Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The row of brick casemates are located on the northern side of Dover Castle, immediately behind the Norfolk Towers and date from the c.1795-1805 strengthening of the northern defences. They have been formed to provide a raised gun platform immediately to the rear of the Norfolk Towers for a battery of four heavy guns, and much-needed accommodation for troops. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CASEMATE (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1795 AD? to 2050 AD)
• GUN EMPLACEMENT (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1795 AD? to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The row of brick casemates are located on the northern side of Dover Castle, immediately behind the Norfolk Towers and date from the c.1795-1805 strengthening of the northern defences. They have been formed to provide a raised gun platform immediately to the rear of the Norfolk Towers for a battery of four heavy guns, and much-needed accommodation for troops. The 19th-cent. casemate fronts remain largely original; the exceptions are the second casemate from the west that had double doors inserted when it was used to house the castle fire-engine, probably in the 1920s, and the third from the east that has only a single light window at first floor level and a solid door below. This may be a late 19th-cent. alteration. More recently, the eastern pair of casemates have been adapted as lavatories for visitors. The casemates are unusually tall which has allowed for an upper storey to be installed and because of the configuration of the Medieval towers they are vary in depth. Their northern end incorporated the Medieval curtain and towers. The casemates were designed to be linked internally and most still do although it is possible that some of the internal openings have always remained sealed by thin brick walls. The fronts of the casemates have a door flanked by sash windows, and above one large sash flanked by two small windows. (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 English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document).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

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