Sweeps Festival in Rochester

Another sunny Saturday in England. Aren't we lucky?! And to top it off, Monday is a Bank Holiday, so we get 3 days off work. Hurray! Now what to do with our days off? Micah suggested visiting a little town that I've been wanting to see for a very long time. We've ridden the train past Rochester 3 times on our way to Canterbury and Dover in the past. Seeing the stone castle and the top of a beautiful Cathedral always gets me curious! So, on Saturday, we took the trip out there.

The town's claim to fame is that Charles Dickens lived in this area as a young boy, and then again later on in his elder years. Hits of a Dickens love affair pop up throughout the town! Just look at the shop names below!

We thought it would be a quiet Saturday afternoon as we headed towards Rochester, but the sight we saw as we walked down High Street amazed us!

All of these characters are dressed up for the annual Sweeps Festival and parade! The festival dates back to age old traditions - nearly 300 years ago, when sweeping chimneys was a dirty but necessary trade. In colourful (and a bit wacky!) costumes, live bands play peppy tunes while tradition (and non-traditional) dances are performed in the streets.

Our first glimpse of Rochester Castle, built in the early 12th century. It is one of the best preserved examples of Norman architecture in England and is also the tallest. Not to mention, in some spots its walls are 12 feet thick! Have fun storming the castle!
As we headed in through the Castle gate, we saw quite the scene. A carnival had been established in the castle's green -- a clash of 21st century chaos with the symbol of old-world strength and power.
We took a nice stroll along the river where this bridge borders the west end of town. The River Medway comes straight from the English Channel and is popular for boating.
We saw many funny sights through the day, but this one really had us laughing... this woman seems to have found her peaceful resting place! This little Swiss chalet is where Dickens spent many summers writing his novels! He wrote his last words in 1870 in the upstairs room through the doors you see on the second floor in the photo below. (At the moment I'm reading Bleak House - a 700+ page novel, but my favourite Dickens' novel so far has been Great Expectations. Dickens Fans, please leave a comment and tell me your favourite!)Pilgrims seem to be famous just about everywhere and Rochester is no exception! This narrow alley leading to the Cathedral is named Pilgrims Passage because it was the way they would pass to enter the church through its north entrance.

The beautiful Cathedral

Behind the Cathedral was a beautiful garden space, which is also the location of an old Monk Abbey. Some of the remains are well persevered here, but one can also see the progression of old and new as the Cathedral was enlarged over the years.

Back to the busy festival streets for a last look before catching the next train towards home!