Rochester Castle Castle and cathedral stand close together near the River Medway. At least, it's the castle, which rules, the squat cathedral tower seeming minor alongside the magnificent keep. This is actually the highest from the Norman keeps, rising 115 ft to the peak of their corner turrets. Archbishop Corbeil's keep is intact save for losing its roof and flooring. A comparatively small floor area highlights the peak small that's when in comparison by having an immense cuboid for example Dover. The keep is five stages high, such as the double story, which contained the hall and photo voltaic. Initially, the only real entrance was in the beginning floor level using a forefront building. The forefront building is really a tall and narrow projection, greater than most forefront structures, though it doesn't rise the entire height from the keep. It consists of a vaulted prison chamber underneath the entrance vestibule as well as an austere chapel, that was arrived at in the body from the keep, above it. Only at that level, the mix wall is pierced with a four-bay arcade. In the center of the mix wall, a properly shaft increases the entire height from the keep to ensure that water might be attracted each and every level. Rochester is among individuals ambitious keeps having a mural gallery in the 2nd floor round the hall and photo voltaic. The home windows listed here are abnormally large for any Norman keep - most probably only at that height these were regarded as from achieve of siege towers. The very best floor over the gallery level, also well lit, is really a luxury matched up among Norman keeps limited to Hedingham Castle, who have been created by exactly the same architect. Three from the corner turrets, rising well above parapet level, are square, however the south corner turret is circular. This complete corner goes to Henry III's renovation following the siege of 1215.