The site, originally established by Bishop Justus in AD 604, is home to the present Rochester Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Construction of the current structure began in the 1080s under Gundulf of Rochester (1024-1108) and saw significant reconstruction in the 19th century by John Loughborough Pearson (1817-1897).
This cathedral is renowned for its splendid Norman architecture, with notable examples of the nave and parts of the crypt. It also boasts one of the finest Romanesque facades in the country, alongside impressive Gothic features from much later periods.
Among its treasures is the Textus Roffensis, written in the early 1120s in Rochester. This unique manuscript is the sole existing copy of the first English law code. It is considered one of the most pivotal documents in English history, influencing the Magna Carta of 1215.
