300px|thumb|The Western Heights from Dover Castle: Drop Redoubt is in the foreground, the Citadel is in the background

The Western Heights of Dover is a series of forts and ditches in Dover, England. They were created in the 18th and 19th centuries to augment the existing defences and protect the key port of Dover from both seaward and landward attack. In the early 20th century, the Dover Western Heights was collectively reputed to be the "strongest and most elaborate" fortification in the country. The Army withdrew from the Heights in 1956–61. They are now a local nature reserve.

Introduction

First given earthworks in 1779 against the planned invasion that year, the high ground west of Dover was properly fortified in 1804 when Lieutenant-Colonel William Twiss was instructed to modernise the existing defences. This was part of a huge programme of fortification in response to Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom. It followed a sustained period of related work by Twiss on upgrading the fortifications of nearby Dover Castle (1794–1803).

The Citadel

thumb|The entrance to the Citadel.

The Citadel, lying at the western end of the Heights, formed its main defensive point.

In 1804, plans were made to rebuild both the 'West and East Redoubts' (i.e. the Citadel and Drop Redoubt) and to link them with earthworks along the length of the Heights. By 1806, the rebuilt Citadel was surrounded by an unrevetted defensive ditch. In the centre was a set of temporary barracks huts, and the three guardhouses. In 1809, a well was sunk to ensure a permanent supply of water in case of a siege. In 1860, a pumphouse was added .

In 1807, following a collapse of part of the fortifications,another application was made for revetting to take place. The bomb-proof Officers' Quarters and Mess, built by Major William Jervois in 1860, was designed in part to be able to function as a defensible keep in the event of the Citadel being stormed by the enemy.

After 1890 the Citadel ceased to have a defensive role and functioned as a large barracks and mobilisation centre, with additional hut accommodation provided for up to 900 soldiers in total. In 1956, the Citadel was handed over to HM Prison Service. It served successively as a Borstal, a Youth Custody Centre and a Young Offender Institution. The construction of the Redoubt was in two periods: the first being from 1804 to 1808 during the Napoleonic Wars, and the second from 1859 to 1864 following the recommendations of the 1859 Royal Commission.

First Period

The original form of the Drop Redoubt was a simple pentagon, formed by cutting trenches into the hillside and revetting (facing) them with brickwork. Thus, the Redoubt was a solid ‘island’ with barracks, magazine, and artillery, on top. Originally, it would have accommodated 200 troops. By 1893, the numbers had been reduced to just 90.

A striking feature of the first period is the Soldiers’ Quarters – five bomb-proof casemates. These are parabolic in cross section and covered in a thick layer of earth to withstand the effect of mortar-bombs. The windows at the rear of each open into a trench, to protect them against blast.

Second Period

thumb|Inside the Redoubt: soldiers' barracks (top left), guardroom (below left), officers' quarters (below right), small arms store (top right)

The rise of Napoleon III during the 1850s caused a further invasion scare, and a Royal Commission was set up in 1859 to investigate the defences of Britain. More work was deemed necessary at the Heights, and the Drop Redoubt had its defences improved. Caponiers were added to four of the corners of the existing fort, each with a stone staircase leading up to the top of the Redoubt. Gunrooms were built alongside two of them to allow fire along the North and South-East Lines. The original magazine was enlarged, and covered with a large earth bank as protection from mortar-fire. As part of the construction of the North Lines a North Entrance was built, between the Drop Redoubt and North Centre Bastion, giving access to the Heights by way of the North Military Road.

After 1858, a further 'Detached Bastion' was built immediately to the north of the North Centre Bastion (which was itself rebuilt and strengthened), to the designs of Captain Edmund Du Cane. The bastions enabled flanking fire by both muskets and artillery along the length of the North Line. At the same time, the Citadel was extended to the west (the 'Western Outworks') with further casemated barracks provided within the new ramparts. first (facing the parade ground) were a pair of blocks, one for soldiers, one for officers; then, on the next terrace up, was a longer block for soldiers plus a small block for Staff Sergeants; then, above that, was the Field Officers' quarters. (Further terraces beyond later accommodated a gymnasium and stables). Access to the terraces was provided by a long flight of steps rising from the far left corner of the parade ground (as viewed from the cliff top). The right-hand side of the parade ground was enclosed by the Officers' Mess, whilst a Canteen (later termed 'Regimental Institute') was built facing it, on the left-hand side; the remaining side of the parade ground was left open (providing a clear view across the harbour from the cliff top). Ancillary buildings were on further terraces above and beyond the Canteen, ranged along the left-hand side of the flight of steps. Further buildings were added in the 1860s, including additional married quarters.

Barrack accommodation on Western Heights was further increased by the building of another barracks to the south-west, South Front Barracks, in the 1860s. In contrast to the Grand Shaft Barracks, which had come to be seen as vulnerable due to technological advances in artillery, the accommodation at South Front Barracks was mainly built within bomb-proof casemates within the ditch of the southern defensive line, which was constructed at the same time above Archcliffe Fort. The casemated barracks had accommodation for 400 soldiers and the married quarters accommodated a further 120 married soldiers with their families. While the married quarters continued to be occupied in the 20th century, by 1912 the casemates were no longer in use as barracks, serving instead as offices for the Royal Garrison Artillery.

In the 1860s, buildings were added to the west of the Grand Shaft Barracks, across the Centre Road, close to the North Gate, to serve the whole Western Heights garrison, including a Garrison Chapel and School. A Military Hospital was built to the south in 1804–06. Extended in the 1860s, it latterly served as a headquarters for the Royal Engineers. In the 1960s, these garrison buildings, and the Grand Shaft Barracks and South Front Barracks, were almost entirely demolished.

Coast Artillery batteries

thumb|Western Heights Coastal Defence (remains of St Martin's Battery).

In the 1850s a gun battery was built, as part of Dover's coast artillery defences, on the slope below Drop Redoubt. Known as the Drop Battery, it was designed with emplacements for eight 8-inch guns. Within ten years, however, construction of the North-East Line of fortification (extending south from the Redoubt) had blocked part of the battery's field of fire.

Therefore, in the 1870s the Drop Battery was replaced by another gun battery further to the south-west: St Martin's Battery. It had three gun emplacements (designed to accommodate 10-inch RMLs) with ammunition stores in between them.

In 1898 a further gun emplacement, the Citadel Battery, was built at the far end of the Western Outworks of the Citadel (the westernmost extremity of the site). It was designed for three 9.2 inch Mark X BL guns.

Another battery was built at the same time to the south (South Front Battery), but it was short-lived.

English Heritage owns the Redoubt. The Grand Shaft spiral staircase is owned by the council, and is annually opened by the Western Heights Preservation Society.

The Grand Shaft Bowl, located south of Drop Redoubt, is the proposed location for the new , which will commemorate, by name, all of the British Commonwealth casualties of World War I and World War II.

The Grand Shaft Barracks was the location for the filming of the post-nuclear attack scenes in the Peter Watkins 1965 film The War Game.

See also

  • Eastbourne Redoubt
  • Dover Castle

References

  • Palmerston Forts Society
  • Western Heights Preservation Society
  • Western Heights Preservation Society Facebook
  • Western Heights - Heritage factsheet - White Cliffs Country
  • Images of the Western Heights
  • Photographs of the Detached Bastion on the Western Heights
  • Photographs of the drop redoubt on the Western Heights
  • Photographs and more details of the Drop Redoubt from CastleList.com
  • Visitor information at English Heritage