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Monument details

HER Number:TR 34 SW 491
Type of record:Building
Name:The Citadel, Western Heights, Dover

Summary

The Citadel, the main defensive fort of the Dover Western Heights. The earliest work on this fort dates to the last quarter of the 18th century and is some of the earliest works within the western heights overall. Today, some of the 19th century buildings within the fort, as well as some of the defensive works, have been adapted for use as a prison. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TR 3083 4051
Map Sheet:TR34SW
Parish:DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • FORT (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1779 AD? to 1945 AD?)
  • PRISON (Modern - 1956 AD? to 2018 AD?)
Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 1020298: FORTIFICATIONS, ROMAN LIGHTHOUSE AND MEDIEVAL CHAPEL ON WESTERN HEIGHTS

Full description

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The citadel was first planned in the late 18th century. It was redesigned and almost completed between 1804 and 1815 but remained unfinished until 1853-5. It then developed over the next 100 years with changes to armaments and use, eventually becoming a barracks and a mobilisation centre. During the First World War it was equipped with an anti-aircraft gun. During the Second World War it was extensively used and fortified. It passed to the Prison Commissioners in 1954. (1-2)

From the National Heritage List for England:

When initially begun, the Citadel consisted of a large parade ground surrounded by store houses, barracks, magazines and an unrevetted defensive ditch. It was originally planned to arm the Citadel with forty-three 18 pounder guns, and 31 carronades. Water for the barracks was supplied via a well 130m in depth. Work in completing and revetting the ditches around the Citadel did not begin again until 1853 and also included the addition of flanking casemates and a two storey casemated barracks in the South Lines designed to accommodate an extra 500 men. (3)

A First World War wireless signal station is thought to have existed in the south-west corner of the garrison and Coastguard station at NGR Ref: TR 30437 40336. No remains appear tohave survived. (4)


<1> English Heritage, 2004, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent: Report No. 2: The Citadel (Unpublished document). SKE17690.

<2> Liv Gibbs, 2012, Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights (Unpublished document). SKE17708.

<3> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<4> Oxford Archaeological South, 2016, First World War Wireless Stations in England. (Bibliographic reference). SKE31551.

<5> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2004. The Western Heights, Dover, Kent: Report No. 2: The Citadel.
<2>Unpublished document: Liv Gibbs. 2012. Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights.
<3>Index: Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
<4>Bibliographic reference: Oxford Archaeological South. 2016. First World War Wireless Stations in England..
<5>Unpublished document: Kent Defence Research Group. c. 1993. Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs'.

Related records

TR 34 SW 2028Parent of: Armourer's Shop/Smithy of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2052Parent of: Bread and Meat Store of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2026Parent of: Canteen/Recreational Institute of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2027Parent of: Coal Yard and Straw Barn of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2058Parent of: Company Office, Company Store and Sergeants Bunk of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2017Parent of: Counterscarp Casemates of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2018Parent of: Counterscarp Gallery of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2057Parent of: Later Cook House and Dining Rooms of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2013Parent of: Left Flanking Casemates of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2023Parent of: Main Magazine of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2001Parent of: Possible original (late 18th century) layout of the Citadels Defences, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2012Parent of: Right Flanking Casemates of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2056Parent of: Shower, Baths and Drying Room of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover. (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2053Parent of: Soldiers room of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2029Parent of: Stables and workshop at the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2020Parent of: Temporary Barracks of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2030Parent of: The Armoury/laboratory/Medical Inspection Building of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2054Parent of: The Artillery Store/Shoemakers Shop of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2055Parent of: The Carpenters shop of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2016Parent of: The Gorge Casements of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover. (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2014Parent of: The Long Casemates of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2005Parent of: The main ditch of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2032Parent of: The Officers Quarters of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2051Parent of: The Sergeants Mess Establishment of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2006Parent of: The Tenaille of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2033Parent of: The Western outworks of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2031Parent of: Warrant Officers Quarters of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2025Parent of: Water tanks supplying the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2024Parent of: Well and Pump house of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2015Parent of: West Face Casements of the Citadel, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 82Part of: Western Heights, Dover (Monument)