Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The eastern defences of Dover Castle facing a higher area of chalk downland, form an important aspect of the castle’s defences and are largely medieval in origin, although greatly altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Avranches Flank, located between Avranches Tower and the former site of Pencester Tower, is a remarkable survival of part of a sophisticated 12th-century defensive system. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• WALL (Medieval to Modern - 1190 AD? to 2050 AD?)

Full description

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The eastern defences of Dover Castle facing a higher area of chalk downland, form an important aspect of the castle’s defences and are largely medieval in origin, although greatly altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Avranches Flank, located between Avranches Tower and the former site of Pencester Tower is a remarkable survival of part of a sophisticated 12th-century defensive system.

The Avranches Flank was formed on the re-entrant across the non-aligned eastern ditches (from the Iron-age defences), where the curtain had to return from the outer (N end) of the ditch to the inner (S end) of the ditch, and with the Avranches Tower itself blocking the ancient entrance. The wall mostly dates to the 1790’s though is on the line of the medieval wall which connected Avranches Tower with Pencester Tower. The Avranches Flank terminates the northern end of the east ditch, above which it rises steeply; on the inside (to the NE) there is also a high earth rampart above the outer bailey. The lower tier of guns were mounted in casemates [Avranches Lower Flank], the upper tier fired through embrasures in the parapet that that also provided space for infantry [Avranches Upper Flank]. At the western end, this level is approached from Bell Battery by a narrow vaulted tunnel under the earthworks. This passes the remains of Pencester Tower. (summarised from sources) (1-3)

<1> D. F. Renn, 1969, Archaeologia Cantiana: The Avranches Traverse Dover Castle (Article in serial). SKE52130.

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

<3> English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document). SKE52105.

Sources and further reading