Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A set of tunnels, known as the Esplanade Level Tunnels, are located close to street level at the foot of the cliff face. These are the earliest of the tunnels excavated around and beneath Dover Castle and some parts of the tunnel appear to have been excavated in the late 18th century either by smugglers or by John Smith, a retired army captain.(location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• TUNNEL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1760 AD? to 2050 AD)

Full description

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A set of tunnels, known as the Esplanade Level Tunnels, are located close to street level at the foot of the cliff face. These are the earliest of the tunnels excavated around and beneath Dover Castle and some parts of the tunnel appear to have been excavated in the late 18th century either by smugglers or by John Smith, a retired army captain father of Admiral Sir Sydney Smith, excavated a cave to use as his burial place. This became known as Chapel Cave [and remains in private ownership]. Cave dwellings were excavated on either side and those to the west are shown on a plan held in the National Archives titled plans of the caves near the Gas works, Dover, dated 1832. However that had been abandoned before 1914. (1)

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 English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document).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

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