Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The curtain wall surrounding the inner bailey of Dover castle is part of the earliest Medieval works at the castle and though they were altered in the 18th and 19th centuries, much of the medieval material and their essential character has been preserved. The south curtain extends from the south-east corner tower to the Palace Gate and has two mural towers. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CURTAIN WALL (Medieval to Modern - 1181 AD to 2050 AD)
• TOWER (Medieval to Modern - 1181 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The curtain wall surrounding the inner bailey of Dover castle is part of the earliest Medieval works at the castle and though they were altered in the 18th and 19th centuries, much of the medieval material and their essential character has been preserved. The south curtain extends from the south-east corner tower to the Palace Gate and has two mural towers.

Originally the four mural towers were open backed, and as illustrated by Bereblock in the 1560s the walls were crenellated, but these were removed when the parapets were reformed. Externally the walls and towers have a battered base, but little evidence of original openings, though there are post medieval windows in the south-east tower. The entire parapet and tower tops are levelled and there is a wall walk behind the barrack roofs. Between Barracks 8 and 9 there is a stone stair rising against the curtain (with iron hand rails) up to parapet level. The interiors of the towers are largely exposed in Barracks 7, 8 & 9, with masonry revealed where plaster has been removed from the walls. (summarised from sources) (1-3)

<1> English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document). SKE52105.

<2> Johnathan Coad, 1995, English Heritage Book of Dover Castle and the Defences of Dover (Monograph). SKE52106.

<3> John Bereblock, 1570, John Bereblock's view of Dover Castle (Cartographic materials). SKE52107.

Sources and further reading