Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The western defences are the most prominent aspect of the castle’s defences and are largely medieval in origins and character. The western curtain wall south from the old north gateway as far as Peverell’s Gateway is attributed to the work of King John between 1204 and 1216 and marks the southernmost length of King Johns building campaign of the early C13th. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• GATE (Medieval to Modern - 1204 AD? to 2050 AD)
• TOWER (Medieval to Modern - 1204 AD? to 2050 AD?)

Full description

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Peverell’s tower marks the southern extent of King Johns defensive works (1199-1216) and is one in a series of early C13th towers located along the south western curtain wall. This tower also formed part of a gate from the middle bailey and linked the northern and southern halves of the castle which were once divided by a cross-wall running from the western outer curtain here to Penchester Tower on the eastern side of the castle.

Peverell’s Gateway consists of a D-shaped tower in the main curtain with two tiers of loops covering the outer approaches, backing on to a gate passage with a chamber above the roadway. The plan of the base of the tower is rectangular, reduced to a D-shape at ground level. Excavations for mains services in the 1970s uncovered evidence for draw-bridges at both ends of the passageway. The upper chamber once housed the drawbridge mechanism.There was no portcullis in the gate passage, which has two quadripartite vaults separated by an arch; in the east wall is a blocked opening led to a short passage and an outer arch that would have led directly to a path or passage leading to the Harcourt Tower and barbican of the Inner Bailey. If this is a primary arrangement, it would be an unusual gateway leading in two directions. Internally the medieval layout of rooms can still be traced, although modern plaster and studwork conceals a number of features. (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 English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document).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