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Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

HER Number:	TR 34 SW 5
Type of record:	Listed Building
Name:	Dover Castle

Summary

An extensive 12th/13th century concentric castle on the Eastern Heights overlooking Dover. Little Medieval internal detail survives. The palatial apartments in the keep are recognisable despite their conversion to ordnance stores and the insertion of a bombproof vault at roof level. The same later military use applies to many of the mural towers to a lesser or greater degree. The Medieval structures around the inner bailey have been largely converted into barracks, although parts of Arthur's Hall have been recovered by archaeological excavation. The configuration of earthworks on the cliff top is believed to have its origins in a prehistoric hillfort of probable Iron Age date and a Saxon burgh. The castle and surrounding area have been heavily modified and extended over the years particularly during the 18th - 20th centuries with additional gun emplacements and underground shelters. The site also contains the Roman Pharos Lighthouse.

Images

Grid Reference:	TR 3248 4194
Map Sheet:	TR34SW
Parish:	DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

LIGHTHOUSE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BARRACKS (Medieval to Modern - 1100 AD? to 2050 AD)
CASTLE (Medieval to Modern - 1100 AD? to 2050 AD)
TUNNEL (Medieval - 1100 AD? to 1539 AD?)
GUN EMPLACEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
TUNNEL (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
UNDERGROUND MILITARY HEADQUARTERS (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Protected Status:	Register of Scheduled Monuments (EH national number) 30281: Title not entered; Listed Building (I) NAR

Full description

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Sources and further reading

Cross-ref.	Source description
<1>	Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. OS 6" 1961
<2>	Monograph: Ralegh Radford, C. A.. 1959. Dover Castle. MOW Dover Castle 1959 (CA Ralegh Radford)
<3>	Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. F2 ASP 20.05.64
<4>	Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. DOE (HHR) Dist of Dover 1973 4
<5>	Monograph: Allen Brown, R. 1988. Dover Castle. Dover Castle Eng Heritage Guide 1988 photos plans (R Allen Brown)
<6>	Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Anc Mons in England 2 1978 112
<8>	Unpublished document: Phillip, A.. 1964. Field report Dover Castle TR 34 SW 5 - May, 1964.
<10>	Collection: Hardman, F. W.. F W HARDMAN MSS.
<11>	Monograph: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1991. Canterbury's Archaeology: 1989 - 1990. CAT Annual Report, 1989-90. p 26- 29
<12>	Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1965. Dover Castle. Dover Castle placed in guardianship 22/01/1965
<13>	Unpublished document: Paul Roberts (Assistant Insp. of Ancient Monumnets. Historic Properties SE). 1996. Dover Castle: Broadlees Bottom Car Park. Assessment of Archaeological Importance.
<14>	Monograph: Andrew Saunders. 1997. Channel Defences. pages 29, 39, 68, 81, 85-87, 95, 96, 105, 110, 120-121
<15>	Unpublished document: Smith, V. C. and Saunder, A.. 2001. Kents Defence Heritage. KD41
<16>	Collection: Rigold, S: Collection.
<17>	Monograph: H. M. Colvin. 1963. The History of the King's Works Vol.1 and 2.
<18>	Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1993. Watching brief atthe King's Gate, Dover Castle.
<19>	Unpublished document: Centre for Archaeology. 2001. Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Dover Castle Keep, Dover Castle, Dover.

Related records

TR 34 SW 217	Parent of: Bomb-Proof Arches, Dover Castle (Monument)
TR 34 SW 644	Parent of: Hurst Tower, Dover Castle (Monument)
TR 34 SW 642	Parent of: Iron Age Hillfort at Dover Castle (Monument)
TR 34 SW 66	Parent of: Late Saxon Burials near St. Mary in Castro, Dover Castle (Monument)
TR 34 SW 3	Parent of: Pharos Lighthouse, Dover (Listed Building)
TR 34 SW 643	Parent of: Probable Fortified Saxon Settlement at Dover Castle (Monument)
TR 34 SE 143	Parent of: Spigot mortar mounting at dover castle. (Monument)
TR 34 SW 42	Parent of: St Mary's in Castro, Dover (Listed Building)