The Guildhall Museum occupies Rochester's 1687 Guildhall, a handsome building on the High Street whose ornate plaster ceiling is itself worth a look. The museum covers the history of Rochester and the Medway towns from prehistoric times to the 20th century, with particular attention to the area's long maritime and military history.
Exhibits include material on the Medway's role in the English Civil War — the Dutch raid of 1667, which destroyed much of the English fleet at anchor here, was one of the most humiliating defeats in the Royal Navy's history — as well as displays on local trades and everyday life. Admission is free, and the museum is small enough to visit in an hour without feeling rushed. It makes a useful complement to the larger displays at Chatham Historic Dockyard nearby.