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

Monument details

HER Number:TR 34 SW 423
Type of record:Building
Name:Citadel south counterscarp type A Quad pillbox, Western Heights, Dover

Summary

A number of pill boxed were constructed across the Western Heights in the 20th century, to cover the approaches to the heights and are generally inter-visible. This is a Type A Quad (of which there are three others). All are constructed in concrete with brick facings inside and out, concrete floors and flat overhanging reinforced concrete roofs. This example is situated south of the Citadel. It measures 2.73m on each internal face and 1.76m high to the present ground level; the walls are 0.6m thick. The doorway in the west wall is 0.7m wide. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on avialable information)


Grid Reference:TR 3089 4029
Map Sheet:TR34SW
Parish:DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • PILLBOX (Disused, Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 1020298: FORTIFICATIONS, ROMAN LIGHTHOUSE AND MEDIEVAL CHAPEL ON WESTERN HEIGHTS

Full description

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Square pillbox approx 16ft square with overhanging roof slab. Brick-shuttered, 2ft thick walls and 2 embrasures per wall. The type seems to be peculiar to Dover.
Owner : Unknown
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey : On top of very steep artificially scarped bank
Tourism Potential : As part of heritage trail
Condition : good
Date of visit :

A type A Quad pillbox south of the Citadel. (1)

From the National Heritage List for England:

Following the completion of the new Admiralty harbour at Dover in 1907, an Admiralty Port War Signal Station controlling all shipping within the harbour was located on Western Heights, but moved to Dover castle in 1914. During World War I the Heights were primarily used for their barrack accommodation, although Citadel Battery remained armed and in 1916 Drop Redoubt was provided with searchlights and two 6 pounder Hotchkiss guns to counter air raids, whilst the Citadel received a single 3 inch gun. Following the outbreak of World War II and the renewed threat of invasion, three 6 inch breech loaders were fitted to the disused St Martin's Battery, where the old gun pits were filled with concrete, and concrete and brick gun houses built over the top. Two Type 23 pillboxes were also constructed nearby. The Citadel Battery now mounted two 9.2 inch guns and was provided with two Type 24 pillboxes and a spigot mortar. A further series of Type 23 and 24 pillboxes as built around the perimeter of the Heights for close defence and as complemented by weapons pits, slit trenches and blast shelters. The Western Heights were gradually abandoned by the Army in stages between 1954 and 1961.


Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<1> RCHME, 2001, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 10: Miscellaneous Structures 1850-1945 (Unpublished document). SKE17506.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
---Index: Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
<1>Unpublished document: RCHME. 2001. The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 10: Miscellaneous Structures 1850-1945.

Related records

TR 34 SW 82Part of: Western Heights, Dover (Monument)