Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Amherst Battery is noted within several histories of Dover that were produced in the 19th century, it is also visible on a number of the historic maps. Its exact position is unknown but a location close to the North Pier is suggested by the sources. It is likely that it is contemporary with Guilford and Townsend Batteries (possibly forming a pair with Townshend Battery, both guarding the entrance to the harbour) which were constructed to protect the harbour in the late 18th century. Likley demolished before 1900. (location accurate to the nearest 50m based on available information)

Monument Types

• BATTERY (BATTERY, Post Medieval - 1770 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Full description

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Amherst Battery is noted within several histories of Dover that were produced in the 19th century, it is also visible on a number of the historic maps. Its exact position is unknown but a location close to the North Pier is suggested by the sources. It is likley that it is contemporary with Guilford and Townshend Batteries (possibly forming a pair with Townshend Battery, both guarding the entrance to the harbour) which were constructed to protect the harbour in the late 18th century. Likley demolished before 1900. The Handbook of Kents Defences notes that it was armed with a 32 pounder SB. (1-2)

Reference to the battery is made in numerous histories of the town which were produced throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries (3-4)

The Battery is depicted on several historic maps of the town dating to the later 18th and 19th centuries (5-9)

<1> H'book of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 17 24 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE43752.

<2> Southern Water Services, 1993, Dover & Folkestone Wastewater Treatment scheme Environmental Statement (Unpublished document). SKE6815.

<3> William Van Mildert, 1828, A Short Historical sketch of the Town of Dover and its Neighbourhood. (Monograph). SKE32004.

<4> J. Bavington Jones, 1907, Dover; A Perambulation of the Town, Port and Fortress. (Monograph). SKE32120.

<5> Unknown, 1806, Kent. Plans of Amherts's Battery, Townshend's Battery and North's Battery at Dover (Map). SKE53484.

<6> Lieutenant Thomas Hyde Page, 1784, Plan showing field works and Defences in Dover (Map). SKE51521.

<7> John Scott Tucker, 1833, Plan of Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31994.

<8> 1843, A Plan of the Town and Port of Dover with intended additions and improvements now making (Map). SKE53485.

<9> John Rennie, 1805, Plan of the Town and Harbour of Dover (Map). SKE31993.

Sources and further reading