ROMANCE OF ROCHESTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

ROMANCE OF ROCHESTER

" SIX POOR TRAVELLERS " 350-YEAR-OLD CHARITY 0 - MEMORIES OF CHARLES DICKENS To-day, 350 years after its foundation, a charity still exists which gives hospitality every night to " six poor travellers." Appropriately enough, it is at Rochester, with which the life and work of Charles Dickens are largely identified, that the charity exists. In the first of his Christmas stories, " The Seven Poor Travellers," the novelist tells of his visit to a.house in the High' Street of tho ancient city. On the door of the house a tablet, dated , August 22, 1579, informed all and sundry that " Richard Watts, Esq., founded this Charity for Six Poor Travellers, who, not being Rogues or Proctors, May receive gratis for One Night, Lodging, Entertainment and Fourpenco each." "When Dickens wrote his story he was the seventh traveller, and hi 3 signature may still be seen in the reception book. Littlo is known of Richard Watts except that ho was a very great benefactor to Rochester and that, through his munificence, six poor men may to this day enjoy the hospitality in the modernised building still known as "The Six Poor Travellers." Much of the original building remains, including the men's bedrooms, each containing a bed, chair, fireplace and Bible, but much has been added. , Each man, for instance,, may have a hot bath before enjoying his supper of half a pound of meat, a loaf of bread and a pint of oocoa in the comfortable dining room, where tho latest periodicals are also provided for him to read. Six pairs of slipperß stand ready in a neat row, and it can be imagined how much this littlo attention is appreciated by footsore men who have probably been tramping the streets in search of work since early morning. ' / , Tho charity provides for only six men, md the master of the Six Poor Travelers fyas an unenviable task when he has to select that number from 20 or 30 applicants, as is the case in the winter months. To qualify for admission a man must show that, however poor and needy he may be, he has made an effort to keep himself of clean appearance. The master alsp endeavours to have, a complete change of guests each night, in order that as many as possible may enjoy the hospitality provided for bv the will of Richard Watts. 'in the "morning the six poor travellers are given another pint of cocoa and, with what they have saved from their meal of the previous evening, are assured of a good breakfast before being sent on their way with fourpenco in their pockets and in their hearts at least one happy memory of their sojourn at Rochester.