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Monument details

HER Number:TR 34 SW 2533
Type of record:Monument
Name:Former site of an early tower within the south barbican of Dover Castle

Summary

During an archaeological excavation undertaken within the former site of the south barbican at Dover Castle, within the angle created by the two easternmost towers along the southern inner curtain, the broad footings of a quadrilateral tower, likely of an early date, were uncovered. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TR 3253 4192
Map Sheet:TR34SW
Parish:DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • TOWER (Demolished, Medieval - 1189 AD? to 1249 AD?)

Full description

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During an archaeological excavation undertaken within the former site of the south barbican at Dover Castle, within the angle created by the two easternmost towers along the southern inner curtain, the broad footings of a quadrilateral tower, likely of an early date, were uncovered. Only part of the north side of the gate passage remained and no trace of the other half could be found, presumably this would have been removed by subsequent pit digging and grading of the ground towards the south. This is clearly the earliest work on the site, it pre dates the towers on the southern barbican and possibly dates to Henry II works on the castle. The complete form and original context of this tower are uncertain but the preserved northern half had walls 2.4m thick, an internal width of 3m forming a chamber of 1.8m deep beside the entrance passage. The main structure was of compact, fairly small flint rubble with diagonally dressed quoins. There was no trace of any attached curtain wall on the northern side and no room for one on the western but the slight downward slope of the ground to the north, increasing westwards suggests that it was recessed in an earth wall rather than projecting. (1)


<1> S. E. Rigold, 1967, Excavations at Dover Castle 1964-1966 (Article in serial). SKE52109.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>XYArticle in serial: S. E. Rigold. 1967. Excavations at Dover Castle 1964-1966. Vol 30 Issue 1 PP 87-101. [Mapped feature: #102275 Tower, ]

Related records

TR 34 SW 2494Part of: Former site of barbican and towers protecting the Palace Gate within the Middle Bailey at Dover Castle (Monument)