An extensive 12th/13th century concentric castle on the Eastern Heights overlooking Dover. The configuration of earthworks on the cliff top is believed to have its origins in a prehistoric hillfort of probable Iron Age date. The enclosure was used as the site of a Roman Pharos to complement a similar lighthouse on the Western Heights to guide ships to the harbour. In response to the Viking threat it also appears to have been adapted to serve as a fortified settlement and the 10th/early11th century church of St. Mary in Castro is an indication of the area of the hilltop where this settlement was located. The Medieval castle, with the late 12th century keep dominating the later concentric curtain walls and their towers, and gatehouses, remains in truncated elevation but with the bulk of its structure intact despite 19th century modifications. Little Medieval internal detail, however survives. The palatial apartments in the keep are recognisable despite their conversion to ordinance stores and the insertion of a bombproof vault at roof level. The same later military use applies to many of the mural towers to a lesser or greater degree. The Medieval structures around the inner baily have been largely converted into barracks, although parts of Arthur's Hall have been recovered by archaeological excavation. The Constable's Gate as the replacement for the original northern entrance that was so badly damaged in the siege of 1216 has a defensively complex and sophisticated plan. This has remained in continuous residential use with alterations in the 19th century. The northern and eastern sides of the castle have been heavily modified by the late 18th century earthworks and their 19th century improvements. This has meant the almost total loss of the medieval curtain beneath massive earthworks on the south-eastern side of the outer bailey. The earthworks and their underground communications have survived little changed. Internally within the castle there have been numerous barracks and associated buildings in the 18th and 19th centuries. The 20th century has had surprisingly little effect on the castle apart from the demolition of some barrack blocks and creation of car parks.

Post Medieval Defences. The obsolete medieval castle was reformed in the late 18th and early 19th century to create a powerful artillery fortress to protect Dover and its port. It was later superseded by Fort Burgoyne although defensive work continued up to the later 20th century. During the mid 18th century new barracks were built in the inner bailey incorporating medieval buildings and new batteries built. The keep was also used as prisoner-of-war accommodation and barracks in the early and mid eighteenth century, and finally military offices and temporary accommodation. Later during the Napoleonic Wars the medieval towers were reduced in height , ditches deepened and widened and four outer works built with underground links to the interior of the castle. At the same time casement barracks were excavated in the cliff face, designed by Lt Col. William Twiss. These defences were later strengthen during the 1850's with further caponiers and ditch defences. The wall-walk, towers and parapets of the inner bailey were reconstructed to their present form "for musketry" with military engineers reviving the notion of a "keep of last resort". Salvin's Officers Mess also dates from this period. during the 1870's additional harbour facing batteries were constructed. Outside the western limits of the castle the Shoulder of Mutton battery, built before this time, was re-modelled. Fire control positions were provided on the cliff top at the south-eastern end of the castle ramparts. (1-7)

During WW2 light aa guns were emplaced on the eastern rampart of the outer bailey with radar positions on the cliff edge but the principle wartime activity was focused in the command and control establishment in the cliff tunnels. In 1956 coastal artillery was abolished and the garrison moved out in 1958 when most of the site was handed over to the Ministry of Works. Parts of the cliff tunnels continued to be used as a Regional Centre of Government for Kent, Sussex and Surrey and remained on the secret list until 1984. (8)

Detailed description of the post medieval additions and modifications which were made to the castrle (as well as at the Western Heights and Harbour) (9)

A number of mainly small scale excavations have been undertaken at the castle over the years. Some of the most revealing were undertaken in the 1960’s by The Ministry of public Buildings and Works, shortly after the military occupation of the castle ceased. These excavations revealed the footprint of medieval and post medieval buildings within both the inner bailey and middle bailey at the Castle (10-11)

In 1993 a watching brief was undertaken at the King's Gate, Dover Castle during the installation of new services. A small pit was dug immediately outside the doorway leading into the guard chamber, where a small section of a Medieval wall was uncovered. The axis of the exposed wall was uncertain, however it was clear that it must form part of some building abutting the inside of the Inner Bailey curtain wall and possibly may have been directly associated with the King's Gate. (12)

Eight samples from timbers in the keep were analysed. The samples indicated that the timbers have a felling date in the range of 1254 - 74 AD. These timbers, therefore, do not relate to the original construction of the keep, but to later work in the late 13th century.(13)

Alterations within the Napoleonic barrack block revealed mid-18th century walls, a cobbled yard (a gully dating it to the mid-17th century). This represents an earlier phase of building use, perhaps stable/wash-house. MD fabric survives below the walls of the barracks, features including a blocked door and fossilized windows and a door. Eighteenth century rebuilding also visible at the upper layers. The cutting of service trenches across the courtyard revealed a stone-lined drain, possibly associated with the garderobe and a rough earth floor of probable Napoleonic date. (14)

During restoration works in 2009, a watching brief was maintained on the northern caponiers. Details of their construction and repair were recorded. (15)

In 2013 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out a watching brief. A dark soil layer, possibly a midden, was found near the Fitzwilliam Gate. It could be of medieval date but no datable finds were recovered. Traces of post medieval roads were found in Knight's Road. Two possible lengths of Lamson Tubes, part of a communication system of c.1943, were found in on Knight's Road. (16)

Alterations within the Napoleonic barrack block revealed mid-18th century walls, a cobbled yard (a gully dating it to the mid-17th century). This represents an earlier phase of building use, perhaps stable/wash-house. Medieval fabric survives below the walls of the barracks, features including a blocked door and fossilized windows and a door. Eighteenth century rebuilding also visible at the upper layers. The cutting of service trenches across the courtyard revealed a stone-lined drain, possibly associated with the garderobe and a rough earth floor of probable Napoleonic date. (17-18)

Further archaeological work undertaken at the castle (19-21)

Historical depictions of the Castle (22-27)

Historic England archive material (28)

<1> Johnathan Coad, 1995, English Heritage Book of Dover Castle and the Defences of Dover (Monograph). SKE52106.

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

<3> English Heritage, 2014, Dover Castle Conservation Management Plan Volume 1 Main Text (Unpublished document). SKE52104.

<4> Brown, R, A., Colvin, H, M., Taylor, A, J., 1963, The History of the King's Works Vol.1 and 2 (Monograph). SKE7875.

<5> Allen Brown, R, 1988, Dover Castle, Dover Castle Eng Heritage Guide 1988 photos plans (R Allen Brown) (Monograph). SKE7865.

<6> English Heritage, 2010, Inner Bailey, Dover Castle, Kent; Historic Buildings Report (Unpublished document). SKE31743.

<7> English Heritage, 2011, Arthur's Hall, Dover Castle, Kent, Analaysis of the building, historic building recording (Unpublished document). SKE31740.

<8> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD41 (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<9> Coad, J. G. and Lewis, P. N., 1982, Article on the later fortifications of Dover (Unpublished document). SKE51976.

<10> S. E. Rigold, 1967, Excavations at Dover Castle 1964-1966 (Article in serial). SKE52109.

<11> A. M. Cook, D. C. Mynard, & S. E. Rigold, 1969, Excavations at Dover Castle, Principally in the Inner Bailey A. M. Cook, D. C. Mynard, &S. E. Rigold (Article in serial). SKE52108.

<12> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1993, An archaeological watching brief at the King's gate, Dover Castle (Unpublished document). SKE8088.

<13> Centre for Archaeology, 2001, Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Dover Castle Keep, Dover Castle, Dover (Unpublished document). SKE12163.

<14> Jonathan Coad, 2001, Dover Castle (Monograph). SKE7872.

<15> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2010, Report on a watching-brief at the northern caponiers of Dover Castle (Unpublished document). SKE16846.

<16> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2013, Report on a watching brief in the Outer Bailey of Dover Castle (Unpublished document). SKE25087.

<17> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1990, Canterbury’s Archaeology 1989–1990 Excavations: Kent Sites (Article in serial). SKE52111.

<18> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1990, Archaeologia Cantiana: Interim report on work carried out in 1990 by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (Article in serial). SKE52127.

<19> J. Davies, S. Stewart, 1996, Wall Painting Condition Audit, Dover Castle, Kent. (Unpublished document). SKE31720.

<20> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2013, Area adjacent St. Mary’s Church, Dover Castle, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE31712.

<21> Keevill Heritage Consultancy, 2017, The Church of St Mary in Castro, Dover Castle, Kent, Report on the excavation of two small pits for lightning protection (Unpublished document). SKE32447.

<22> John Bereblock, 1570, John Bereblock's view of Dover Castle (Cartographic materials). SKE52107.

<23> N. J. Fennell, 1856, Dover Castle Officers Barracks (Plan). SKE52046.

<24> Thomas Digges, 1581, The State of Dover Haven (Map). SKE31984.

<25> Arthur Nelson, 1767, Landscape, with Dover Castle in the Distance (Graphic material). SKE32077.

<26> Unknown, 1756, Plan of Dover Castle dated 1756 (Plan). SKE52162.

<27> Royal Engineers, 1877, DOVER CASTLE, HOSPITAL BATTERY (Map). SKE52149.

<28> Historic England, Archive material associated with Dover Castle, Scheduled Monument (Archive). SKE55362.