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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 975
Type of record:Monument
Name:Former site of Drop Battery, Western Heights, Dover

Summary

The site of Drop Battery is accessible from Drop Redoubt Road, close to the cliff edge overlooking the western docks. It was originally constructed in c1853 though alterations and additions were made between 1859 and 1862, which included a further gun emplacement and new magazine. The battery was disarmed in 1886 and by 1926 it had been replaced by a miniature rifle range. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)


Grid Reference:TR 3168 4105
Map Sheet:TR34SW
Parish:DOVER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • BATTERY (Post Medieval - 1853 AD to 1886 AD?)
  • GLACIS (Disused, Post Medieval - 1853 AD? to 1886 AD?)
  • GUN EMPLACEMENT (Demolished, Post Medieval - 1853 AD? to 1886 AD?)
  • GUN STORE (Demolished, Post Medieval - 1853 AD? to 1886 AD?)
  • RAMPART (Disused, Post Medieval - 1853 AD? to 1886 AD?)
  • FIRING RANGE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1886 AD? to 1950 AD?)

Full description

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Summarised from report:

The site of Drop Battery is accessible from Drop Redoubt Road, close to the cliff edge overlooking the western docks. It was constructed by cutting back severely into the hillside and depositing the spoil to form a roughly rectangular terrace (the terreplein) with a glaçis on the seaward side. It originated c1853, following a report to the Inspector General of Fortifications concerning the ‘sea batteries’ protecting the port and harbour at Dover. A note attached to the report proposed the armament of 42-pdrs and estimated the cost of construction at £1000, complete with curbs, racers and pivots for eight guns on Madras traversing carriages. The battery is shown in outline on a plan of 1858, with a simple curved rampart with gun floor behind it, and a single building to the rear - probably an artillery store. Alterations were made to the battery as a result of the construction of the North-east Line between Drop Redoubt and the cliff edge at Drop Battery, between October 1859 and February 1862. Two original expense magazines (nos 1 and 2) stood to the rear of the gun floor while a third –G magazine was added at that time but that no alterations were made to the pre-existing expense magazines. A new circular emplacement was also added on top of the Line above the new magazine. This was for a gun on a traversing carriage with a 360° ‘C’ pivot, possibly a modern rifled piece. In May 1886, it was recommended that the battery should be disarmed by removal of its five 64pdr RMLs, following the construction of the new St Martins Battery nearby, with its three heavy RMLs. At some point between the removal of the guns in 1886 and 1926, the site had been turned into a miniature rifle range.

The guns were arranged along the south-east edge of the terreplein in a gently-curving line facing the sea, on open stone platforms fronted by a low brick parapet. The terreplein is accessible but only a few features can be seen; at the north-eastern edge, a low brick wall may be part of the parapet and a concrete floor at the south-western end is associated with the rifle range; there is, however, no surface trace of the original Store building. The glaçis and rear scarp are covered by thick impenetrable scrub but appear to be intact; both are steep, well-defined and at least 3.0m high, though access could not be gained for accurate measurement. (1)

A plan dating toi 1882 shows the battery shortly before it was abandoned and converted into a rifle range. (2)

At some point between the removal of the guns in 1886 and 1926, the site had been turned into a miniature rifle range. Part of this was uncovered during an archaeological evaluation undertaken by CAT in 2017. Part of the battery parapet wall and floor were also located during these works. (3)

Further information about the historical development of this battery is available within the Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights. (4)


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

<2> Royal Engineers, 1882, Plans and elevations of magazines and cartridge stores at Western Heights (Plan). SKE51614.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2018, Grand Shaft Barracks, Western Heights, Dover, Evaluation Report (Unpublished document). SKE51431.

<4> Liv Gibbs, 2012, Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights (Unpublished document). SKE17708.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Unpublished document: RCHME. 2001. The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 10: Miscellaneous Structures 1850-1945.
<2>Plan: Royal Engineers. 1882. Plans and elevations of magazines and cartridge stores at Western Heights.
<3>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2018. Grand Shaft Barracks, Western Heights, Dover, Evaluation Report.
<4>Unpublished document: Liv Gibbs. 2012. Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights.

Related records

TR 34 SW 2103Parent of: Expense Magazine No 1 at Drop Battery, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2104Parent of: Expense Magazine No 2 at Drop Battery, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 2105Parent of: 'G' Magazine at Drop Battery, Western Heights, Dover (Monument)
TR 34 SW 1979Parent of: Section of the parapet wall of the Drop Battery, Grand Shaft Barracks, Western Heights, Dover. (Monument)
TR 34 SW 82Part of: Western Heights, Dover (Monument)