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| Kent, South East, England |
Dover is located on the south-east coast, approximately 125 kilometres from central London. It is a small seaside town of 30,000 people, and is famous for its white cliffs and being the gateway to England for the last 2000 years. It lies within the County of Kent, which is often called the ‘garden of England’, and faces France across the English Channel. For many people the ‘White Cliffs of Dover’ have been the first, or last place in England to be seen and as such has been written about, sung about and thought about by many people over many years, and is often held dearly in their hearts as the first, or last signs of ‘home’!!
Dover’s fame came from being the shortest sea route to the Continent, and is best known for its ‘White Cliffs’ whose role for centuries has been the first line of defence against invaders. Much of Dover was destroyed during the Second World War, and when it was rebuilt the town was designed to cater for the large increase in traffic travelling to and from the Continent. What is left of ‘old Dover’ is up around the Castle on the Eastern Heights. Dover Castle was once called the ‘key to England’, as it was one of the largest in Western Europe, and has played a prominent part in English history for a thousand years. Originally built in 1066, the defences took the form of a bank topped by a timber palisade. It was not until the 1180s, instigated by Henry II, that much of what you see today was created. The massive square keep and curtain walls frown down on the harbour beneath. Underground barracks, built at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, were extensively bomb-proofed during the Second World War to house the fortress commander etc., and were the centre of the Dunkirk campaign, when 338,000 troops were brought back to England from France. After Dunkirk, and more excavations, they became the Combined Headquarters for all three services (Navy, Army, Airforce). For 22 years, from1962 to 1984, these underground tunnels were again adapted, this time to become the self-sufficient Regional Seat of Government in case of nuclear war. It was only in 1984 that the tunnels ceased to be guarded and were taken off the secret list. A stone Roman ‘pharos’, or lighthouse, the oldest in Britain, still stands intact within the walls of the castle. Adjoining the lighthouse, is the Saxon church of St Mary-in-Castro, almost derelict it was virtually rebuilt by the Victorians in the 1860s. The Castle is in the care of the English Heritage and most of it is open to the public with many interesting displays.
Other sites, in the city, worthy of mention:
The Grand Shaft, built from the Western Heights cliff top to the beach, encloses within its walls an ingenious triple staircase which enabled three detachments of troops, at any one time, to move up and down.
Maison Dieu, or ‘House of God’, a hospice founded in 1203 and restored in the 19th century, is the centerpiece of Dover’s Townhall. It leads to the old Town Gaol and the Town Museum.
St Edmund’s Chapel, built for the cemetery attached to the Maison Dieu hospice is said to be the smallest church in England which is still regularly used.
Other places of interest within 30 kilometres:
Folkestone, one of the prettier seaside resorts, has a picturesque harbour with cobbled streets, and well laid-out cliff walks on the Leas. Nearby you can look down at the Channel Tunnel Terminal to view the biggest train-set in the world!
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, built in 1929, this one-third full size railway has a museum and shop and trips can be taken aboard the replica London North Eastern express trains.
Sandwich, one of the sites of the British Open Golf Tournament.
St Margaret’s at Cliffe, a cliff top village with a steep lane down to the shore of St Margaret’s Bay and the arrival point for cross-Channel swimmers.
The White Cliffs of Dover coastal site, looking out over the English Channel and the largest ‘Dinky Toy’ network in the country! Walk along the cliffs to the Victorian Foreland Lighthouse for a guided tour of the lighthouse by National Trust staff.
Did you know that – South Foreland Lighthouse was used by Marconi for his successful wireless telegraphy experiments in 1898?
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