Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

This elevated site, overlooking Dover Harbour was built between 1877 and 1874 as a battery for 3 x 10" rifled muzzle loaders as part of a network of seaward firing batteries. The battery sits on an artificial terrace cut into the hillside just beneath the crest. Its curved trace was constructed between 1874 and 1877, with low visibility in mind, for heavy RML

guns in deep concrete emplacements with integral bomb-proofed support buildings. A covered way runs alongside the trace to the rear, beyond which is a secondary cartridge store cut deep into the hillside. The covered way linked the battery with the South Military Road, one of the main service roads on Western Heights. The battery was disarmed by 1902 and remained, probably in care and maintenance, until 1940. At this time, it was brough back into service and extensively remodelled to take three 6-inch guns for coast defence, remaining operational until late in 1944. The flanks of the battery were secured by three pillboxes (TR 34 SW 424, 492 & 493). It was abandoned after the war. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Images

Monument Types

• COASTAL BATTERY (Post Medieval to Modern - 1874 AD to 1908 AD)
• COASTAL BATTERY (Modern - 1940 AD to 1947 AD)

Full description

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After the major work on Western Heights during the 1860s and 1870s, efforts in the latter part of the 19th century concentrated on improving coastal defence. This elevated site, overlooking Dover Harbour was built between 1877 and 1874 as a battery for 3 x 10" rifled muzzle loaders as part of a network of seaward firing batteries. The battery sits on an artificial terrace cut into the hillside just beneath the crest. Its curved trace was constructed with low visibility in mind, for heavy RML guns in deep concrete emplacements with integral bomb-proofed support buildings. Magazines for the guns were in traverses between the emplacements, which were connected by a narrow gauge railway for the movement of shell trolleys. A covered way runs alongside the trace to the rear, beyond which is a secondary cartridge store cut deep into the hillside. The covered way linked the battery with the South Military Road, one of the main service roads on Western Heights. However, the battery was superseded by the construction between 1898 and 1900 of Citadel Battery, it was disarmed by 1902 and remained, probably in care and maintenance, until 1940. At this time, it was brough back into service and extensively remodelled to take three 6-inch guns for coast defence. The guns had overhead cover and the Battery Observation Post was on top of Archcliffe Gate. The gun pits were filled with concrete and one 6" gun mounted on top of each, with brick and concrete "gun houses". The deep magazine shelters dug in 1891 were also extended, there were also searchlights. This remodelled battery remaining operational until late in 1944. Today the battery survives as three semi-circular concrete gun pits, with underlying magazines, holdfasts and the remains of the metal gun floors, in addition to some associated structures.The flanks of the battery were secured by three pillboxes, two of which had an anti aircraft role (TR 34 SW 424, 492 & 493). It was abandoned after the war. (1-3)

A plan dating to 1877 shows the battery as it was constructed and completed in that year and includes details of the, gun emplacements, the earthworks surrounding the battery, interior features of the ammunition stores as well and cross sections of all the features. (4)

Further information about the historical development of this battery is available within the Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights. (5)

<1> CBA Defence of Britain Project, 1994, Defence of Britain Site Report, Pers. Comm. David Burridge, KDRG/PSG (Bibliographic reference). SKE6447.

<2> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD105 (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<3> RCHME, 2000, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 5: St Martin's Battery, 19th and 20th-century artillery battery (Unpublished document). SKE17500.

<4> Royal Engineers, 1877, Hand-tinted sections and plans of St Martin's Battery at Western Heights (Plan). SKE51593.

<5> Liv Gibbs, 2012, Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights (Unpublished document). SKE17708.

Sources and further reading

Related records