Dovers tidal harbour, within dovers western docks is located to the west of Granville dock and to the south of Wellington Dock and Dover town centre. The tidal harbour or basin was constructed as part of the Elizabethan harbour improvements in the late 16th and early 17th century, it originally incorporated Granville dock but this was separated in the later post medieval period.

There are numerous historic cartographic sources which depict the former extent of this tidal harbour before any of the 18th and 19th century alteration which were made it it. These sources include that by John Symonds dating to 1583-1584 (1), Thomas Digges dating to 1595 (2) and William Eldred dating to 1631 (3) and 1641 (4)

One of the earliest cartographic sources that depicts the 18th century alterations which were made to Dovers western docks, including the area encompassed by Granville dock separated from the 'Tidal Harbour', is that by Foquet dating to 1737. (5) Another early example detailing these changes was produced a short time after Foquet's by Hogben in 1769. (6)

<1> John Symonds, 1583-1584, Dover Harbour (Map). SKE32347.

<2> Thomas Digges, 1595, The state of Dover Haven with the New workes (Map). SKE31987.

<3> William Eldred (?), 1631, Plan of lands belonging to the Priory and now to Master Buffkyn (Map). SKE31988.

<4> William Eldred, 1641, The Platt of Dover Castle Towne and Harbor (Map). SKE31804.

<5> J. Foquet, 1737, Plan of the town, harbour and fortifications of Dover (Map). SKE31991.

<6> Thomas and Henry Hogben, 1769, The topography and Mensuration of Dover Pier, Harbour, Houses and Lands from DHB (Map). SKE31992.