Restoration House is a grade I listed mansion of medieval origin with an enclosed, interconnecting, walled and terraced garden which forms an integral part of the mansion’s historic architecture. Restoration House owes its name to the commemoration of an overnight visit made by Charles II, during his restoration to the English throne. Alongside archaeological and documentary evidence, surviving features still visible today (2014) highlight the garden's historic integrety. The well documented history of ownership alongside modifications made to the site, enable a detailed history of the site to be compared to the archaeological and surviving features of prior phases of the gardens.

The earliest recorded date for the origin of Restoration House is 1454. Between the late C16 and the late C17 the site was significantly altered and buildings added to. Cumulative archaeological evidence verifies that a late C15 or early C16 terraced garden, enclosed by inner and outer walls, once existed. Little is known of the design but significant reamins of brick-base steps and Kentish ragstone terraced walling have been dated to this period. Excavations between April 2009 and April 2010, uncovered the remnants of a brick culvert scientifically dated c1590-c1647. These were found below grade II listed, diaper-patterned wall, known as the Tudor wall, which has been scientifically dated as c1590. Late C16 to C18 brick retaining walls have also been discovered, increasing their height in phases.Cartographic evidence of 1608-1612 also indicate an early C17 garden. Later cartographic evidene of C18 suggests that the gardens covered all the area lying between the now known Crow Lane (W), Victoria Street €, East Row (S), and St Margaret parish boundary (N).

In 2015, Kent Gardens Trust, conducted a review of the historic information regarding Restoration House, Rochester.

Taken from the review:
"OVERVIEW AND STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Restoration House is a grade I listed mansion of medieval origin with an enclosed, interconnecting, walled and terraced garden which forms an integral part of the mansion’s historic architecture. Significant surviving features, supported by archaeological evidence, pay testament to the garden’s historic integrity, and these include the remains of rare, late medieval to early Tudor stone walls, and a late Tudor diaper-brick wall. Importantly, the presence of Kentish ragstone, knapped flint and the use of galleting in the construction of the earlier walls, is considered analogous to the build character of the C15 to C16 Prior’s, Deanery and Chertsey Gates of Rochester Cathedral, and the early Tudor Shurland Hall on the Isle of Sheppey. Other walls which border and divide the garden survive intact, some of which date in part from the C17, C18 and C19. Documentary and cartographic evidence also supports many of these findings, but the potential exists for further archaeological investigations to add to the evidential value. The value of historic associations with royal and nationally-important figures is also significant, and these include King Charles II, Samuel Pepys and Charles Dickens.
Since the end of the C20, the garden has undergone considerable restoration with appropriate planting designs reflecting various phases of its history. In 2009, historic boundaries were returned to Restoration House with the acquisition of land that includes a former Tudor garden. Major restoration work to this area is in progress including the recreation of a Renaissance-style water garden: in particular, the reinstatement of the medieval and Tudor walls will restore architectural unity between house and garden, adding even greater significance. Both the house and the garden have long been valued by the community as landmark sites within the city of Rochester, attracting large numbers of visitors from around the world each year.

[Brief historic Overview:
The earliest recorded date for the origin of Restoration house is 1454. Between the late C16 and the late C17 the site was significantly altered and buildings added to. Cumulative archaeological evidence verifies that a late C15 or early C16 terraced garden, enclosed by inner and outer walls, once existed. Little is known of the design but significant reamins of brick-base steps and Kentish ragstone terraced walling have been dated to this period. Excavations between April 2009 and April 2010, uncovered the remnants of a brick culvert scientifically dated c1590-c1647. These were found below grade II listed, diaper-patterned wall, known as the Tudor wall, which has been scientifically dated as c1590. Late C16 to C18 brick retaining walls have also been discovered, increasing their height in phases.Cartographic evidence of 1608-1612 also indicate an early C17 garden. Later cartographic evidene of C18 suggests that the gardens covered all the area lying between the now known Crow Lane (W), Victoria Street €, East Row (S), and St Margaret parish boundary (N).

A more detailed description of the historic development of the house and gardens, as well as the ownership, can be found by referring to the original source document (1)]

General Site Information:
Restoration House and its garden lie towards the southern end of Crow Lane, 0.45km south-east of Rochester Castle and 0.32km south-east of the cathedral, in an urban area mainly defined by Victorian buildings with some earlier, late C16, C17 and C18 buildings. The river Medway forms a boundary to the city to the east and to the north. To the south, the c3.2ha garden boundary walls abut East Row and near the street’s western end, skirt around the gardens of two detached, late-C20 houses (Pretty Seat Mews), the north garden fences of which sit immediately above the Tudor wall; to the east, the walls abut Victoria Street at its southern extremity and further north The Terrace; to the north, the walls border The Vines Church (United Reform) and its grounds and, further east, the back gardens of The Terrace. The garden’s western boundary wall borders Crow Lane, on the opposite of which is The Vines public park. The ground rises to the south, and falls away to the east and to the north towards Rochester High Street and the River Medway beyond.

[Restoration House itself, listed grade I, is built of red and brown brick, with kent tile roofs.] Of medieval origin and described as a mansion house, it was formerly the political seat of the Clerke family. It was originally two buildings, at the north and south of the present site and which form the present north wing and part of the south wing (the remaining part of the south wing becoming part of Vines House next door). The south building has been dated to 1454, whereas the two-storey north building has been dated slightly later, between 1502 and 1522. In the late C16 and early C17, the south wing was extended to four storeys and a stair tower added. Further substantial changes were made between 1640 and 1660 when the two buildings were joined together, with the addition of the Great Hall, and first floor rooms above it, together with further building in the north wing. By 1670, the building was very much as it is now (2014), with the re-facing of the west façade, the provision of a porch and new stairs (at each end of the façade) to the upper rooms.

The Gardens:

There are five distinct areas of the garden: a small front garden to the west of the house; two interlinked walled areas immediately to the east of the house which together form the immediate rear garden; a walled area to the south of this, currently (2014) being laid out as an enclosed, late Renaissance-style water garden; a further walled area to the far east currently (2014) planned as a new orchard (Fig.21).
The enclosed c60 sq.m front garden is laid out with a central flagstone path, flanked by lawns, low box hedging and yew topiary. It leads to four ascending stone steps, and the main entrance of the house through to the gardens at the rear. A mature wisteria frames the front gate.
The c0.25ha rear garden, immediately east of the house, is defined mainly by fully enclosing and dividing red brick walls, clipped yew hedges, and terracing both west to east and south to north; a formal lily pond and box parterres provide focal points. It is divided into two on a west-east axis by a partly mid-C18 brick wall which runs the full length of the garden for c70 metres; each side is compartmentalised in a series of separate and distinct garden areas. [In the original document, a number of pages are dedicated to the description of the present layout of the garden, documenting clearly the distinct garden areas - see pages 7-12 - with a diagram of rear garden on page 7.] (1)

<1> Kent Gardens Trust, 2015, The Kent Compendium of Historic Parks and Gardens for Medway: Restoration House, Rochester (Unpublished document). SKE31416.