Have you ever wondered what stories are behind the fabulous buildings located along this stretch of road that links Rochester with Chatham, creating "Medway's Creative Heritage Quarter—the Old High Street Intra"?

From January 21 to the end of March, every Saturday you will be able to join a local costumed guide on a free walking tour around the creative heritage quarter. 

Tours last approximately 1 hour and start from outside Chatham House (corner of Hulkes Lane) at 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm.

Tours are led by a costumed guide or a local historian (non-costumed).

It is free to join the tour or pre-book via email.

Introducing our Guides

• Mrs Charles Dickens in 1858 – interpreting the area through the lens of those who are cast aside – with Intra being neither Chatham nor Rochester, but it’s own place of refuge
• Miss Anne Pratt in 1861 – Botanical illustrator interpreting the Old High Street Intra from the perspective of a hometown artist who grew up inspired by the natural green beauty in the area.
• Mrs Decima Moore in 1911 – Suffragist and a founder of the Actresses Franchise League, Interpreting the Old High Street Intra, through the perspective of protest and the theatre.
• James Hulkes Esq. Brewer and Regency Gentleman – Proud of ‘working-from-home’ at Chatham House and reflecting on the architectural and business growth of the Old High Street Intra.
• Napoleonic Prisoner of War in 1815 – Looking at the Old High Street Intra in it’s context of the river and the dockyard in times of strife.
• Mrs William Cuffay – an earlier Victorian political agitator, wife of the leader of the London Chartists (calling for votes for all). Born in Brompton, her husband, son of a freed slave, worked his apprenticeship in a tailors shop on Intra.

While sharing the history of the Old High Street Intra from their unique character perspectives, each costumed guide comes from a background of researching and delivering tours and live historical interpretation across the Historic Royal Palaces and each will also share a wide back pack of knowledge about the Intra area.  

As Medway’s hidden gem and diamond-in-the-rough, artists, makers, designers, performers and purveyors of international cuisine and fine ales, have naturally gravitated towards this area, making it into an incredible creative and heritage quarter. 

Want to discover more... check out our Chatham Intra blog.