Building record TR 34 SW 423 - Citadel south counterscarp type A Quad pillbox, Western Heights, Dover
Summary
Location
Grid reference | Centred TR 3089 4029 (6m by 5m) |
---|---|
Map sheet | TR34SW |
County | KENT |
District | DOVER, KENT |
Civil Parish | DOVER, DOVER, KENT |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
Square pillbox approx 16ft square with overhanging roof slab. Brick-shuttered, 2ft thick walls and 2 embrasures per wall. The type seems to be peculiar to Dover.
Owner : Unknown
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey : On top of very steep artificially scarped bank
Tourism Potential : As part of heritage trail
Condition : good
Date of visit :
A type A Quad pillbox south of the Citadel. (1)
From the National Heritage List for England:
Following the completion of the new Admiralty harbour at Dover in 1907, an Admiralty Port War Signal Station controlling all shipping within the harbour was located on Western Heights, but moved to Dover castle in 1914. During World War I the Heights were primarily used for their barrack accommodation, although Citadel Battery remained armed and in 1916 Drop Redoubt was provided with searchlights and two 6 pounder Hotchkiss guns to counter air raids, whilst the Citadel received a single 3 inch gun. Following the outbreak of World War II and the renewed threat of invasion, three 6 inch breech loaders were fitted to the disused St Martin's Battery, where the old gun pits were filled with concrete, and concrete and brick gun houses built over the top. Two Type 23 pillboxes were also constructed nearby. The Citadel Battery now mounted two 9.2 inch guns and was provided with two Type 24 pillboxes and a spigot mortar. A further series of Type 23 and 24 pillboxes as built around the perimeter of the Heights for close defence and as complemented by weapons pits, slit trenches and blast shelters. The Western Heights were gradually abandoned by the Army in stages between 1954 and 1961.
<1> RCHME, 2001, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 10: Miscellaneous Structures 1850-1945 (Unpublished document). SKE17506.
<2> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.
Sources/Archives (2)
Finds (0)
Protected Status/Designation
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Non-Intrusive Event: Defence of Britain (EKE8520)
- Non-Intrusive Event: Dover Pillboxes (EKE4659)
- Non-Intrusive Event: Survey of the miscellaneous structures associated with Dover Western Heights fortress (EKE11883)
Record last edited
Jul 29 2024 4:05PM