Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Early post medieval mapping notes the presence of a pier between Dover's main harbour and the open sea in the same approximate location of Dovers modern 'North Pier' (location accurate to the nearest 20m based on available information).

Monument Types

• PIER (Post Medieval to Modern - 1595 AD? to 2050 AD?)

Full description

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Early post medieval mapping notes the presence of a pier between Dover’s main harbour and the open sea in the same approximate location of Dover’s modern 'North Pier'. The earliest definite representation of this pier is on Thomas Digges (probable author) plan, entitled 'The State of Dover Harbour with the new works' dating to 1595. In this the entire harbour has been drawn in precise detail and everything is numbered with a key; the label associated with the north pier notes that it was completed in 1595. (1) In 1580 a new phase of work on the harbour was started, it incorporated the previous work planned and part finished by Thompson and resulted in the construction and consolidation of the Great Pent and associated walls and the outer harbour and its associated walls and piers which included the North Pier. (2) William Eldred's plans of Dover harbour dating to 1631 (3) and 1641 (4) gives a detailed view of the North pier at this time which remains relatively unchanged from Digges above discussed depiction.

North pier visible on the Ordnance Survey First Edition [5]. This was still visible on the Ordnance Survey Fourth Edition [6]. It was not visible on MasterMap dating to 2009 [7]. The area was given a monument polygon during historic mapping enhancement as part of Phase 1 of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey.

Listing decision notice for North pier; the pier remains unlisted due to the fact that very little pre C20th material is visible. The older north west section of the North Pier is encased in C20 concrete with a sloping wall. The only pre 1970's fabric visible is two flights of tone steps on each side of the jetty. The section of the 1978 south eastern extension nearest to the original North Pier is covered in concrete slabs laid vertically, with sheet piling laid down to the bedrock. The end of the 1970's south eastern extension has a series of concrete columns linked by vertical metal panels. (8)

Further historic cartographic sources depicting the former location and extent of the 'South Pier' include that by John Symonds dating to 1583-1584 (9), another by Thomas Digges dating to 1588 (10) Foquet dating to 1737 (11), Hogben dating to 1769 (12)

<1> Thomas Digges, 1595, The state of Dover Haven with the New workes (Map). SKE31987.

<2> Alec Macdonald, 1937, Archaeologia Cantiana: Plans of Dover Harbour in the Sixteenth Century Vol. 49 (Article in serial). SKE31789.

<3> William Eldred (?), 1631, Plan of lands belonging to the Priory and now to Master Buffkyn (Map). SKE31988.

<4> William Eldred, 1641, The Platt of Dover Castle Towne and Harbor (Map). SKE31804.

<5> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1 (Map). SKE30964.

<6> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952): Landmark Epoch 4 (Map). SKE30967.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 2009, OS MasterMap, 2009 Mastermap (Cartographic materials). SWX15710.

<8> English Heritage, 2009, Listing Decision Notices, Granville Dock, Hoverport, North Pier, South Pier and Dunkirk Jetty (Unpublished document). SKE32052.

<9> John Symonds, 1583-1584, Dover Harbour (Map). SKE32347.

<10> Thomas Digges, 1588, Plan of Work at Dover Harbour (Map). SKE31986.

<11> J. Foquet, 1737, Plan of the town, harbour and fortifications of Dover (Map). SKE31991.

<12> Thomas and Henry Hogben, 1769, The topography and Mensuration of Dover Pier, Harbour, Houses and Lands from DHB (Map). SKE31992.

Sources and further reading

Related records