Miss Havisham

We spent some time in Rochester today, a place neither of us had ever visited before.

The town is very fine, with a wonderful cathedral (the second oldest in Britain), a fine castle, and lots of other great buildings, especially along its High Street (first extra). Charles Dickens lived just outside the town and used it in lots of his novels.

On our mindfulness walk, someone had recommended a visit to Restoration House, so we did just that (second extra). It is absolutely tremendous in lots of different ways. It is in private ownership, but open two days a week for four months (today and tomorrow the last days of this year). Volunteers act as guides and run a teashop, everything raised goes to a local hospice.

Probably the best Elizabethan house I have ever visited, full of the most extraordinary things. The current owners bought it ( incredibly) from Rod Hull of Emu fame 20 years ago. Charles Dickens used the house as the model for Miss Haversham’s house in Great Expectstions. What the owners have done in 20 years is amazing. And the gardens are worth a visit in their own right, with quite a story to tell. Rochester is worth visiting just for Restoration House. No photography allowed inside the house of course.