There are many systems of tunnels beneath and within the cliffs of Dover, including the cliffs to the west of the town, beneath the Western Heights. Despite the fact that the fortifications of Dover, including the Western Heights, have been studied in detail, there appears to be very little published material detailing the, construction, extent and condition of these caves. It is however known that some of these caves were used as air raid shelters during the Second World War; the Dover Express (01/09/1939) gives a list of these and notes the use of ‘Barwicks Cave, next to the Masonic Hall Snargate Street’. (1) At the eastern end of the tunnel complex behind Snargate Street, which all began as separate tunnels but were linked during WW2, is the 900ft long Cowgate Tunnel which connected Snargate Street with Durham Hill. This tunnel was penetrated by a shell during WW2 which blocked the tunnel at a point where it ran beneath Cowgate Cemetery and the Durham Hill entrance to the tunnel is no longer present.(2) Between Barwicks Cave and the Cowgate tunnel is Croucher’s Tunnels, named after the Croucher & Co Shipwrights, who operated the premises in front of the tunnels in the 1960’s and 1970’s and used the tunnels as stores. This central section of the tunnels takes the form of three parallel tunnels dug into the cliff at an angle and are connected at the far end. (3) The western most of the tunnels is the afore mentioned Barwicks Cave, this part was originally excavated by the wine merchant Stephen Court at the beginning of the 19th century, they were dug into the cliffs to the rear of the Courts’ premises. The caves or vaults, along with terracing into the cliff face and a folly, were tourist attractions in their day.

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 1997, Dover Drainage Area Plan Schemes 3970K: Archaeological Impact Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE7239.

<2> 2007, Subterranean History - Crouchers Tunnels, Dover (Website). SKE32371.

<2> 2007, Subterranean History - Snargate Street East, Dover (Website). SKE32370.