Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

First and Second World War Port War Signal Station with concrete over the remains of a Fire Command Post dating to 1905 and the earlier late 19th century Hospital Battery covering the harbour. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• BATTERY (Post Medieval to Modern - 1874 AD to 1905 AD)
• COMMAND POST (Modern - 1905 AD to 1945 AD?)
• RADIO STATION (Modern - 1920 AD? to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

• CANNON (Post Medieval - 1800 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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Hospital Battery (TR 34 SW 2582) was converted in 1905 to a Fire Command Post overlooking the Harbour. Admiralty installations were added on top in 1914 when the Port War Signal Station was shifted from the Western Heights. This was built immediately above the Fire Command Post. From here the Navy was able to monitor and control all shipping entering and leaving the harbour. A wireless station was added to the rear and a concrete protective cover was added in 1918. A further flat concrete roof was constructed in 1941 as protection from air attack. (1)

Observation of restoration works in 2007 exposed original features and fittings of the station, including a 19th century cannon embedded in the floor vertically to serve as the mount of some sort, the exact function is unclear. (2)

The Admiralty Lookout is formed by a group of plain structures with a simple functional character. Externally the Lookout is dominated by a reinforced concrete shell dating from the Second World War but this encloses earlier structures from each of the Admiralty Lookout’s phases of operation. The Admiralty Lookout is a good example of the huge importance of electronic and telephonic communications in 20th-century warfare. In the Second World War they were also closely linked to the command centre in the secret wartime tunnels. The significance of the building is enhanced by the survival of historical documents including a detailed plan of the FC Post in May 1944 and by evidence for their fittings and fixtures. (3-4)

Further information within (5)

<1> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD172 (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2008, Further Archaeological Observations made during Restoration work at the Admiralty Lookout, Dover Castle (Unpublished document). SKE16820.

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

<4> Johnathan Coad, 1995, English Heritage Book of Dover Castle and the Defences of Dover (Monograph). SKE52106.

<5> Paul Pattison, 2010, Admiralty Lookout and the Defence of Dover Harbour, 1905–1945 (Unpublished document). SKE52154.

Sources and further reading

Related records