Textus Roffensis (Rochester, c. 1122-3), folio 119r: Copy of the foundation document of Rochester Cathedral, dated to 604, though actually a fraudulent document! Image by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral.

The digital technology enables users to zoom in close to details, such as this small pointed finger, on folio 173r, marking out the name Gundulfus (Gundulf, the bishop of Rochester, who built the castle at Rochester). Image by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral.

Here, on folio 119v, you can see the boundary clause for the land granted to Rochester Priory by King Æthelberht of Kent. This charter is written in Latin except for the boundary clause, which is written in Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxons. Though this document is fraudulent, we know from the historian Bede that Æthelberht did indeed grant land to Rochester. It is possible that the boundary clause represents the original transaction; and if so it is the oldest record of English street names. As well as Southgate ('suðgeate'), North Lane ('norð lanan'), and Street ('stræte'), you can see Broadgate ('Bradgeat') which has been underlined by a later hand. In the left margin a non-medieval hand has offered a translation of the Old English. Image by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral.