Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Originally the middle bailey was defended by a curtain wall on a high earth bank running up from Peverell’s gate in the western outer curtain around in a long sweep to Ashford Tower in the east outer curtain, with a southward loop around the church of St. Mary-in-Castro. These works, including Coltons gate, are assumed to be part King John's phase of works (1199-1216). Little of this now survives apart from Coltons Gate, part of the wall running north and west of the gate and some of the earthworks. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• EARTHWORK (Medieval to Modern - 1199 AD to 2050 AD)
• GATE (Medieval to Modern - 1199 AD to 2050 AD)
• WALL (Medieval to Modern - 1199 AD? to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Originally the middle bailey was defended by a curtain wall on a high earth bank running up from Peverell’s gate in the western outer curtain around in a long sweep to Ashford Tower in the east outer curtain, with a southward loop around the church of St. Mary-in-Castro. Little of this now survives apart from Coltons Gate, part of the wall running north and west of the gate and some of the earthworks.

A wall was built on the enclosure round the church in the reign of King John (1199-1216), this was replaced in 1227 after the siege (1216). As finally completed, these works included an impressive earthwork topped by a curtain wall extending from the Peverell’s Tower on the west curtain to Ashford Tower on the east, with gates at each end and an entrance on the west side at Colton’s Gate.

Much of this curtain wall on the eastern side of Peverell’s Gateway has long been demolished, but the scarp of the bank running eastwards marks its line. Where this scarp turns south, a substantial length of stone wall remains, running along the top of the scarp and then turning sharply eastwards to die out at Colton’s Gateway. Traces of a possible wall-walk remain at intervals on the inside of the surviving wall, which is stone built. There are also at least four blocked doorways of post-medieval date, probably relating to later barracks known to have been located on the flat ground to the rear. The wall is medieval in origin, but has had extensive repairs and partial rebuilds. The exterior of the wall is now partly obscured by the growth of scrub and trees, and the impact of the steep earthworks diminished.

Colton’s tower which is located at the south eastern end of the surviving length of wall, which is assumed to be part of King John’s phase of works Rectangular, three-storey gate tower set into bank with steep roadway descending towards the south. On the exterior the plan at the base of the tower is rectangular, reduced to a semi-octagon above by corner spurs’ (also small battered base on inside); long loops on outer face and spurs, and pointed arch of Caen stone beneath ragstone voussoirs. The outer entrance has a door rebate but no portcullis slot. The roof is modern and there are now no floors (a modern scaffold floor has been inserted above the gate passage), though a door in the NE side led to the wallwalk. The two late medieval windows on the internal face may belong to the 1539 repairs. (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

Related records