Ashford Flank, which extends across and infills the full width of the east ditch, behind Hudson’s Bastion, is a caponier and covered way which was constructed in the 1850’s to provide covered access to the bastion. The gun positions within the caponier would have allowed fire along both of the long sections of ditch it is situated within.

It is constructed from brick with stone linings to the gun positions and it has a sloped roof. Access to the Ashford Flank from within the castle was through Hudson’s Passage, the long brick-vaulted Napoleonic period passage which provides covered access from within the castle to the east ditch. Two brick vaulted tunnels lead to Hudson’s Bastion from the north-east end of the Ashford Flank as well as to a scarp gallery with musket loops that would have protected the ditch on the south side of the structure. 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 English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 2 Gazetteer (Unpublished document).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.