These tunnels were built in dover town in ww2 to protect the public from shelling and bombing. Accordingly, its defences were substantial, comprising two bridges and a tunnel. Challenge your friends and family and book your places today. The external footage was filmed a couple of weeks back all done now. Please note that the last tunnel tour leaves at 3pm each day. Western heights preservation society western heights. The musty tunnels 70ft under dover that altered the course of the war are now open to the public. Two main detached forts were built, the drop redoubt to the east and citadel to the west both surrounded by dry ditches.
Dover underground bunkers pt4 western heights fort with iks 4k duration. The stark face of the white cliffs of dover faces france, across the famous strait of dover, and during world war ii, winston churchill ordered that a network of tunnels be dug into the cliff face. The fortification of the hills known as the western heights in dover began in the 18th century. This week we are heading into the underground accommodation tunnels built in the 1860s during the napoleonic wars. This historical documentary series was filmed some time ago. But dover castles wartime tunnels arent the towns only underground secret. Go inside the military tunnel under dovers forts ianvisits london. Mary, in dover castle and is today in an excellent state of preservation. Dover western heights tunnels arseniccoated blocks. All information narrated has been found in john peverley book, dovers. A network of tunnels under the white cliffs of dover. The tunnels today are now locked and are not accessible to the public. Never ending fort tunnels western heights part 1 youtube.
The western heights of dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in britain. This location is part of the western heights fortification in dover kent. The north entrance, western heights dover historic document. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The musty tunnels 70ft under dover that altered the course. The north entrance, western heights dover historic. Visiting the grand shaft staircase, dover western heights. Dover people being shelled from august 1940 to 1944. Soldiers of the fortress dover castle annals of dover 1916. Churchills wartime tunnels under white cliffs of dover.
Begun during the napoleonic wars and completed in the 1860s, the vast defences of western heights were designed to protect dover from french invasion. History of western heights, dover english heritage. The timber flooring blocks were taken from the north entrance of the dover western heights tunnels between 23 and 27 february, kent police said. Standing on the western heights today, looking at the sweeping views over the town, harbour and castle and, on a fine day, the clear silhouette of the french coast. It was built on winston churchills orders but abandoned and. The 6in 15cm cubes may be coated with an arsenic preserver, a method used by victorians to treat wood.
The grand shaft is a unique triple helix staircase built between 1806 and 1809 descendingascending 140 feet through the white cliffs of dover. Opening times the white cliffs of dover national trust. This was a sally port that took you from inside the dry moat and up to the inner part of the fort. See the complete tunnels series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. We have no stationery, books, typists or machines, no chairs and few tables, maddening. The western empires book of notices mentions that, at the time of. The tunnels book series by multiple authors includes books tunnels, deeper, freefall, and several more. The english heritage properties part of an extensive network of fortifications include the north centre bastion and drop redoubt. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion. Beginning with simple earthworks, they were upgraded during the napoleonic wars. Dover castle is a medieval castle in dover, kent, england.
It is open on the third sunday of each month between march and november please check calendar for exact dates. A labyrinth of tunnels, the fan bay deep shelter is reached by 125 steps down into the bowels of the white cliffs of dover. Dover underground bunkers pt4 western heights fort with. The underground secrets of dover castle tunnels on the luce. Drop redoubt in the foreground, citadel in the background. The timber flooring blocks were taken from the north entrance of the dover western heights tunnels between 23 and 27 february, kent police. The north entrance to the western heights was the nearest to the town of dover and most convenient for access, either for supplies or by an attacking force. Theres a network of tunnels under the white cliffs of dover. In size, theyre about three times larger than the castle, but being low.
572 1005 1218 261 749 1416 814 19 785 937 38 173 1308 1567 1066 197 843 578 774 1096 1381 32 1551 1261 1564 254 736 1197 1137 1203 1214 190 450 1558 57 129 842 1283 280 778 968 847 1037 1161 1014 532 400