Passers-by will have noticed another change to our excavation site near Rochester Castle, in the form of wooden hoardings. Now the site is enclosed we will be able to excavate… read more →

Medway Council is to install temporary barriers at the Rochester end of the New Bridge, following a recent crash. The incident, which involved two cars, caused damage to the railing… read more →

Three school pupils have been selected for sponsorship by the Rochester Bridge Trust. Selected through the Arkwright scheme, teenagers Silke Heyse, Theodore Macklin and Brecon Hoadley will benefit from mentoring… read more →

Thank you for your patience while we continue to keep an area of footway along the Esplanade closed. We are now able to tell you we appear to have rediscovered… read more →

An important part of the Trust’s ongoing maintenance programme involves keeping the bridges clean. This is partly to ensure they continue to look smart, but it also gives us the… read more →

As mentioned in our previous post, an archaeologist was in attendance for our Esplanade inspection work on Thursday, 3rd November. The archaeologist was on site because of the trial area’s… read more →

For three nights from today, Wednesday, 2nd November, there will be temporary off-peak single lane closures on Rochester’s bridges. The closures, which will take place between 9pm and 4am, are… read more →

Our Esplanade investigation work has now been running for just over a week and we appreciate your patience while this is going on. First of all, for those of you… read more →

The Rochester Bridge Trust is known for its ownership of and responsibility for the bridges between Rochester and Strood, but did you know we also own a section of the… read more →

We recently asked members of the public to share a bridge selfie next to one of our bridges in support of a campaign run by the Institution of Civil Engineers… read more →

Did you know the area of the Esplanade near Rochester Castle hasn’t always looked as it does today? When the Victorian bridge replaced the medieval crossing in 1856, the Esplanade… read more →

As part of the Rochester Bridge Trust’s ongoing maintenance programme, work will shortly begin to inspect areas of Rochester Esplanade near the Bridge Chamber and Castle. The work will involve… read more →

Four properties have been shortlisted for the newly-created Conservation category of the Kent Design & Development Awards 2016, which is sponsored by the Rochester Bridge Trust. The category seeks to… read more →

The Chief Executive of the Rochester Bridge Trust has joined a growing list of women interviewed to highlight the diversity of people working in engineering. Bridge Clerk Sue Threader has… read more →

The Institution of Civil Engineers is asking members of the public to share photos of themselves with their favourite bridges in support of a major new exhibition, and the Rochester… read more →

The Romans had a significant impact on the area in which we live – including building the first bridge at Rochester – and now members of the public can find… read more →

One of the first young people to be supported with a scholarship from the Rochester Bridge Trust has now graduated with a First Class Honours degree. Joshua Mudie, who is… read more →

Young people can now enjoy even more access to the water, thanks to the purchase of a new safety boat. The vessel has been bought by Hydra Explorer and Network… read more →

The Rochester Bridge Trust has appointed a new Education Officer, completing the new team which will deliver its programme of engineering education projects. Former teacher and school improvement consultant Aileen… read more →

Historians, editors and interested members of the public have celebrated the completion of an ambitious project to highlight the county’s past. After almost a quarter of a century of work,… read more →

The Chief Executive of the Rochester Bridge Trust has been named as a finalist in a national award scheme.

Sue Threader is shortlisted in the Principal of the Year category of the Charity Times Awards, which celebrate best practice in the UK charity and not-for-profit sector […]

Medway Council will be carrying out essential works along Strood High Street at off-peak times for one day on 12th July 2016, with a further week of works proposed between… read more →

Children of all ages learnt to be the bridge builders of the future at a free Family Engineering event. The Rochester Bridge Trust hosted a day of educational activities in… read more →

Kent’s architectural heritage is to be celebrated in a new Conservation category in the Kent Design & Development Awards 2016. Sponsored by the Rochester Bridge Trust, the category seeks to… read more →

We are pleased to tell you the main part of the workshop wall is now complete. All that remains is to remove the props and fill the gaps before we… read more →

As part of the City of Rochester Society’s Civic Day celebrations, families are invited to enjoy free bridge building activities at the Guildhall Museum, provided by the Rochester Bridge Trust.… read more →

The Rochester Bridge Trust has appointed its first Education Officer to bring forward its engineering education initiatives. Former science and physics teacher Sharron Mackenzie’s role includes organising and hosting bridge… read more →

As part of the Trust’s ongoing maintenance of the bridge and surrounding area we will soon begin to carry out ground investigations on the Esplanade at Rochester. The aim of… read more →

Passers-by at the Strood end of the Old Bridge will see there has been good progress on the workshop walls. As well as the first major sections of wall now… read more →

On Wednesday, 18th May, there will be a temporary off-peak single lane closure on the Old Bridge. The closure, which will take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm, is part of… read more →

A book highlighting the local works of one of the 18th century’s greatest landscape gardeners is being published by Kent Gardens Trust, with the support of the Rochester Bridge Trust.… read more →

Essential maintenance to the bridges at Rochester is due to take place overnight on Thursday, 28th April. The work, which will be carried out by FM Conway on behalf of… read more →

Bridge Clerk Sue Threader has been shortlisted in the Institute of Directors’ London and South East Director of the Year Awards 2015. The awards were open to all directors from… read more →

On Monday, the first brick was laid for the new façade. As previously mentioned, the bricks being used are Sevenoaks Yellow Stock and Staffordshire Blue Brindle Smooth. Here are a… read more →

It’s been a week or two since we’ve updated you on the works to the workshop walls, and work is progressing well. General repairs are still being undertaken, along with… read more →

As a medieval bridge charity, founded in 1399, the Rochester Bridge Trust has a long history and keen interest in restoration and maintenance of historic structures, buildings and artefacts. The… read more →

Soldiers pitted their wits against schoolchildren during a day of bridge building fun at the Royal Engineers Museum. The fun day out of the classroom saw around 40 children from… read more →

Organisations from across Kent as well as parts of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and West Sussex are invited to apply for grants worth £200 to £25,000 from one of the country’s oldest… read more →

The bridge we have today is a reconstruction of the Victorian bridge designed by Sir William Cubitt and the structure now revealed would have been built at the same time… read more →

One of the Rochester Bridge Trust’s main challenges is to ensure there will be enough skilled, experienced civil engineers to continue to maintain the bridges for centuries to come. Such… read more →

As passers-by will know, the facing wall at the Strood end of the bridge has now been taken down. As would be expected with any restoration work, it’s revealed a… read more →

To facilitate Medway Council’s resurfacing works in Strood, there will be two overnight closures of the approach roads to the Rochester bridges. On Monday, 14th March, there will be no… read more →

Learn about bridges and their important part in our lives at a free talk being hosted jointly by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Among… read more →

The chief executive of a Rochester charity has been recognised with the highest grade of membership offered by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Sue Threader, who is Bridge Clerk… read more →

In order to sympathetically replace the bricks in the workshop walls, research has been done to source the most appropriate materials. Two of the sample panels are pictured here. Photo… read more →

Members of the public are invited to learn more about one of the most versatile but often overlooked civil engineers of the mid-19th century, who for a time was official… read more →

Three ancient stained glass panels have been restored in memory of a First World War hero and former Warden of the Rochester Bridge Trust. The work on the Filmer Armorial… read more →

The works to replace the workshop walls – which will begin imminently – are due to take place over several months. There should be minimal disturbance to the public and… read more →

As the most aesthetically pleasing option – and the one most likely to obtain listed building consent – the removal and reconstruction of the whole wall was chosen as the… read more →

After many years of research, a considered response was required to select the most suitable solution to fix the damaged wall. This led to three options being put forward: Previous patchwork… read more →

Where the Old Bridge runs over land in Strood, a series of arches are built into the brickwork. These arches house a number of Trust workshops and stores, and passers-by… read more →

As part of its work, the Rochester Bridge Trust is committed to promoting awareness and understanding of civil engineering among young people, families and teachers. A range of projects is… read more →

This section of the website will focus on all aspects of the Rochester Bridge Trust’s monitoring and maintenance programme, from minor cleaning to major works. Until now, lane closures and… read more →

Members of the public are invited to an evening of reflection as a solicitor shares highlights from his 50-year career. Michael Bailey’s talk will launch the Rochester Bridge Trust’s programme… read more →