Eastgate House

Eastgate House was built in the late 1590s for Sir Peter Buck, the Clerk of the Cheque at Chatham’s Royal Tudor Dockyard and it is considered one of England’s finest Elizabethan mansions. The building has undergone various modifications over the centuries and has been used as a Victorian-era boarding school, a private home and a Charles Dickens-themed museum.

The significance of Eastgate House lies not only in its architectural heritage but also in its association with Charles Dickens, who used the building as a backdrop in his works, where it featured as Westgate in The Pickwick Papers and as the nun’s house in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

What to see at Eastgate House

Eastgate House is open to visitors who can see inside the well-preserved Elizabethan townhouse and can also discover how the building played a role in several of Charles Dickens’ works.

This Grade I listed building, dating back to the late 16th century, offers a glimpse into its past, having served as a residence, Victorian school and a museum. Visitors can see exhibits chronicling the architectural evolution of Eastgate House, providing insights into its domestic and civic functions over centuries.

Notably, visitors can learn more about the association between Eastgate House and Charles Dickens, who integrated the building into his literary works including The Pickwick Papers. Displays feature artefacts and information related to Dickens, offering visitors a contextual understanding of the author’s connection to this historic site.

Visitors can also see a chalet where Dickens wrote several of his works. However, Dickens did not write anything at Eastgate House and the chalet on the grounds was relocated here in the 1960s from Dickens’ country home in Gad’s Hill.

Visiting Eastgate House

Eastgate House is in the centre of Rochester near the southern end of High Street. From here, most points of interest in central Rochester, including the Guildhall Museum, Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral, are no more than a 10-minute walk away.

Eastgate House is open Wednesday to Sunday and entry costs £6.

Visitor facilities include a small gift shop and the house’s central location means that there are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby.

If you enjoyed your visit to Eastgate House, you may also want to visit other attractions with a link to Charles Dickens including the Guildhall Museum, also in Rochester, the Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs, the Charles Dickens Museum in London and the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum in Portsmouth.

Allow around an hour for your visit to Eastgate House.