HISTORY.
take a look at the history along the old high street.
The Star Hill to Sun Pier Conservation area contains 34 historical assets including Grade I and II listed buildings throughout, with The High Street considered a designated heritage asset in its own right.
The High Street has a wealth of very fine historic buildings, including the early 18th century Master Brewers House and Chatham Memorial Synagogue.
Over the years, the area between the High Street and the river was occupied by a range of industries, including the Hulkes Lane brewery. The narrow lanes and industrial buildings contribute to the area’s unique character.
Check our events for history tours & walks.
Check our events for history tours & walks.
chatham house.
Chatham House was the home of the Hulkes and Arkcoll brewing families. The building was converted into the Featherstone’s retail outlet in the 1900s and closed to the public in the 1980s.
Chatham House is a Grade II listed early 18th century brewery mansion house, refronted in the early 19th century and modified in the early 20th century with a shop front added.
Most recent refurbishments to the Georgian mansion took place in 2022. The work involved completely restoring the front of the building to return the site to its former glory and get the building back into use, funded by the High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme.
st bartholomew’s hospital.
In 1078, Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester, founded St Bartholomew’s Hospital (St. Bart’s) for lepers. It was built outside Rochester’s city walls as leprosy sufferers had to be kept away from the public.
As leprosy largely disappeared from England in the 14th century, the hospital fell into decay. The Deans of Rochester still received an income from the lands and property and in 1847, it was ruled that these funds must be used for charitable use. In 1863 a new St Bart’s Hospital building opened.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the hospital was modernised. A hydraulic lift was installed in 1900, and in 1901 you could order a ‘horse ambulance’ by phone.
When the hospital became part of the new NHS in 1948, it could accommodate 201 patients. Eventually the building was deemed unsuitable and the services were relocated; St Bart’s closed its doors for good in 2016 as Britain’s oldest surviving hospital.
chatham unitarian church.
Chatham Unitarian Church is a Victorian rebuild of the previous chapel with high ceilings and impressive east and west windows.
This non-designated Heritage building is the latest (1889) evolution of a church that started life in a private home on Hamond Hill in 1655.
In 1802, the meeting house was demolished, replaced by a new building, now referred to as the ‘Unitarian Baptist’ chapel. This building was opened by the Revs. Sampson Kingsford and William Vidler. The Rev Vidler was both a prominent Unitarian and advocate of Universalism (the belief that all souls would eventually be saved).
The current building, erected in 1889, was paid for by two sisters as a tribute to their late parents, John and Selina Tribe. A memorial plate to the couple can be found inside the church hall.
Hulkes lane brewery.
Brewing was established on The Old High Street Intra by the 17th century in the area between the high street and river which was once private gardens; the buildings on Hulkes Lane tell the story of changing industry in the area.
In the 18th century, the site was leased by brewer Isaac Wildash and his son John, who later went into business with Thomas Hulkes, who took it over in 1795.
In 1877, the brewery and its adjoining mansion house were sold to Charles Arkcoll & Co., who renamed it the Lion Brewery. Brewing ceased on the site in 1912.
After various commercial uses, the former brewery was leased by the furniture removal business Curtiss and Sons, whose painted signage survives on the wall of one of the buildings.
chatham memorial synagogue.
The Chatham Memorial Synagogue began construction in 1865 and was opened in 1870.
It was built by local merchant Simon Magnus as a memorial to his only son, Captain Lazarus Simon Magnus, who died in 1865 at the age of 39.
To the south of the synagogue is a Jewish burial ground, in use from the 18th century. The burial ground’s proximity of the cemetery to the synagogue is extremely rare, since the two are normally completely separate. The Chatham site is thought to be the only one in Britain to have a synagogue and adjacent cemetery, with both elements pre-dating the 20th century.
Lazarus’ tomb is a focal point in the burial ground and there is a condition in the synagogue’s deed of trust that it must always be visible from the road.
our history articles.
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