Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The east Demi Bastion is located at the south-eastern edge of the castle, on the cliff edge and forms part of the comprehensive remodelling of the castle’s eastern defences undertaken in the 1790’scentury for artillery warfare. Underground passages were also constructed here to allow direct access to East Demi-Bastion from behind the main rampart. The bastion was remodelled in the 19th century (between 1871 and 1874) during which time large gun emplacements were added and a large underground magazine was constructed. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on availbale information)

Monument Types

• BASTION (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1790 AD to 2050 AD)
• GUARDHOUSE (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1790 AD? to 2050 AD)
• TUNNEL (Disused, Post Medieval to Modern - 1790 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The east Demi Bastion is located at the south-eastern edge of the castle, on the cliff edge and forms part of the comprehensive remodelling of the castle’s eastern defences undertaken in the 1790’scentury for artillery warfare. Underground passages were also constructed here to allow direct access to East Demi-Bastion from behind the main rampart. The bastion was remodelled in the 19th century (between 1871 and 1874) during which time large gun emplacements were added and a large underground magazine was constructed.

The bastion consists of an irregular four sided earthwork immediately beyond the east ditch. Built structures include a guard room with brick floor and brick walls painted white as well as fixtures such as a fireplace and iron railings. There is also a gun room and a long narrow passage extending towards the castle to allow direct access to the East Demi Bastion from behind the main rampart. East Demi-Passage was heavily defended at each end with musket loops and bascule drawbridges providing further protection. There are further chambers flanking the East Demi-Passage which provide ammunition storage and which also allow further access to the musket loops. The main east-to-west orientated passage has a semi-circular brick vault and the walls are of white painted brick. There are wide vaulted rooms to each side of this passage with firing loops and forming magazines. At the eastern end of this passage the tunnel kinks to the north and there are drawbridges at either end of this section with counterweight pits surviving. 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