Rochester

History and Ghost Story--------

From the guide book:

Soon after the battle of Hastings the Normnas built a castle at Rochester to guard the point where the Roman road of Watling Street crossed the river Medway. The castle was rebuilt in stone at the end of the 11th Century by the Bishop of Rochester, who was also responsible for the Tower of London. The keep was built by the Archbishop of Canterbury who was granted the custody of the castle in 1127. It remained in the hands of the Archbishop until 1215, when it was taken over by the Crown after a seven-week seige by King John.

From my good friend Jackie:

It is said that the ghost of Lady Blanche haunts the battlements. During some siege in medieval times her lover went to war. One of the enemy soldiers acquired the token Blanche had given to her love, a handkerchief or some such thing he wore on his armour. This enemy took it and Blanche thought it was her lover returned, she let him in. He then let his troops in and the castle was taken. He cornered her on the battlements. Her lover, meanwhile, had arrived and saw this. He fired an arrow at his enemy but it glanced off his armour and plunged into the breast of Blanche, she fell to her death from the battlements. In remorse, her lover threw himself into the river and drowned. Her death is supposed to be re-enacted every Easter.... Believe what you will but Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote a poem called 'The Ballad of Oriana' and it is obviously based on this legend.