Summarised from report:

The southern entrance (also known as Archcliffe Gate) to the western heights fortress was constructed in the 1860’s as part of a major revision of the southern defences. It was located at a point where the South Military Road attained the crest of the ridge. One of the major features of this entrance was the South entrance ditch which barred access to the ridge top, this was cut down the steep hill from the South Parapet to the edge of the cliff overlooking the harbour.

Today much of the northern half of the ditch has been partially infilled, the central section entirely so, while the southern part re-emerges in woodland on the steep slope and is traceable, in a damaged state, to the cliff edge. At the northern end, sections of the scarp revetment forming the north-east and north-west faces of the ditch are extant, built to a slight batter using stock brick laid to English bond. The scarp is revetted, initially with the same brickwork, except that the top is finished in a quarter-round profile. Erosion at the base reveals a thickness of 1½ bricks set against chalk bedrock. The remainder of the revetment, to the cliff edge, has been repaired in a fine concrete refacing of 20th-century date. The counterscarp survives for the southern half of the ditch. It comprises an unrevetted chalk face, except near the cliff edge where there is a short section of faced flint retaining wall, incorporating two blind alcoves finished with round relieving arches in brick. This feature formerly supported a retractable bridge leading to a set of steps into the ditch, giving access to Hospital Postern. (1)

A plan dating to 1861 shows the layout of this new entrance, including the location of the ditch, shortly after it was constructed. (2)

<1> RCHME, 2000, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 6: The Entrances to the Fortress: 19th-century artillery fortifications (Unpublished document). SKE17501.

<2> Captain E F Du Cane, 1860, Plans and Sections of fortifications at the Western Heights: proposals for the South Front (Plan). SKE51595.