Restoration House

Featured in Dickens’ novel, Great Expectations, Restoration House is a unique example of a preserved city mansion, situated at the heart of Rochester. The house is adjoined by a large walled garden which dates back to at least the 1860s, and it is a quiet haven from modern life, only 100 metres from the old High Street. A central wall divides the garden, with archways set into it at intervals and a formal pond connects the two halves.

The Southern garden is dominated by a Box parterre, which sits alongside a herbaceous border and a long shrubbery. This area is more formal in style, with a lawn sweeping back up to the house and a long stone pond, overhung by quinces. The view is capped off by a greenhouse and vegetable garden, with a brick archway leading to a small garden room off to one side.

The grounds were extended in 2007 with the addition of a tiered section, with water cannons spouting into turreted rills and a stunning collection of fountains, statues and citrus trees. A brick gazebo and wooden temple offer respite from the summer sunshine, while visitors can head back up towards the house to see stunning displays of giant Echium and Wisteria beside the historic yew topiary.

The garden is certainly not the only attraction here, and visitors should make a point of visiting the historic house, to see the sensitively restored decor and fascinating collections of period artefacts, while refreshments are usually available at the cafe (closed due to COVID).

Note from Restoration House: Regrettably, we will not be able to open The Tea Shop this year. We will be serving a limited range of refreshments (tea, coffee, soft drinks and cake) from within the garden grounds. As in previous years, all proceeds will go to Wisdom Hospice and Trefoil Guild