This year’s Heritage Open Days event saw hundreds of visitors, from near and far, pass through the doors of Rochester Bridge Trust.
As well as having the opportunity to explore the 600-year-old charity’s medieval Bridge Chapel and Victorian Bridge Chamber, visitors were able to sign up to hard hat tours of the Trust’s three bridges over the Medway at Rochester.
Led by Bridge Programme Manager and civil engineer Kate Castle, the tours took small groups inside, under and over the Old Bridge, the New Bridge and the Service Bridge to learn more about their engineering, history and net zero carbon maintenance.
Within the historic Bridge Chapel and Bridge Chamber – both fully accessible following a recent refurbishment – visitors were able to enjoy some of the Trust’s substantial collection of antique furniture and paintings, as well as view a selection of documents from its extensive archives.
A total of 654 people attended over the course of five days, with visitors including Mexican and American nationals as well as Medway and Kent residents.
Alison Cable, Archives & Records Manager, said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome people through our doors and to tell them more about the work of the Trust and our centuries-old track record of providing crossings over the Medway at no cost to the public.
“People love the buildings and their contents, and find the history that is tied up in them fascinating.”
The Bridge Chapel and Chamber will remain open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays until Wednesday 23 October. Please see the events page for times and details.