Royal Crown Hotel

The Royal Crown Hotel is a public house located on Rochester High Street, built between 1859 and 1861. It features yellow brick with flush pointing and a clay tile roof. The building is situated on a corner site and has a total of 10 windows, including three facing the Esplanade, with three curved corner bays. It stands two storeys high with an attic, showcasing a string course and dentilled eaves. All windows are topped with segmental arches and have stone cills supported by brackets, with nine prominent dormers. The windows are four-pane horned sash throughout, although one window bay on the High Street has been blocked on both floors to accommodate chimney flues.

The entrance is located at the corner and is framed by an elaborate stone surround featuring panelled pilasters, reveals, a panel above adorned with swags, and a moulded cornice. It includes half-glazed double doors with an overlight. The first-floor windows on the curved elevation have simple cill railings. The building has two large axial stacks and a notable lateral stack facing the High Street, which is two stages high and features corbelled caps. Cast-iron rainwater goods are present.

The end elevation facing Gandulph Square is nearly symmetrical, with a five-window range and a gable wall designed as a pediment, featuring a dentilled string course between the first floor and three attic windows. An apex roof ventilator is shaped like an acorn surrounded by oak leaves. A first-floor doorway on the left side is accessed by ornamental cast-iron stairs, while the ground floor has a central doorway with a stone architrave and half-glazed double doors beneath a rectangular overlight, along with another panelled door to the right with an overlight. The windows on this elevation match those of the other sides. There are railings at the cellar windows, and the spear-headed railings along the Esplanade elevation connect with those at No 1 Esplanade, which are included in this listing. The Royal Crown Hotel occupies a prominent position at the end of Rochester Bridge.