Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Guildford battery, which is located below and to the east of the Moat’s Bulwark at the foot of the cliffs, was constructed in the 1780’s. It was one of four new gun positions created in this period as part of a modest programme of upgrading positions at Dover in response to the outbreak of war with France in 1778 and it was intended to defend the harbour. The new battery was armed with four 32 pdr guns and several carronades. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• BATTERY (ruined structure, Post Medieval to Modern - 1780 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The Guildford battery, which is located below and to the east of the Moat’s Bulwark at the foot of the cliffs, was constructed in the 1780’s. It was one of four new gun positions created in this period as part of a modest programme of upgrading positions at Dover in response to the outbreak of war with France in 1778 and it was intended to defend the harbour. The new battery was armed with four 32 pdr guns and several carronades. The plans for the new battery also show the existing buildings of Moat’s bulwark and so it would appear that the bulwark merged with the new battery at this time. Later additions to the Guilford battery include some accommodation buildings to the east. The battery remained in use probably until the late 1870s and is now mostly demolished or lying beneath the dual carriageway south of Moat’s Bulwark. Summarised from sources (1-2)

The Battery is mentioned in a number of histories of the town which were produced throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. (3-4)

The Battery is also clearly shown on a number of historic maps of the town, mainly dating to the late 18th or 19th centuries. (5-8)

<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 English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document).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.

<3> William Van Mildert, 1828, A Short Historical sketch of the Town of Dover and its Neighbourhood. (Monograph). SKE32004.

<4> J. Bavington Jones, 1907, Dover; A Perambulation of the Town, Port and Fortress. (Monograph). SKE32120.

<5> Lieutenant Thomas Hyde Page, 1784, Plan showing field works and Defences in Dover (Map). SKE51521.

<6> John Scott Tucker, 1833, Plan of Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31994.

<7> 1843, A Plan of the Town and Port of Dover with intended additions and improvements now making (Map). SKE53485.

<8> John Rennie, 1805, Plan of the Town and Harbour of Dover (Map). SKE31993.

Sources and further reading

Related records