Step back in time and fly through a secret passage during a visit to a medieval Bridge Chapel.
Rochester’s Bridge Chapel and Bridge Chamber re-open to the public in February, and when they do they will include a virtual fly through of Rochester Castle’s ancient Watergate, which was rediscovered in 2018.
Alison Cable, Archives and Records Manager at the Trust, explained: “The Watergate was found during preliminary groundwork ahead of the Rochester Bridge Refurbishment Project. At the time it was photographed and scanned to enable a 3D visualisation to be created before the entrance was re-sealed for public safety.
“The scans enable ongoing study of this unusual feature that’s hidden beneath our feet, and now we are pleased to be able to share this visualisation with our visitors, so they can have a greater understanding of the history of Rochester Esplanade.”
The Watergate visualisation can be seen in the Court Room of the Victorian Bridge Chamber, this is the room where the Court of Wardens and Assistants hold their committee meetings. Visitors will also be able to see a selection of artefacts discovered in or around Rochester’s bridges; historic art and furniture; and the medieval Bridge Chapel which was constructed more than 600 years ago.
The buildings are fully accessible and entry is free, with no booking required. Doors are open from 11am until 4pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, from 2nd February, until Saturday, 3rd June 2023.