Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A number of piers/groynes are depicted on mapping dating to the early post medieval period in an area which is now occupied by Dovers Western Docks. (location accurate to the nearest 100m based on available information)

Monument Types

• GROYNE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1535 AD? to 1850 AD?)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

A number of piers/groynes are depicted on mapping dating to the early post medieval period in an area which is now occupied by various modern harbour works to the south of Dover’s Western Docks. It is likely that these were originally constructed from rock and timber as part of Thompson’s scheme of works which were undertaken at Dover Harbour between 1535 and 1551. These works encountered the recurring problem of the accumulation of silt and sediment within the mouth of the harbour, which, when at its worst, would prevent ships from entering it. The groynes were constructed to prevent this accumulation but were ultimately unsuccessful in this aim and the problem was only solved in the later years of the 16th century. Despite being ineffective in their primary aim, these groynes did aid the creation of the large area of waterfront land to the south of the harbour, which became an important and densely populated part of Dover’s town in the later post medieval period. (1)

Numerous post medieval cartographic sources show these groynes, some of which are likely to have been drawn shortly after their construction. One of the earliest depictions of them is that by Thomas Digges which was drawn after Thompsons’ works but before the Elizabethan scheme of works had begun. On this, two large stone groynes are shown on the southern side of Thompsons works, to the west of the Black Bulwark. (2) Another, almost contemporary depiction of them was completed by Symonds and dates to 1583-4, on this a third groyne has been added. (3) After the Elizabethan works have been started but before they are completely finished, a second map produced by Thomas Digges shows two groynes, here they are labelled ‘Chapell Groyn’ and ‘Stonhams Groyn’ though it is unclear as to whether these are the same as those represented in the 1581 and 1584 plans. (4) On a final plan produced by Digges, dating to 1595, after the completion of these Elizabethan works on the harbour, only one of these groynes appears to be present; it is again labelled (this time in a key) as ‘Stonehams Groyne’. (5) It is clear that despite failing in their primary function of preventing the accumulation of silt in the harbour, they were deemed worthy of retention throughout the earlier and mid post medieval period; this is proven by their appearance on William Eldreds plans which date to1631 and 1641. On the latter three groynes are shown, the westernmost is labelled ‘Archliffe Head’ and is in the same approximate position as ‘Chapell Groyn’ on the 1588 map. ‘Stonehams Groyne’ here labelled ‘Stonhams Hed’ has been preserved and an additional groyne, labelled ‘Hamons Head’ has been added. (6-7)

Further later post medieval maps which show these groynes include that by Foquet dating to 1737 (8), Hogben dating to 1769 (9), Rennie dating to 1805 (10) and Tucker dating to 1833 (11) though on these maps only one of the groynes is present and it is labelled ‘Cheesemans Head’ (on the 1769, 1805 and 1833 maps) or just ‘Jettee’ (on the 1737 map).

<1> M. S. Johnson, 2015, Historic Timber-built Seacoast Piers of Eastern England: Technological, Environmental and Social Contexts (Unpublished document). SKE32003.

<2> Thomas Digges, 1581, The State of Dover Haven (Map). SKE31984.

<3> John Symonds, 1583-1584, Dover Harbour (Map). SKE32347.

<4> Thomas Digges, 1588, Plan of Work at Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31986.

<5> Thomas Digges, 1595, The state of Dover Haven with the New workes (Map). SKE31987.

<6> William Eldred (?), 1631, Plan of lands belonging to the Priory and now to Master Buffkyn (Map). SKE31988.

<7> William Eldred, 1641, The Platt of Dover Castle Towne and Harbor (Map). SKE31804.

<8> J. Foquet, 1737, Plan of the town, harbour and fortifications of Dover (Map). SKE31991.

<9> Thomas and Henry Hogben, 1769, The topography and Mensuration of Dover Pier, Harbour, Houses and Lands from DHB (Map). SKE31992.

<10> John Rennie, 1805, Plan of the Town and Harbour of Dover (Map). SKE31993.

<11> John Scott Tucker, 1833, Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31994.

Sources and further reading