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. Included within this group of ancillery buildings were three small single storey brick buildings, constructed probably during the Napoleonic phase, stood in series immediately north-west of the Guard House. These were respectively an Armourers’ Shop, a Workshop and a Barrack Sergeant’s Wash House. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• WASH HOUSE (Demolished, Post Medieval to Modern - 1805 AD? to 1960 AD?)
• WORKSHOP (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. Included within this group of ancillery buildings were three small single storey buildings brick buildings, constructed probably during the Napoleonic phase, stood in series immediately north-west of the Guard House. These were respectively an Armourers’ Shop, a Workshop and a Barrack Sergeant’s Wash House. No surface remains are today apparent except for part of a flight of brick steps near the north western corner of the Barrack Sergeant's Wash House. (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)

Many of the buildings of Grand Shaft Barracks are recorded in detail on a set of plans, mainly of the 1860s and 1870s, which were probably prepared to accompany the alterations and new building resulting from the recommendations of the Commission. The plan/elevation for the privies, workshop, armourours and wash house shows the interior layout of the building and a number of external features. (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 Report No 4: The Grand Shaft Barracks, 19th and 20th-century infantry barracks (Unpublished document).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, 1867, Hand-tinted plans and sections of the latrines, urinals and ball court, a work shop, the barrack sergeants wash house and an armourers shop in Grand Shaft Barracks at Western Heights (Plan). SKE51450.

Sources and further reading

Related records