Managed to squeeze this one in on my daytrip to Dover. The site is amazing, the huge ditch surrounding it is menacing, the bastion itself is much larger than I expected. You could lose yourself in there for hours on end.
Built as part of the defences on Western hieghts, the bastion was designed to stop a force attacking the citadel from the north. The entire fortification is massive, after walking round this small part you get an understanding of the sheer mass of the structures and the amount of work that would be involved in building them.
The site has been done pretty extensively before so for more history check google.
Access was pretty difficult for an outsider but some local kids helped me out, but only after scaling several high walls for nothing!
The caponier projects itself into the deep dry moat.
Inside the caponier the slate flooring on the upper floor has given way in many places, it feels quite unsafe up there.
I love the grand architecture of the victorian defences, it makes a welcome change from the hastily built WW2 defences.
The place has been pretty heavily vandalised which is a shame, but during my time there I bumped into about ten people all having a wander. It's a busy attraction.
Leading away from the caponier there are many musketry galleries. Note the large hole in the floor at the end.
Along each of the tunnels there are drawbridges to halt the attacking enemy. these were fronted with deep pits. Even 150 years after being installed, the oak is still solid, although it has been smashed up in places. The slots either side hold the counterweights.
Behind the drawbridges are two long sets of stairs up to the top level of the fortification.
On the surface there is a long building, this is the magazine. Whilst here I bumped into a gorgeous young lady who, im sure, was trying to chat me up! This is the last place I'd expect that!!
Loads more musketry galleries line the walls of the fort.
Don't be fooled, the place is pitch black so if you do go, take a torch!
Built as part of the defences on Western hieghts, the bastion was designed to stop a force attacking the citadel from the north. The entire fortification is massive, after walking round this small part you get an understanding of the sheer mass of the structures and the amount of work that would be involved in building them.
The site has been done pretty extensively before so for more history check google.
Access was pretty difficult for an outsider but some local kids helped me out, but only after scaling several high walls for nothing!
The caponier projects itself into the deep dry moat.
Inside the caponier the slate flooring on the upper floor has given way in many places, it feels quite unsafe up there.
I love the grand architecture of the victorian defences, it makes a welcome change from the hastily built WW2 defences.
The place has been pretty heavily vandalised which is a shame, but during my time there I bumped into about ten people all having a wander. It's a busy attraction.
Leading away from the caponier there are many musketry galleries. Note the large hole in the floor at the end.
Along each of the tunnels there are drawbridges to halt the attacking enemy. these were fronted with deep pits. Even 150 years after being installed, the oak is still solid, although it has been smashed up in places. The slots either side hold the counterweights.
Behind the drawbridges are two long sets of stairs up to the top level of the fortification.
On the surface there is a long building, this is the magazine. Whilst here I bumped into a gorgeous young lady who, im sure, was trying to chat me up! This is the last place I'd expect that!!
Loads more musketry galleries line the walls of the fort.
Don't be fooled, the place is pitch black so if you do go, take a torch!
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