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Monument details

HER Number:TR 34 SW 84
Type of record:Monument
Name:Archcliffe Fort, Dover

Summary

Archcliffe Fort was built on the site of an artillery bulwark built during the reign of Henry VIII and an earlier 14th century watch tower. It is situated at the foot of the Western Heights and was built of squared rubble. Existing remains include two curtains and two bastions with a fragment of a third, though this probably dates from the 17th century. The seaward portion was removed by the cutting of the railway. Modern buildings now occupy the fort's interior. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TR 315 402
Map Sheet:TR34SW
Parish:DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • FORT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1640 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 1016420: ARCHCLIFFE FORT

Full description

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(TR 31504030) Archcliffe Fort (NAT) (1)

TR 316403 Archcliffe Fort. (2)

Archcliffe Fort is the site of an artillery bulwark built during the reign of Henry VIII. No evidence of this structure on an earlier 15th Century watchtower have been found probably destroyed by the current fort which dates from the mid 17th century. It is situated at the foot of the Western Heights. It is built of squared rubble and the existing remains include two curtains and two bastions with a fragment of a third, though this probably dates from the 17th century. The seaward portion was removed by the cutting of the railway. Modern buildings now occupy the fort's interior. (4)

Scheduled. (3)

Scheduled area revised 10.3.97 (9)

Under Guardianship. (5)

Notes on the Archcliffe fort. (6)

The N. bastion of the 17th century fort, originally thought to be built over an earlier negative feature, is now shown to be a natural deposit. Evidence from trenching inside the interior of the forts suggests that the area may be devoid of any major pre-fort features.The first evidence of Medieval pottery was found in Archcliffe/Pier District area. The dates of the sherds range from late 12th to mid 14th century (TR 34 SW 633). Prehistoric flint has also been recovered. Its general characteristics suggest late Neolithic - Bronze Age date (TR 34 SW 632).(7/8)

Scheduled Area revised 10/3/99 (10)

Additional Info (11 - 12)

Watching brief on excavations ofr the renewal of the sewage system for houses at Stonar Close. Nothing of archaeological interest was located. Alluvial deposits were noted but with a lack of datable finds.(13)

Observation carried out during the A20/Dover sewers project of the demolition of the concrete north counter-scarp wall of the moat found three phases of evolution to a bridge structure (14)

In 2002 during a watching brief, two pits were dug during stabilisation of the former workshop used by the St. Martain's Emmaus Community. Evidence was found of foundation construction and what seems to be the end of the passgae leading to the 19th century sally port. A fragment of work Medieval column was also found mixed in with foundation rubble. (15)

In 2012 a watching brief on a trench from the main gate into the fort found wall foundations, the earliest of which used Dutch bricks and probably dates from the 17th century. This wall presumably represents part of the earliest phases of the fort and may have been related to a gateway into the fort. (16)

From the National Heritage List for England:

Details
The monument includes the surviving features of Archcliffe Fort, lying at the foot of Dover's Western Heights and forming part of the coastal defences of the town from at least the 16th century onwards.

The first fort, or bulwark, was constructed under Henry VIII in 1539 and 1540, although the initial fortification of the site may date back to the late 14th century. No trace of remains of these periods can be identified, although the evidence of early plans suggests that the Henrician defences included a pentagonal structure in the approximate position of the present western bastion. This was linked by a ditch to a gatehouse close to the site of the present eastern bastion. There were also buildings within the ditched enclosure.

The remains which survive today represent a substantial part of a bastioned trace fortification, dating from the early 17th century, of which the seaward face, entrance and bastions were modified in the 19th century. The seaward defences, subsequently removed by the construction of the railway in 1928, were modified during 1872 to include positions for five ten inch rifle muzzle loading guns. The landward side of the fort remains intact and largely unaltered. The landward curtain, over 150m in length, includes a ditch and stone-faced earth ramparts on which a new parapet was raised in 1755, and which still show evidence of firing steps. The curtain terminates in two bastions and in its centre is the entrance to the fort, remodelled in 1807-9 and again in 1814-15 when a brick barbican, now largely destroyed by the construction of the A20, was added to its front. During World War II a second vehicle access was cut through the rampart, immediately east of the gatehouse.

The free-standing buildings within the interior of the fort and all modern security fences and fittings are excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath all these features is included. The monument is in the care of the Secretary of State.

Reasons for Designation
The strategic position of Dover at the closest point of the English coast to that of France, has led, from the Roman period onwards, to the development of extensive and complex systems of fortification. Many owed their design and construction to periods of political unrest within Europe, or to specific threats of invasion, both real and imagined. Some were obsolete by the time that they were completed. Their development may also be seen as a response to the changing nature of warfare, with the introduction of guns providing the stimulus for the most radical change.

The defences of Dover fall into two distinct groups: those commanding the heights; and those, such as Archcliffe Fort, in low-lying positions for the immediate defence of town and harbour.

Despite the loss of its seaward defences and the outermost elements of those on the landward side, Archcliffe Fort remains an important element in the story of Dover's fortification. Incorporating the remains of the fort constructed in 1539-40 as part of Henry VIII's maritime defence programme, itself considered to be of national importance, the surviving 17th century defences are of considerable rarity. In addition, the fort will contain buried archaeological deposits providing information about its structure and use. (17)

The fort is visible on numerous historic cartographic sources including that by Thomas Miles dating to 1580 (18), Hogben dating to 1769 (19), William Eldred dating to 1641 (20) and 1631 (21) As well as Digges map of 1595 (22), 1588 (23) and 1581 (24)

Discussion of Archcliffe fort in relation to the Dover Western Docks Revival Scheme (25)


<1> OS 1:2500 1957 (OS Card Reference). SKE48200.

<2> DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 112 (OS Card Reference). SKE40688.

<3> DOE (IAM) Record Form no plan no date (OS Card Reference). SKE40758.

<4> Bennett, D., 1977, A Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945, Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 17-30 (D Bennett) (Monograph). SKE7811.

<5> HBMC Guardianship List NS Feb 1984 3 (OS Card Reference). SKE43747.

<6> Coad, J. G. and Lewis, P. N., 1982, Article, P Md Arch 16 1982 141-208 (J G Coad & P N Lewis) (Article in serial). SKE7823.

<7> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1996, Archaeological Observations at Archcliffe Fort, Dover 1996, CAT Oct.1996 / 71 (Unpublished document). SKE7829.

<8> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1997, Further Archaeological Observations at Archcliffe Fort, Dover, CAT MAY 1997 / 72 (Unpublished document). SKE7830.

<9> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Pers Comm EH to KCC 10.3.97 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<10> English Heritage, 1965, Dover Castle (Scheduling record). SKE6594.

<11> Southern Water Services, 1993, Dover & Folkestone Wastewater Treatment scheme Environmental Statement (Unpublished document). SKE6815.

<12> Andrew Saunders, 1997, Channel Defences, Pages 80 & 120 (Monograph). SKE7836.

<13> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2001, Report on Archaeological Watching brief at Archcliffe Fort, Dover, 2001 (Unpublished document). SKE7918.

<14> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1992, Progress Report on the A20/Dover Sewers Project (Unpublished document). SKE8164.

<15> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2002, Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at Archcliffe Fort, Dover (Unpublished document). SKE8242.

<16> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, Archaeological Watching-brief at Archcliffe Fort, Dover, June 2012 (Unpublished document). SKE17598.

<17> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<18> Thomas Miles, 1580, Proposal for Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31983.

<19> Thomas and Henry Hogben, 1769, The topography and Mensuration of Dover Pier, Harbour, Houses and Lands from DHB (Map). SKE31992.

<20> William Eldred, 1641, The Platt of Dover Castle Towne and Harbor (Map). SKE31804.

<21> William Eldred (?), 1631, Plan of lands belonging to the Priory and now to Master Buffkyn (Map). SKE31988.

<22> Thomas Digges, 1595, The state of Dover Haven with the New workes (Map). SKE31987.

<23> Thomas Digges, 1588, Plan of Work at Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31986.

<24> Thomas Digges, 1581, The State of Dover Haven (Map). SKE31984.

<25> Maritime Archaeology, 2008, Dover Terminal 2 EIA: Historic Environment Baseline Report Volume 1 (Unpublished document). SKE31717.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 1:2500 1957.
<2>OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 112.
<3>OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) Record Form no plan no date.
<4>Monograph: Bennett, D.. 1977. A Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945. Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 17-30 (D Bennett).
<5>OS Card Reference: HBMC Guardianship List NS Feb 1984 3.
<6>Article in serial: Coad, J. G. and Lewis, P. N.. 1982. Article. P Md Arch 16 1982 141-208 (J G Coad & P N Lewis).
<7>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1996. Archaeological Observations at Archcliffe Fort, Dover 1996. CAT Oct.1996 / 71.
<8>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1997. Further Archaeological Observations at Archcliffe Fort, Dover. CAT MAY 1997 / 72.
<9>Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. Pers Comm EH to KCC 10.3.97.
<10>Scheduling record: English Heritage. 1965. Dover Castle.
<11>Unpublished document: Southern Water Services. 1993. Dover & Folkestone Wastewater Treatment scheme Environmental Statement.
<12>Monograph: Andrew Saunders. 1997. Channel Defences. Pages 80 & 120.
<13>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2001. Report on Archaeological Watching brief at Archcliffe Fort, Dover, 2001.
<14>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 1992. Progress Report on the A20/Dover Sewers Project.
<15>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2002. Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at Archcliffe Fort, Dover.
<16>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2012. Archaeological Watching-brief at Archcliffe Fort, Dover, June 2012.
<17>Map: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
<18>Map: Thomas Miles. 1580. Proposal for Dover Harbour. Photocopy. Unknown.
<19>Map: Thomas and Henry Hogben. 1769. The topography and Mensuration of Dover Pier, Harbour, Houses and Lands from DHB.
<20>Map: William Eldred. 1641. The Platt of Dover Castle Towne and Harbor.
<21>Map: William Eldred (?). 1631. Plan of lands belonging to the Priory and now to Master Buffkyn. Unknown. Unknown.
<22>Map: Thomas Digges. 1595. The state of Dover Haven with the New workes. Unknown. Unknown.
<23>Map: Thomas Digges. 1588. Plan of Work at Dover Harbour. Unknown. Unknown.
<24>Map: Thomas Digges. 1581. The State of Dover Haven. Photocopy. Unknown.
<25>Unpublished document: Maritime Archaeology. 2008. Dover Terminal 2 EIA: Historic Environment Baseline Report Volume 1.

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