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

There are two large rooms of an unequal size located centrally within the Keep at Dover Castle across all floors and divided by a spine wall. The two at the second floor level which are thought to have been the high status rooms within the Keep. These rooms are the mostly elaborately decorated in the castle, the western of these two is traditionally believed to have formed the Kings chambers. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• GREAT ROOM (Medieval to Modern - 1181 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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

The basic layout of two large central rooms with mural chambers within the thickness of the external walls was established when the great tower was constructed in the 12th century. At the second floor level these two principal rooms are distinguished by the most elaborate carved decoration in the building. The slightly smaller room is to the west of the spine wall and is thought to have been the location of the Kings chamvers. Various alterations have been made to it since: for example in the reign of Edward IV (1461-83) a door in the spine wall was moved and a new plaster ceiling was installed for the visit of Henrietta Maria in 1625, parabolic brick vaults inserted in 1796 and the timber floors are considered to be 18th-century in date.

There is a 15th-century fireplace, much repaired, on the west face of spine wall with badges of Edward IV in spandrels. Round-headed embrasures, all with angle shafts, are present in north, south and west walls. Windows are in a 15th-century style. Mural chambers in west wall, north and south of west embrasure have 15th-century doorways, are barrel vaulted, and have mutilated 12th century string courses and 15th-century fireplaces. The northern chamber leads to a garderobe in the thickness of the north wall. As the only chamber to have a private garderobe on the principal floor, the north chamber has been traditionally identified as the probable location of the king’s bedchamber. (summarised from sources) (1-2)

Eight Samples from the timbers in Henry II's Keep at Dover Castle were analysed by tree-ring dating. This analysis produced a single site chronology of 141 rings spanning the period A.D. 1101- A.D. 1241. interpretation of the sapwood on the samples indicates that the timbers have an estimated felling date in the range A.D 1254-74. Thus the felling of these timbers does not relate to the original construction of the Keep but to subsequent works which, on the basis of structural and stylistic evidence, are believed to have been undertaken in the late 13th century. (3)

<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.

<3> Centre for Archaeology, 2001, Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Dover Castle Keep, Dover Castle, Dover (Unpublished document). SKE12163.

Sources and further reading

Related records