I have set the latter part of my latest Dragonblade novel in and around Rochester, England. One of the characters introduced in the novel “Lyon on the Inside” is a Scottish “gentleman,” who is familiar to both Lord Macdonald Duncan and Lord Aaran Graham. His name is Mr. Donegal MacAlasdair, who was at one time a friend of Lord Duncan. He is reportedly a renown religious scholar and is presenting a series of lectures at Rochester Cathedral. He also happens to be the long-time lover of Lord Aaran Graham’s stepmother, Lady Eímear Rayland, née Eímear Boyde, as well as formerly known as Lady Graham and Lady Roland. Ironically, Mr. MacAlasdair is staying at Rayland Hall while he lecturing at Rochester. If you smell something rotten in Kent . . .

For those of you who know me more as a Jane Austen fan fiction writer than as a Regency era writer, though they overlap, I set Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s estate, Rosings Park, outside of Rochester in all the novels in which she appears.

Rochester, England, is a historic town in the Medway unitary authority of Kent, England, situated on the River Medway, approximately 30 miles southeast of London. Renowned for its rich Roman, Saxon, and Norman history, it features the impressive 12th-century Rochester Castle (with one of England’s tallest keeps) and the historic Rochester Cathedral. Known for its strong connections to author Charles Dickens, the town retains a charming, historic atmosphere with a High Street filled with independent shops and medieval to Victorian architecture. 

Key Aspects of Rochester, England:

• History & Heritage: Founded by the Romans as Durobrivae in 43 AD, the city was a strategic crossing point over the River Medway. It served as a major bishopric starting in the 7th century. The History of Rochester site tells us, “It wasn’t until 1088 after the Norman invasion that Rochester had its first stone castle built on the remains of the old Roman Fort. The then King, Rufus asked his Bishop Gundulf, an architect, to build him a stone castle and later a magnificent Cathedral, which is the second oldest in the country. Bishop Gundolf also built a leper hospital namely St. Bartholomew’s which was the oldest hospital in the country, albeit the original hospital has since disappeared.

• Key Landmarks: Rochester Castle: A Norman fortress with a well-preserved, imposing keep. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester_Castle#/media/File:Rochester_Castle_from_main_approach.jpg

• Rochester Cathedral: The second oldest cathedral in England, founded in 604 AD.
• High Street: Known for its cobbled streets, Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian buildings.
• Charles Dickens Connection: The famous author lived nearby at Gad’s Hill Place and frequently featured Rochester in his novels, including The Pickwick Papers and Great Expectations.
• City Status Misconception: While often referred to as a city due to its cathedral, Rochester technically lost its official city status in 1998 during local government reorganization, making it a “lost city” in terms of administrative definition.
• Location: Part of the “Medway Towns” (along with Chatham and Gillingham), it is easily accessible from London.