Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

With the extension to Admiralty pier a new fort was constructed at its head, built between 1905 and 1910, this was known as ‘Pier Extension Battery’. It was armed with two 12 pounder quick fire (QF) naval guns with a range of 11,750yd and probably had some boom defence function as well. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• COASTAL BATTERY (Abandoned, Modern - 1904 AD to 1956 AD?)
• MAGAZINE (Abandoned, Modern - 1904 AD to 1956 AD?)
• COASTAL BATTERY (Modern - 1909 AD? to 1956 AD?)

Full description

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With the extension to Admiralty pier, which was completed in 1909, a new fort was constructed at its head, this was known as ‘Pier Extension Battery’. It was built between 1905 and 1910, and was intended, alongside ‘Pier Turret Battery’ (constructed in 1875) to defend Dover Harbour from enemy shipping. It was armed with two 12 pounder quick fire (QF) naval guns with a range of 11,750yd and probably had some boom defence function as well. The obsolete lighthouse on the top of the Dover Turret was designated as the Battery Control with the battery on the Pier extension under its command. Both this battery and the Pier Turret Battery were armed in 1910 and searchlights were added to the extension battery in April 1914. A third 12 pounder gun was added halfway along the pier extension during World War Two to fire down the outside of the Detached Breakwater. It was most likely abandoned around 1956. Recognisable fragments of the defences remain although much has now been demolished. (1-3)

<1> Verbal Communication, Site visit 23/06/2007 (Verbal communication). SKE14137.

<2> Lorraine Sencicle, 2015, The Dover Historian - Admiralty Pier Gun Turret (Website). SKE32111.

<2> Lorraine Sencicle, 2015, The Dover Historian - Richard Tilden Smith and the Aerial Ropeway (Website). SKE52207.

<3> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD107 (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

Sources and further reading

Related records