Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

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)

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

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