Dover Tourist Information

Dover Castle & the Secret Wartime Tunnels

One of Kent's most popular attractions, Dover Castle and inclusive wartime tunnels tour is one of the county's most striking castles. As the closest English point to France, not surprising then that Henry VIII had Dover Castle considerably reinforced, alongside Deal and Walmer Castle further north, as defence against potential Catholic Europe from which he'd isolated Britain by his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Dover Castle's history stretches much further back however. Prior to William the Conqueror reinforcing defences on the site of Dover Castle in 1066 there was an Anglo Saxon fort here. Both Henry II and Henry VIII added their own fortified additions. An exhibit within Dover Castle, which includes a film and sound technology, explores the 1216 siege which went on here when King John's men were held up in the castle by rebel barons in cohort with their French ally Prince Louis. This exhibit, alongside a tour of the extensive network of wartime tunnels in the chalk cliffs, many of which date back to the Napoleonic Wars, make Dover Castle a superb family attraction. There's lots going on for kids including the Land Train which takes you on a tour of the site, plus ample picnic areas are within the grounds and there are two eateries - The Keep Cafe and Tunnel Tearoom.

The relevance of Dover Castle's history pushes right into the 20th century. It was here in 1940 that Vice Admiral Ramsey oversaw the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk otherwise known as Operation Dynamo (so named after private talks apparently that Ramsey had with Churchill in the Dynamo Room within the tunnels, which was noisy so their conversations could not be overheard). Seven hundred personnel, both men and women, were based down in the tunnels during World War II. Escorted by excellent guides, learn more about the long 12 hour shifts undertaken by personnel down here - deprived of natural light. As well as touring the tunnels, the tour takes in the command room from where Churchill viewed the Battle of Britain and the hospital. Dover was one of the most bombed locations in Britain during the Second World War. Above ground within the castle site are the remains of a Roman lighthouse, evidence of the importance of this elevated position for centuries, and adjacent sits a restored Saxon church. Within the 12th century Keep there's a superb exhibit on Henry VIII's visit here to oversee personally reinforcements.

Dover Castle & Wartime Tunnels, Dover, Kent. Tel.01304 211067.

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Dover Museums

Dover Museum is one of the oldest local museums in existance, dating back to 1836. With such longevity, as you can imagine the archives and artefacts held here are impressive. Situated now in a building just behind its original Victorian facade, Dover Museum holds a particular prize - the Dover Bronze Age Boat discovered in Dover at the bottom of a waterlogged hole at the end of Barton Street. The find was an accident, but what a prize. The Dover Bronze Age boat was an internationally acclaimed archaeological find, and at 9.5 metres long and 2.4 metres wide, it's the best preserved boat to be found and suggests cross channel trade during the Bronze Age, around 3000 years ago. The pre-history exhibit contains a reconstruction of the find - the centrepiece, plus a Bronze Age exhibit of tools and other artefacts. Essentially this is one of the finest Bronze Age exhibit galleries in the UK!

Rare Bronze Age finds are not the only archaeological treasures found in Dover. A number of Roman sites and finds have been found in the area. The Romans named the town Dubris, and being so close to their mainland empire, Dover was then an important Roman settlement covering around 5 hectares. Over 60 Roman sites have been uncovered in the Dover area, with more around Sandwich to the north. The most famous of Dover's Roman sites include the Roman painted house (open to the public and situated on New Street) and Roman Lighthouse within the Dover Castle grounds. The Roman painted house was another prized archaeological find in Dover. Painstaking work revealed some of Europe's most extensive wall paintings, part of a Roman house which served as a hotel/stopover. Roman central heading systems were also found as well as a selection of Roman artefacts, many of which are on display at the Roman Painted House and in the Dover Museum.

Slightly inland at Buckland an Anglo Saxon cemetery was found during construction work for a housing estate in the early 1950s. Initially workman found human remains, and once archaeologists moved in around 170 Anglo Saxon graves were discovered. Further graves were uncovered in 1994 and alongside human remains numerous artefacts such as glass, pottery and jewellery including bronze buckles were uncovered. The Dover Museum displays some of the Anglo Saxon finds found at Buckland. Other galleries within the museum explore Dover's history through the Norman, Medieval and Tudor periods. Dover's place in history as one of the designated five Cinque (pronounced 'sink') ports around the Kent and East Sussex Channel Coast is explored in-depth. Elsewhere in the museum you'll find due coverage of Dover's 20th century role in both World Wars. Strategically the town was crucial in both, with vast numbers of men crossing the Channel from Dover during the First World War, and mass evacuation from Dunkirk to Dover during the Second World War. The town was regularly shelled and bombed during both wars. Note too the superb exhibition on two famous residents of St Margaret's Bay near Dover - Ian Fleming and Noel Coward.

Dover Museum, Market Square, Dover, Kent. CT16 1PB. Tel. 01304 201066. 10am - 5.30pm Monday to Saturday , 12pm - 5.00pm Sundays. Closed Sundays September to March. Roman Painted House, New Street, Dover, CT17 9AJ. Tel. 01304 203279. For the Roman Painted House opening times check with Dover Tourist Information Centre or the Dover Museum.

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