England Lord of Rochester
The Lordship of Rochester
Rochester's lordship stretches to Roman Durobrivae. The bishopric, established in 597 AD, is the second oldest in England. The Bishop has been a Lord Spiritual for over a thousand years.
Rochester Castle's Norman keep, built in the 1120s, is one of England's best-preserved. King John besieged it in 1215, undermining one corner by burning pig fat in a tunnel.
The Earldom was created in 1652 for Henry Wilmot, a Royalist. His son John Wilmot, 2nd Earl, became one of the most notorious Restoration court figures, a brilliant poet and libertine.
Bishop John Fisher was executed by Henry VIII in 1535 for refusing to acknowledge the King as Supreme Head of the Church.
Charles Dickens set many novels in Rochester, and his unfinished Mystery of Edwin Drood uses the city as its setting.
Rochester and the Peerage
The Earldom was created in 1652 for the Wilmot family and 1682 for Laurence Hyde. The bishopric is one of England's oldest.
Among the notable figures associated with Rochester, John Wilmot, 2nd Earl was known for restoration poet. Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl, second creation, also left a significant mark on the area's history.
View the full Peerage Hierarchy ChartNotable Lords of Rochester
The 2nd Earl once disguised himself as a quack doctor on Tower Hill, selling fake medicines, for the amusement of living unrecognised among ordinary people.
England Noble Surnames
Explore the noble heritage of England's most prominent family names and discover their connections to the peerage.
Become a Lord or Lady of England
While the historic lordship of Rochester is part of history, you can still legally hold the title of Lord or Lady of England today. From just £55.
