Earlier in the week, I went for a wander around Rochester. After I’d posted some letters, I went to have a look at Charles Dickens’ Swiss Chalet.
Charles Dickens’ Swiss Chalet
This is the place where Charles Dickens wrote his last, and famously unfinished, novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which is set in a town alarmingly similar to Rochester. The house has been transplanted from its original location in Higham, to a courtyard off Rochester High Street, near the public library (perhaps appropriately enough). In the courtyard there are some ponds and lots of lavender…and a dragonfly:
Down the high street there were already quite a lot of Diamond Jubilee -related decorations…
Bunting in Rochester High Street
…and some delicious-looking items in the sweet shop window.
I ended up at the cathedral, and found a lovely tree.
This tree stands in the gardens behind the cathedral. It is very tall, and quite wide of trunk, and, therefore I assume it’s probably very old. I spent quite a long time looking at it. I like trees, and this one is a particularly beautiful one. It’s on a bank, and you can see its roots going down into the ground and all the other plants growing around and on it. It reminded me of Lothlorien in The Lord of the Rings!
I also found some windows in the sky, which are actually part of the ruins of the 12th-century cathedral chapter house, later briefly part of a royal palace for King Henry the Eighth, according to the sign.
Finally, some peonies. I’d like to have a peony plant in my garden one day.
Peonies in the cathedral garden
Rochester looks a beautiful place. I love all the photos – the one of the dragonfly is so clear. I like old trees too – it is amazing how old some of them actually are. It is quite awe inspiring to think of all the things that have happened in their lifetime.
Beautiful shots – Rochester looks so pretty.
Thanks, Trish and LadyFi. Rochester is very pretty. Lots of historic buildings, and lovely grounds around the cathedral. It also has a lot of independent shops, which makes a good change nowadays.