Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During an archaeological excavation undertaken within the inner bailey at Dover Castle associated with the laying of new utilities,a row of heavy piers were located on the inner face of the inner bailey curtain wall. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based o availabel information)

Monument Types

• PIER (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1330 AD?)
• WALL (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1330 AD?)

Full description

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During an archaeological excavation undertaken within the inner bailey at Dover Castle, associated with the laying of new utilities, a row of heavy piers at irregular intervals against the curtain. It is unlikely that these were ever carried up in masonry to the wall walk level but would seem rather to be supports for a timber staging to widen the wall walk. These are of a likely C14th date as this is when many castles were fitted up for artillery requiring a wide wall walk. The piers sat on a loose layer of soil and broke into the footings of an earlier wall at right angles to the curtain. This wall probably has a similar date to the piers against the curtain; some time in the C14th. The pottery within the layers associated with this wall and the piers is all of a C14th date and can mostly be attributed to between 1320 and 1330. (1)

<1> A. M. Cook, D. C. Mynard, & S. E. Rigold, 1969, Excavations at Dover Castle, Principally in the Inner Bailey A. M. Cook, D. C. Mynard, &S. E. Rigold (Article in serial). SKE52108.

Sources and further reading

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