Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Hurst’s Tower, which is located between Peverells Tower and Cannons Gate, along the south western outer curtain wall of Dover Castle is one of a series of 13th-century towers dating from the reign of Henry III (1216-1272). It is one of three towers located along this stretch of the curtain wall, all of a similar date and in a similar style. (Gatton’s and Say’s towers are the other two). All of these have been altered or reduced in height to accommodate later (17th/18th-century) military requirements. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• GARDEROBE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1217 AD to 1700 AD?)
• OVEN (Disused, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1217 AD to 1700 AD?)
• TOWER (Altered, Medieval to Modern - 1217 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Hurst’s Tower, which is located between Peverells Tower and Cannons Gate, along the south western outer curtain wall of Dover Castle is one of a series of 13th-century towers dating from the reign of Henry III (1216-1272). It is one of three towers located along this stretch of the curtain wall, all of a similar date and in a similar style. (Gatton’s and Say’s towers are the other two). All of these have been altered or reduced in height to accommodate later (17th/18th-century) military requirements.

The plan of the base of the tower is rectangular, reduced to a D-shape at ground level by corner ‘spurs’; it has a rectangular extension on the north side with a batter at the level of the tower spurs. The tower has a loop at the lower level and the extension one small opening to the west and a drain at the bottom of the wall. The full D-shape of the tower returns as a slight projection inside the curtain wall; the rear wall has a wide pointed arch (of ragstone beneath a course of voussoirs) and traces of a recessed wall; the chamber retains its medieval groined vault and has a fireplace (S) and a loop window (W). The N extension has a barrel vaulted garderobe and a possible oven base in the lobby entrance (and there was possibly another chamber above this). The parapet has been reduced to accommodate post-medieval artillery, and partly reconstructed with a rounded top. (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 English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document).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