Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A set of five casemates are located on the southern side of Cannons Gate. These were constructed in the 1790's in line with Twiss' modernisation of this part of the curtain wall. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CASEMATE (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1790 AD to 2050 AD)
• GUARDHOUSE (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1790 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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To the south of Canon’s Gate can be found five casemates, which were constructed in the mid 1790s in line with Twiss’ modernisation of this part of the curtain wall. A 1927 plan of this area indicates there were many changes to the interior layout in the late 19th/early 20th century with the casemates clearly serving their purpose as a guard house with two detention cells set within the fourth casemate. The southernmost casemate has also been subdivided and contains a passage leading to a new extension containing a storeroom on the Tudor Bulwark. A wash house was added on the southern side of the casemates. The two southernmost casemates are adjacent to a section of brick walling in the curtain wall making the rooms wider the three northern casemates are arranged to the north of here, with fireplaces in their western walls and abut the wide medieval curtain wall making their width shallower. The original fabric of the casemates is still largely intact. A doorway leads from the south side of Canon’s Gate to the first of the casemates which has always been used as a guardroom. The second casemate is used by the guards as a kitchen and has a small WC set within the north-western corner. Internally the remaining casemates have evidence of many original features. Summarised from sources (1-2)

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 English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document).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

Sources and further reading

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