In summer 2021, Sun Pier House was commissioned to develop and coordinate The Old High Street Intra Heritage Open Days Trail, as a ‘one-stop shop’ listings page and map to promote the sites, events and ‘hidden histories’ across Chatham Intra, as part of the national Heritage Open Days 2021. 

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Taking place every year in September, heritage sites and organisations open their doors and offer unique free experiences to celebrate Britain’s heritage and community. 

The trail was produced by Sun Pier House, in partnership with Historic England and Medway Council’s ‘High Street Heritage Action Zone’ project.

Trail Highlights

• Over 5000 visitors across 7 sites.
• Over 110 participants on the history walks.
• Over 4000 visitors to The Festival of Chatham Reach.
• 738 people on free river trips.
• 256 visitors on guided historic boat tours.
• 340 free cream teas served at The Hospital of Sir John Hawkins.

Click here to view the Google map of the 2021 events and venues, plus some ‘hidden histories’ to discover.

< Scan the QR code to take you to the map on your smartphone.

Learn more about the 2021 Heritage Open Day sites from the Old High Street Intra (Sun Pier to Star Hill) –

351 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DA

Chatham House was the home of the Hulkes and Arkcoll brewing families. The building was converted into the Featherstone’s retail outlet in the 1900s and closed to the public in the 1980s. Featherstone’s Boundary House boardroom will be accessible.

Chatham House is a Grade II listed early 18th century brewery mansion house, refronted in the early 19th century and modified in the early 20th century with a shop front added.

The Feathertone’s retail estate also covers Boundary House at 375 High Street Rochester. The boardroom features fanciful Italianate painted panelling depicting scenes of the River Medway, Rochester Castle, Rochester Bridge etc.

Chatham House and Boundary House were open to visitors on 11-12 September with guided tours available of both sites.

“Opening Chatham House and Boundary House was a Resounding Success With over 350 visitors. 

Word Soon spread about how brilliant it was – we only intended to take 20 people on each tour, but we had over 40 on the tour on Sunday afternoon.” 

Robert Flood, City of Rochester Society

High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EW

Built on the site of Kettle Hard, a part of Bishop Gundulph’s Hospital of St Bartholomew, the almshouses today are a square of Georgian houses dating from the 1790s. They replaced Hawkins’ Tudor period buildings.

The Governors of this Elizabethan naval charity invited visitors to view the boardroom that contains artefacts relating to the history and career of Sir John Hawkins, an important English admiral in the 1580s and 1590s, and to the establishment and continuity of the charity which provides homes for needy and disabled mariners and shipwrights and for other ex-service personnel. The charity has been providing accommodation on this same High Street site to eligible service personnel and civilians since 1594.

The precincts of the Almshouses occupy a corner of the former St Bartholomew’s Hospital and the delightful small garden gives a good prospect of the River Medway, making a pleasant spot in which to enjoy some refreshments.

Website 

The Hospital of Sir John Hawkins was open on 11-12 September and 18-19 September, offering complimentary cream teas to all visitors. 

“One of the strengths of the trail was that all the venues were within walking distance, offering visitors a full morning or afternoon of activities.”  

Hospital of Sir John Hawkins

366 High Street, Rochester ME1 1DJ

Chatham Memorial Synagogue was built in 1869 by Simon Magnus, in memory of his son Lazarus, on the site of an even older Synagogue.

The synagogue is the home of the Jewish community in mid and north Kent and is actually located in historic Rochester on the River Medway.

A virtual talk entitled ‘Foreigners, Aliens, Citizens – Medway and its Jewish community’ was held on 12 September.

Chatham Memorial Synagogue was open for pre-booked guided tours on 19 September.

Website

“Wonderful! We did very little advertising so you made a huge difference.”

Chatham Memorial Synagogue

Hammond Hill, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6AP

Chatham Unitarian Church is a Victorian rebuild of the previous chapel with high ceilings and impressive east and west windows.

This non-designated Heritage building is the latest (1889) evolution of a church that started life in a private home on Hamond Hill in 1650. It’s history is tied in with that of the Medway Towns: the fire in 1800 necessitated rebuilding the 1703 church; the Tool Chest of Benjamin Seaton (see the websites devoted to it) which can be found in Rochester Museum was built by Joseph Seaton, a minister of this church; Dickens and his father frequented the Mitre Inn whose landlord attended the church and with whose children Dickens played; radical ministers advocating social justice stirred up the conscience of the populace; preachers of vision who recognised truths in all the world’s religions and the unity of humankind!

Website 

Chatham Unitarian Church was open to visitors on Saturday 11 September.

“We had 30 visitors which was more than we usually have, and they were all very interested in the church building and its history.” 

Chatham Unitarian Church

The Royal Function Rooms, Star Hill, Rochester ME1 1XB

Medway African and Caribbean Association in association with Mrs. Baker’s Medway Theatre Company, performed ‘The Showman and the Chartist’, a play about the imagined meeting of two men both raised in Medway – renowned author Mr Charles Dickens and William Cuffay, tailor and Chartist leader.

The play was commissioned by Medway Council as part of the Heritage Action Zone, 2021 Heritage Open Days programme, and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

‘The Showman and the Chartist’ was performed on 18-19 September.  Tickets were free, but required pre-booking in advance.

These free history walks were developed for the Festival of Chatham Reach by Robert Flood, local historian, Chair of the City of Rochester Society and Vice-Chair of the Friends of Medway Archives.  Participants learnt about the Empire Theatre, Theatre Royal, the Great Fires of Chatham, Sun Pier and the river industries of Chatham Intra.

The pre-booked walks were held on 18-19 September.

Sun Pier, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4HF

The Festival of Chatham Reach was a family friendly festival, celebrating the river, the area’s heritage and traditional sailing skills.  A village fete atmosphere was created with a rich programme of hands on activities for all ages and abilities that allowed people to connect with the river in a brand new way. 

There were 3 National Historic Ships in attendance, local history stalls and boatbuilding demonstrations.  Activities included:

“I loved the mix of activities, things to look at, make and listen to that were new to many people.” 

Watch these history films about the Old High Street Intra