I’m rushing to do this review because the house has limited opening and is due to close for the winter on 27 September (it only opens from the end of May until the end of September on Thursdays and Fridays). Opening hours are 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Tickets are £8.50 for adults and £7.50 for concessions – all the other rates are on the website. See the website for all other details. Admission to the garden only is £4.50.
Many people visiting Rochester don’t know about Restoration House and so miss the chance to see an amazing listed house that has been beautifully restored by the current owners. The house started as two medieval buildings that were joined together 400 or so years ago to make a city mansion. It takes it name from the stay of Charles II on the eve of the Restoration and Miss Havisham’s `Satis House` in Great Expectations is based on it. All this information is on the excellent website which has some lovely photos of the interior. It is not possible to take photos inside the house apart from between 10.00 and 11.00 am.
Paintings, some by old masters, cover the walls in many of the rooms and recently more modern works have begun to appear amongst the more traditional portraits. Conservation has been undertaken by craftsmen, paint has been stripped to reveal paint effects and decorations from the time of Charles II, flowers from the garden are arranged in all manner of vases to beautiful effect, plus old musical instruments, interesting furniture and cabinets of curiosity in abundance. The garden is worth a visit in its own right; historic parts have been `rescued` and are still being developed with the addition of fountains, a rill and too much else to mention – a mini Chatsworth in the making.
There is a tea room serving drinks, cakes and excellent freshly made sandwiches all run by volunteers in aid of the Wisdom Hospice and Trefoil Guild. Large bags have to be left in a safe place at the entrance. A lot of stairs and steps so not ideal for those with mobility problems.
“Restoration House website”:https://www.restorationhouse.co.uk/