In the early period of the Grand Shaft (which was built between 1804-1807) the entrance courtyard consisted of a boundary wall, gate and small guard chamber. Little of the earliest phase of the complex survives. Some of the original cobbled surface, a substantial length of the south western boundary wall and a short length of the north-eastern boundary wall adjacent to the cliff are all that remains of the original early 19th century complex.

The short length of wall at the north end of original north-eastern boundary wall is believed to be older than the rest of the wall and would have likely formed the north eastern wall of the guard chamber. (1)

<1> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1993, The Dover Grand Shaft Project: Report on Archaeological Work at the Snargate Street Entrance (Unpublished document). SKE6833.