Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A pentice runs from the entrance to the forebuilding eastwards across the inner bailey to Arthur’s Hall on a number of historic illustrations and maps of the inner bailey at Dover Castle. A blocked doorway in the western wall of Arthurs hall would have originally been connected with this pentice, linking it with the forebuilding of the keep. None of the archaeological excavations which have been undertaken within the inner bailey have identified wall footing relating to the former site of this structure and it is likely that it was constructed in timber. (location accurate to the nearest 5m based on available information)

Monument Types

• COVERED WAY (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD? to 1740 AD?)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

A pentice runs from the entrance to the forebuilding eastwards across the inner bailey to Arthur’s Hall on a number of historic illustrations and maps of the inner bailey at Dover Castle. A blocked doorway in the western wall of Arthurs hall would have originally been connected with this pentice, linking it with the forebuilding of the keep. None of the archaeological excavations which have been undertaken within the inner bailey have identified wall footing relating to the former site of this structure and it is likely that it was constructed in timber.

The precise date of the pentice unknown though it is clearly visible in this location on Bereblock’s view of dover castle which dates to 1565-1570 (1) and a memorandum of 1586 recommended the re-leading of the pentice across the eastern part of the inner bailey, explicitly stated as connecting the royal lodgings in the great tower with the privy kitchen in the inner bailey, in the vicinity of Arthur’s Hall. (2-3) It is not visible on any of the 18th century plans of the castle which were produced prior to and during the renovation and modernisation of the inner bailey for barrack accommodation in the 1740’s, suggesting that it was lost and not reinstated by the time these works were undertaken.

<1> John Bereblock, 1570, John Bereblock's view of Dover Castle (Cartographic materials). SKE52107.

<2> English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document). SKE52105.

<3> Johnathan Coad, 1995, English Heritage Book of Dover Castle and the Defences of Dover (Monograph). SKE52106.

Sources and further reading