Did you know the area of the Esplanade near Rochester Castle hasn’t always looked as it does today?
When the Victorian bridge replaced the medieval crossing in 1856, the Esplanade was extensively re-shaped and remodelled to accommodate the new location of the bridge.
This engraving is dated 1st April, 1811, and shows the true height of the castle wall, a large section of which is now hidden underground. To help as a reference point, the white building to the left of the picture is the Bridge Chapel we still have today, although looking a little different.