Restoration House

About the museum

Restoration House in Rochester grew from several medieval buildings into a grand city mansion by 1667. It takes its name from the stay of King Charles II on the eve of the Restoration in 1660, when the house belonged to Sir Francis Clerke. Samuel Pepys admired it as the pretty seat of Sir Francis Clerke, and Charles Dickens is said to have used it as the model for Miss Havisham’s Satis House in Great Expectations.

The house passed through many owners over the centuries and was rescued from demolition in the 1980s, when it was bought and extensively restored. More recent owners have continued the work and have uncovered mid-17th-century decorative schemes that show the continental fashions of the period.

The house and its garden are open to the public on a limited number of days each summer. Visitors tour the rooms and the garden, where a restoration project has been under way, and the tea shop serves refreshments indoors and in the garden. The owners ask visitors to leave bags in the free lockers while touring the house.

Highlights

• Pre-Civil-War city mansion built up from medieval buildings by 1667
• Link with the stay of Charles II before the Restoration of 1660
• Said to be the model for Satis House in Great Expectations
• Mid-17th-century decorative schemes uncovered by restoration
• Garden and tea shop

Permanent exhibitions

• The historic house – Rooms of a city mansion built up from medieval buildings by 1667, with decorative schemes from the mid-17th century.
• The garden – A restored garden with a Grade II listed summer house, open on the same days as the house.

Admission & discounts

Prices are for house and garden in 2026. Historic Houses members and CPRE members are admitted free. Art Pass holders pay the senior price.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Neither the house nor the garden is currently suitable for wheelchair users.

Kids & families

Children aged 5 to 16 pay a reduced price and a family day ticket is available.

Getting there & parking

Address for navigation: Restoration House, 17–19 Crow Lane, Rochester, ME1 1RF.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Lockers

The tea shop is open from 10:00 to 16:30 and serves sandwiches, cakes, tea, coffee, soft drinks and gluten-free options indoors and in the garden. Bags must be left in the free lockers while touring the house.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit