Constables bastion, which is located towards the northern end of the western side of the castle, was constructed in around 1800 and was designed to cover the approach to Constable’s Gate and to provide enfilading (flanking or sideways fire) along the west side of the castle.

It is a very large blunt ended structure with a broadly rectangular plan and the main armament positions faced north to cover the approach road to the gateway. There survive the eroded remains of a parapet, fire step and gun positions on the long north-west side of the bastion while below this there are the earthwork remains of a covered way which provided firing positions for infantry. After the bastion had lost its military function towards the end of the 19th century a tennis court was laid out on top and in 1911 a pedestrian bridge was constructed to connect the bastion with St Mary’s Tower and allow private access for tennis parties. Summarised from sources (1-2)

<1> English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document). SKE52105.

<2> Johnathan Coad, 1995, English Heritage Book of Dover Castle and the Defences of Dover (Monograph). SKE52106.