The citadel was first planned in the late 18th century. It was redesigned and almost completed between 1804 and 1815 but remained unfinished until 1853-5. It then developed over the next 100 years with changes to armaments and use, eventually becoming a barracks and a mobilisation centre. During the First World War it was equipped with an anti-aircraft gun. During the Second World War it was extensively used and fortified. It passed to the Prison Commissioners in 1954. (1-2)

From the National Heritage List for England:

When initially begun, the Citadel consisted of a large parade ground surrounded by store houses, barracks, magazines and an unrevetted defensive ditch. It was originally planned to arm the Citadel with forty-three 18 pounder guns, and 31 carronades. Water for the barracks was supplied via a well 130m in depth. Work in completing and revetting the ditches around the Citadel did not begin again until 1853 and also included the addition of flanking casemates and a two storey casemated barracks in the South Lines designed to accommodate an extra 500 men. (3)

A First World War wireless signal station is thought to have existed in the south-west corner of the garrison and Coastguard station at NGR Ref: TR 30437 40336. No remains appear tohave survived. (4)

<1> English Heritage, 2004, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent: Report No. 2: The Citadel (Unpublished document). SKE17690.

<2> Liv Gibbs, 2012, Built Heritage Conservation Framework for Dover Western Heights (Unpublished document). SKE17708.

<3> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

<4> Oxford Archaeological South, 2016, First World War Wireless Stations in England. (Bibliographic reference). SKE31551.

<5> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.