Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Most of the original ancillary structures, comprising stores, canteens, workshops, gardens etc. stood on terraces to the west of the main steps. On the lower terrace there were a series of structures, originally free standing, but by 1925, the gaps between them had been filled with further additions and extensions, the result was a continuous range of buildings. The canteen and regimental institute was located at the southern end of the terrace, at the south western side of the parade ground. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• CANTEEN (Demolished, Post Medieval to Modern - 1805 AD? to 1960 AD?)

Full description

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Summarised from report:

Most of the original ancillary structures, comprising stores, canteens, workshops, gardens etc. stood on terraces to the west of the main steps. On the lower terrace there were a series of structures, originally free standing, but by 1925, the gaps between them had been filled with further additions and extensions, the result was a continuous range of buildings. The canteen and regimental institute was located at the southern end of the terrace, at the south western side of the parade ground. It may have been provided to replace the primitive cooking arrangements in the barrack ranges, and therefore anticipated one of the main requirements of the 1858 Commission. After 1861, it doubled as the Regimental Institute. It was a single pile, two-storey building of 9 by 3 fenestrated bays, with a half basement at the south-eastern end. The central bays on both the front and rear elevations projected outward, the former acting as a stair, the latter a porch etc. The building was altered in 1891 and 1899.

The remains of this building comprise a terraced platform, with a curving scarp, 1.1m high, at the south-eastern end. This scarp is modern and cuts through the half basement level: the original south-eastern wall can be seen in the car park, flush with its surface. Part of the north- eastern wall is visible, almost concealed by a scarp. The south-western side of the platform is reveted by a brick wall up to 2.8m high, near the centre of which are remains of the projecting central bay at the rear of the building, comprising parts of the side walls and a round-headed relieving arch, 2.0m wide and 1.8m tall; part of a lobby in 1903. The revetment wall to the south is battered in largely original brickwork, which to the north is vertical and rebuilt in a mixed bond. The lower courses of the south-western wall of the building remain visible, along with the concrete floors of small yard areas between it and the revetment wall. There are iron supports for a tank or cistern in the north-western corner. (1)

The earliest plan which shows the completed Napoleonic works which were undertaken at the Grand Shaft Barracks dates to 1810. (2) A later plan which dates to 1861, immediately prior to the 1860's scheme of works which were undertaken at the barracks site, gives further detail of the buildings constructed during the Napoleonic works, including lables of specific buildings. (3)

A plan dating to 1892 shows the building as it was after the 1860's scheme of works at the barracks site, it includes details of the additions and alterations executed in 1892, 1899 and 1922 with a location plan. (4)

<1> RCHME, 2000, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 4: The Grand Shaft Barracks, 19th and 20th-century infantry barracks (Unpublished document). SKE17499.

<2> Major W H Ford, Royal Engineers, 1811, Plan Shewing the Appropriation of the Ordnance Lands on the Western Heights Dover 1811 (Map). SKE51523.

<3> Unknown, 1861, Dover, General Plan of the Western Heights Barracks (Plan). SKE51541.

<4> Royal Engineers, 1892, Tinted copy of plans, sections and elevation of the Canteen and Regimental Institute of the Grand Shaft Barracks at Western Heights (Plan). SKE51566.

Sources and further reading

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