Map of Dover Harbour by John Symonds who was who was at home as either architect, mason or joiner, was first consulted in the summer of 1583 on the possibility of constructing a stone sluice for the pent, but he advised that it would take too long. Nevertheless he was employed again at the end of the year, sounding depths within and around the harbour. Other tasks at this time included estimating quantities of materials and drawing up plans, while in September 1584 he was called in to confer on the design of jetties and the suitability of different types of local stone for the purpose.