Dickens spent his childhood here & chose to live here in his later years.