Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A group of now demolished ancillary buildings stood to the south-west of the main barracks complex on a number of terraced areas. The middle terrace included the clerk of works quarters and a WWII deep shelter guard post (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on the available information).

Monument Types

• MILITARY BUILDING (Post Medieval to Modern - 1805 AD? to 1960 AD?)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Most of the ancillary structures, comprising stores, canteens, workshops and gardens etc, stood to the west of the main steps. The platforms on which these were built, along with fragments of walls and floors, are visible on four artificial terraces cut into a steep slope. Although the area is now heavily wooded and overgrown, the remains of many structures can be identified. Most of the ancillary buildings were arranged originally on two parrallel terraces with a single building on a third terrace. A fourth terrace was added in the late 1860's to accommodate the married soldiers quarters and a laundry.

The majority of this middle terrace, contains no visible structures and probably never did; perhaps suggesting that the terracing was made before the exact building layout had been determined. Only one building stood on the terrace in the original design; the clerk of works quarters at the very northern end of the terrace, with walled or fenced gardens extending to the south-east. The terrace continues for 90m to St, Martins Steps, with few visible features but much brick rubble, except for an isolated brick shaft, 1.2m by 1m and 1.2m tall, which does not seem to be In situ but rather, may have tumbled from the upper terrace. The terrace continues beyond St. Martins Steps, where two slight overgrown hollows suggest the former existance of other buildings of unknown date. The only other buildings on this terrace are of second world war date. (1)

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 Report No 4: The Grand Shaft Barracks, 19th and 20th-century infantry barracks (Unpublished document).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

Sources and further reading

Related records