Two readers have emailed to clear up the mystery of this delapidated Medway building.

Mr Michael Lewis, clerk to Rochester Bridge Trust, says that to remember the “quirky old building” you would have to be aged about 150.

He adds the picture shows the boardroom of the Commonalty of Rochester Bridge set above one of the passageways leading to Gundulph Square, and fronting onto the roadway from the medieval Rochester Bridge, now part of the Esplanade.

He says to the left of the picture is the Bridge Chapel, which at that time had a false portico, and where the Commonalty stored its records.

Mr Lewis points out the row of shields bearing coats of arms and the large shield above the centre window, which carries the coat of arms of the Commonalty. These can now be seen inside the Chapel.

He adds that to the right of the picture is the site of The Waterman’s Arms pub, which was purchased from the Earl of Jersey by the Commonalty. The Earl was the owner of Rochester Castle.

The pub was demolished by the Commonalty and the offices of what is now Rochester Bridge Trust were built on the site.

In the background are the stables of the old Crown Hotel, which fronted onto the High Street. These, says Mr Lewis, are now the Masonic Hall. To the left of this building is the first of the cottages which still stand there.

Mr Alan Moss of the City of Rochester Society, adds that the archway beneath the Chamber gave access to the stable yard of the Crown Inn which was demolished in 1863, to be replaced by the current Crown.

Mr Moss adds that to the left of the old chamber was the Bridge Trust’s record room which had been constructed in front of the old Bridge Chapel, known as the Chapel of All Souls. This had ceased to function as a chapel after the reformation.

The remains of the Chapel were uncovered during the rebuilding and restored as a meeting room for the Trust in 1937.

There is a dispute however about the space to the right of the building. Mr Moss says it was the site of the Queen’s Arms public house, demolished in the 1870s.