England

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264.

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264. The castle was probably built shortly after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The castle is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. During the rebellion of 1088 against the new King William II, the king learnt that Bishop Odo of Bayeux, one of the leaders of the rebels, was on his way from Rochester to Pevensey, a castle belonging to Robert of Mortain. The king reacted quickly and was able to capture his two uncles Robert and Odo. Odo was made to swear that he would persuade the garrison of Rochester Castle to surrender, and the king sent him to the castle with a small force. When they called on the citizens of Rochester to open the gates, the castle garrison made a mounted charge, overpowered the royal soldiers and entered the city in triumph with the freed Bishop Odo. The enraged king immediately began the siege of Rochester. After a siege lasting several weeks, the castle garrison including Bishop Odo, Eustach of Boulogne and Robert of Bellême were forced to surrender. The rebels were allowed to leave England with their horses and weapons, but lost their English possessions and titles. This was the first of three sieges in the Middle Ages that ruined the castle complex so that a slow decline began. In 1314, Elizabeth de Burgh, the wife of the Scottish king who was in English captivity, was briefly held prisoner in the castle. In 1363, King Edward III decided to carry out extensive renovations. The castle was renovated and the two towers on the eastern curtain wall were erected. Between 1383 and 1393, a new stone bridge was built over the Medway. However, the castle had lost its military importance and fell into disrepair. In 1599, Queen Elizabeth I authorised the demolition of parts of the curtain wall so that the stones could be used to strengthen the coastal defences.

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264. The cathedral's founder and first bishop was Justus, one of the missionaries sent to England by Pope Gregory I at the request of St Augustine of Canterbury in 601. After the Norman conquest of England, Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine from Le Bec Abbey, had a Benedictine monastery built next to the cathedral and the cathedral itself was rebuilt. The consecration took place in 1130 in the presence of King Henry I. The nave and west façade as well as parts of the crypt have been preserved from this construction. A fire damaged the cathedral in 1137, and reconstruction began in 1180 with the construction of the Gothic choir, which surpassed the nave in size. The veneration of William of Perth, who, according to local tradition, was slain by his foster son as a pilgrim to Jerusalem near Rochester in 1201 and canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256, brought pilgrims to the cathedral, enabling the Gothic building project to continue. The new choir was consecrated in 1227 and the northern and southern transepts were built in the following decades. Bishop Hamo Hythe had them vaulted and the mighty crossing tower erected. One hundred years later, the current clerestory of the nave and the western façade window were built. With the English Reformation, the Benedictine monastery of St Andrew was dissolved and the cathedral was given a new, Protestant cathedral chapter. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1825 and 1872. The crossing tower was renovated in 1904.

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264. The cathedral's founder and first bishop was Justus, one of the missionaries sent to England by Pope Gregory I at the request of St Augustine of Canterbury in 601. After the Norman conquest of England, Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine from Le Bec Abbey, had a Benedictine monastery built next to the cathedral and the cathedral itself was rebuilt. The consecration took place in 1130 in the presence of King Henry I. The nave and west façade as well as parts of the crypt have been preserved from this construction. A fire damaged the cathedral in 1137, and reconstruction began in 1180 with the construction of the Gothic choir, which surpassed the nave in size. The veneration of William of Perth, who, according to local tradition, was slain by his foster son as a pilgrim to Jerusalem near Rochester in 1201 and canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256, brought pilgrims to the cathedral, enabling the Gothic building project to continue. The new choir was consecrated in 1227 and the northern and southern transepts were built in the following decades. Bishop Hamo Hythe had them vaulted and the mighty crossing tower erected. One hundred years later, the current clerestory of the nave and the western façade window were built. With the English Reformation, the Benedictine monastery of St Andrew was dissolved and the cathedral was given a new, Protestant cathedral chapter. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1825 and 1872. The crossing tower was renovated in 1904.

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264. The cathedral's founder and first bishop was Justus, one of the missionaries sent to England by Pope Gregory I at the request of St Augustine of Canterbury in 601. After the Norman conquest of England, Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine from Le Bec Abbey, had a Benedictine monastery built next to the cathedral and the cathedral itself was rebuilt. The consecration took place in 1130 in the presence of King Henry I. The nave and west façade as well as parts of the crypt have been preserved from this construction. A fire damaged the cathedral in 1137, and reconstruction began in 1180 with the construction of the Gothic choir, which surpassed the nave in size. The veneration of William of Perth, who, according to local tradition, was slain by his foster son as a pilgrim to Jerusalem near Rochester in 1201 and canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256, brought pilgrims to the cathedral, enabling the Gothic building project to continue. The new choir was consecrated in 1227 and the northern and southern transepts were built in the following decades. Bishop Hamo Hythe had them vaulted and the mighty crossing tower erected. One hundred years later, the current clerestory of the nave and the western façade window were built. With the English Reformation, the Benedictine monastery of St Andrew was dissolved and the cathedral was given a new, Protestant cathedral chapter. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1825 and 1872. The crossing tower was renovated in 1904. Graffiti near the portal

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264. The cathedral's founder and first bishop was Justus, one of the missionaries sent to England by Pope Gregory I at the request of St Augustine of Canterbury in 601. After the Norman conquest of England, Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine from Le Bec Abbey, had a Benedictine monastery built next to the cathedral and the cathedral itself was rebuilt. The consecration took place in 1130 in the presence of King Henry I. The nave and west façade as well as parts of the crypt have been preserved from this construction. A fire damaged the cathedral in 1137, and reconstruction began in 1180 with the construction of the Gothic choir, which surpassed the nave in size. The veneration of William of Perth, who, according to local tradition, was slain by his foster son as a pilgrim to Jerusalem near Rochester in 1201 and canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256, brought pilgrims to the cathedral, enabling the Gothic building project to continue. The new choir was consecrated in 1227 and the northern and southern transepts were built in the following decades. Bishop Hamo Hythe had them vaulted and the mighty crossing tower erected. One hundred years later, the current clerestory of the nave and the western façade window were built. With the English Reformation, the Benedictine monastery of St Andrew was dissolved and the cathedral was given a new, Protestant cathedral chapter. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1825 and 1872. The crossing tower was renovated in 1904. The nave

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264. The cathedral's founder and first bishop was Justus, one of the missionaries sent to England by Pope Gregory I at the request of St Augustine of Canterbury in 601. After the Norman conquest of England, Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine from Le Bec Abbey, had a Benedictine monastery built next to the cathedral and the cathedral itself was rebuilt. The consecration took place in 1130 in the presence of King Henry I. The nave and west façade as well as parts of the crypt have been preserved from this construction. A fire damaged the cathedral in 1137, and reconstruction began in 1180 with the construction of the Gothic choir, which surpassed the nave in size. The veneration of William of Perth, who, according to local tradition, was slain by his foster son as a pilgrim to Jerusalem near Rochester in 1201 and canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256, brought pilgrims to the cathedral, enabling the Gothic building project to continue. The new choir was consecrated in 1227 and the northern and southern transepts were built in the following decades. Bishop Hamo Hythe had them vaulted and the mighty crossing tower erected. One hundred years later, the current clerestory of the nave and the western façade window were built. With the English Reformation, the Benedictine monastery of St Andrew was dissolved and the cathedral was given a new, Protestant cathedral chapter. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1825 and 1872. The crossing tower was renovated in 1904. The choir stalls

Rochester, today a town with a population of around 24,000, was founded by the Romans in 43 AD as a fortified town with a bridge over the Medway River. The area had been inhabited by Romano-British, Jutes and Saxons since the Anglo-Saxon conquest in the middle of the 5th century. In 604, St Augustine of Canterbury sent Justus to build a cathedral near Rochester. The cathedral´s school, the King's School, still exists today. Rochester became the second episcopal see on the British Isles after Canterbury. In 676, Rochester was sacked by Æthelred of Mercia. In the Viking Age, the city was sacked by the Danes in 842 and 884. In 877, Alfred of Wessex ordered ships to be built to fight the Danes. This heralded the era of shipbuilding in the towns on the Medway. In 930, Rochester was granted the right to mint coins. Around 1100 Bishop Gundulf began building the new Rochester Cathedral on the remains of the former cathedral. The cathedral was completed in 1130. In 1215, the city was conquered by John, King of England (John Lackland) and attacked by Simon V de Montfort in 1264. The cathedral's founder and first bishop was Justus, one of the missionaries sent to England by Pope Gregory I at the request of St Augustine of Canterbury in 601. After the Norman conquest of England, Bishop Gundulf, a Benedictine from Le Bec Abbey, had a Benedictine monastery built next to the cathedral and the cathedral itself was rebuilt. The consecration took place in 1130 in the presence of King Henry I. The nave and west façade as well as parts of the crypt have been preserved from this construction. A fire damaged the cathedral in 1137, and reconstruction began in 1180 with the construction of the Gothic choir, which surpassed the nave in size. The veneration of William of Perth, who, according to local tradition, was slain by his foster son as a pilgrim to Jerusalem near Rochester in 1201 and canonised by Pope Alexander IV in 1256, brought pilgrims to the cathedral, enabling the Gothic building project to continue. The new choir was consecrated in 1227 and the northern and southern transepts were built in the following decades. Bishop Hamo Hythe had them vaulted and the mighty crossing tower erected. One hundred years later, the current clerestory of the nave and the western façade window were built. With the English Reformation, the Benedictine monastery of St Andrew was dissolved and the cathedral was given a new, Protestant cathedral chapter. Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1825 and 1872. The crossing tower was renovated in 1904. Cafés in or under churches and cathedrals were a surprise for me

St Nicholas Church is located in Worth, a village in Crawley. St Nicholas Church has been a place of Christian worship for well over 1000 years. It is known that the church is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and parts of it have been dated to between AD 950 and 1050, in particular the chancel arch and apse. It was built in what, at the time, was a forest. The reason for building a church here is unknown, but it is surmised that the area would have had good hunting grounds and royal or noble visitors. As it was a large church isolated in the forest, it is unlikely it was just for local needs. After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror gave the church to his son-in-law William de Warenne. In the 14th century, the church was passed from the de Warrenne family to the Fitzalan family. The current tower was added in 1871 to replace an earlier building which rested on tree trunks. During restoration work in 1986 a fire broke out. The roof timbers were severely damaged so the the building became unstable. The restoration was complete by 1988. It was during the extensive work archaeologists were able to confirm the dating of the church's original construction. The church is still in use as a parish church today and it may well be the oldest church in continuous use in the country.

St Nicholas Church is located in Worth, a village in Crawley. St Nicholas Church has been a place of Christian worship for well over 1000 years. It is known that the church is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and parts of it have been dated to between AD 950 and 1050, in particular the chancel arch and apse. It was built in what, at the time, was a forest. The reason for building a church here is unknown, but it is surmised that the area would have had good hunting grounds and royal or noble visitors. As it was a large church isolated in the forest, it is unlikely it was just for local needs. After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror gave the church to his son-in-law William de Warenne. In the 14th century, the church was passed from the de Warrenne family to the Fitzalan family. The current tower was added in 1871 to replace an earlier building which rested on tree trunks. During restoration work in 1986 a fire broke out. The roof timbers were severely damaged so the the building became unstable. The restoration was complete by 1988. It was during the extensive work archaeologists were able to confirm the dating of the church's original construction. The church is still in use as a parish church today and it may well be the oldest church in continuous use in the country.

St Nicholas Church is located in Worth, a village in Crawley. St Nicholas Church has been a place of Christian worship for well over 1000 years. It is known that the church is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and parts of it have been dated to between AD 950 and 1050, in particular the chancel arch and apse. It was built in what, at the time, was a forest. The reason for building a church here is unknown, but it is surmised that the area would have had good hunting grounds and royal or noble visitors. As it was a large church isolated in the forest, it is unlikely it was just for local needs. After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror gave the church to his son-in-law William de Warenne. In the 14th century, the church was passed from the de Warrenne family to the Fitzalan family. The current tower was added in 1871 to replace an earlier building which rested on tree trunks. During restoration work in 1986 a fire broke out. The roof timbers were severely damaged so the the building became unstable. The restoration was complete by 1988. It was during the extensive work archaeologists were able to confirm the dating of the church's original construction. The church is still in use as a parish church today and it may well be the oldest church in continuous use in the country.

St Nicholas Church is located in Worth, a village in Crawley. St Nicholas Church has been a place of Christian worship for well over 1000 years. It is known that the church is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and parts of it have been dated to between AD 950 and 1050, in particular the chancel arch and apse. It was built in what, at the time, was a forest. The reason for building a church here is unknown, but it is surmised that the area would have had good hunting grounds and royal or noble visitors. As it was a large church isolated in the forest, it is unlikely it was just for local needs. After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror gave the church to his son-in-law William de Warenne. In the 14th century, the church was passed from the de Warrenne family to the Fitzalan family. The current tower was added in 1871 to replace an earlier building which rested on tree trunks. During restoration work in 1986 a fire broke out. The roof timbers were severely damaged so the the building became unstable. The restoration was complete by 1988. It was during the extensive work archaeologists were able to confirm the dating of the church's original construction. The church is still in use as a parish church today and it may well be the oldest church in continuous use in the country. The baptismal font

Clayton is a village about 10 kilometres north of Brighton, it is mentioned in the Domesday survey in 1086, when it was called Claitune or Claitona. The Anglo-Saxon church was in the possession of Lewes Priory, which had been given it by de Warenne in 1093. The original dedication of St John the Baptist's Church was All Saints what was a common dedication during the Anglo-Saxon era. The small and simple Anglo-Saxon building is distinguished by its "remarkable" and extensive set of wall paintings, dating from the early 12th century and rediscovered more than 700 years later. Much of the structural work of the church is 11th-century and has had little alteration.

Clayton is a village about 10 kilometres north of Brighton, it is mentioned in the Domesday survey in 1086, when it was called Claitune or Claitona. The Anglo-Saxon church was in the possession of Lewes Priory, which had been given it by de Warenne in 1093. The original dedication of St John the Baptist's Church was All Saints what was a common dedication during the Anglo-Saxon era. The small and simple Anglo-Saxon building is distinguished by its "remarkable" and extensive set of wall paintings, dating from the early 12th century and rediscovered more than 700 years later. Much of the structural work of the church is 11th-century and has had little alteration.

Clayton is a village about 10 kilometres north of Brighton, it is mentioned in the Domesday survey in 1086, when it was called Claitune or Claitona. The Anglo-Saxon church was in the possession of Lewes Priory, which had been given it by de Warenne in 1093. The original dedication of St John the Baptist's Church was All Saints what was a common dedication during the Anglo-Saxon era. The small and simple Anglo-Saxon building is distinguished by its "remarkable" and extensive set of wall paintings, dating from the early 12th century and rediscovered more than 700 years later. Much of the structural work of the church is 11th-century and has had little alteration. The wall paintings were painted by monks from Lewes Priory, this was the first Cluniac house in England and had close links to its mother priory at Cluny in Burgundy, and the art techniques developed at Cluny were very influential. The murals were uncovered between 1893 and 1895 when Charles Eamer Kempe was restoring the interior. More were uncovered during subsequent alterations between 1917 and 1919. Most authorities agree that they are frescoes—painted directly on wet plaster.

In the 1960s, when "Swinging London" was the hub of the world, I spent three summer holidays in the UK as a teenager. I was a hitchhiker and never knew where I would end up in the evening and many nights I spent outside in a sleeping bag. I was fascinated by this glittering, sparkling Brighton in the 60s. We have both grown older, only the Clock Tower in the center of Brighton did not change.

In the 1960s, when "Swinging London" was the hub of the world, I spent three summer holidays in the UK as a teenager. I was a hitchhiker and never knew where I would end up in the evening and many nights I spent outside in a sleeping bag. I was fascinated by this glittering, sparkling Brighton in the 60s. We have both grown older.

In the 1960s, when "Swinging London" was the hub of the world, I spent three summer holidays in the UK as a teenager. I was a hitchhiker and never knew where I would end up in the evening and many nights I spent outside in a sleeping bag. I was fascinated by this glittering, sparkling Brighton in the 60s. We have both grown older.