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Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
Archcliffe Fort
Archcliffe Fort stands on a headland overlooking the harbour, known
as Archcliffe Point. In 1370 a watchtower, surrounded by a chalk bank
and ditch was built on the site of the present Archcliffe Fort. This
fortification remained substantially unchanged until 1539 when Henry
VIII ordered that a substantial ‘bulwark’ be constructed. Later when
the Spanish Armada threatened the south coast, this fort had to be
strengthened.
Again, in the reign of James I, it became necessary to spend more
money on the repair of the fort. This was in 1624 during the war in
the Netherlands, when an army of 12,000 men was brought to Dover
and embarked for Holland. After the restoration of the Monarchy in
1660, the fort was fully manned with a captain, a lieutenant, an
ensign, a sergeant, two corporals, sixty soldiers, one drummer, one
gunner and two matrosses (assistant gunners). As soon as it became
evident Charles II was safely established on the throne, an order was
issued in June 1661 reducing the manning levels at the fort to a
captain, lieutenant and four gunners.
In the 1750s work was carried out on the fort, building two new guard
houses, raising a parapet and constructing new barracks. In 1780,
with war against France raging, £1,200 was spent bringing the fort up
to date. During the Napoleonic Wars additional money was spent on
the fort, despite it being considered obsolete. The military considered
the expense worthwhile until the developments on the Western
Heights became operational.
On 7 February 1844 the South Eastern Railway opened its line to
Dover from Folkestone. The company’s Town Station was reached by
means of two short tunnels under the south west corner of the fort. A
report in 1847 stated that the fort was armed with six 32 pounder
guns mounted on traversing platforms. Its masonry walls were in
good order having the appearance of being recently restored. An
additional 32 pounder gun was mounted so as to fire over the
rampart, and was used for general artillery practice. In 1872 the fort
was re-armed with five new 10 inch guns and a 7 inch gun on a
Moncrieff disappearing carriage. The advantage of this type of
carriage was that the gun was lowered below the parapet for
reloading, protecting the gunners from enemy fire.
The fort was not upgraded during the First World War other than the
mounting of some small calibre, quick firing guns to prevent landing
parties taking advantage of the shelter of the cliff face. In the early
1920s the railway’s demand for more tracks resulted in parliamentary
permission being given for the removal of the southern half of the
fort. The the railway tunnels were removed and the cliff was cut
back.
Little used during the Second World War, by 1956 the Ministry of
Defence no longer considered it a military installation. In 1979 it was
transferred to the hands of the Department of the Environment and
scheduled as and Ancient Monument. During the construction of the
new A20, in the 1990s, part of the entrance and the dry moat had to
be destroyed. In 1995 work started to convert the fort for use by the
Emmaus Community, a group working to help homeless people by
providing accommodation and work for them. The fort now provides
accommodation and workshops, where old furniture is recycled and
sold in the shop on the premises.
as Archcliffe Point. In 1370 a watchtower, surrounded by a chalk bank
and ditch was built on the site of the present Archcliffe Fort. This
fortification remained substantially unchanged until 1539 when Henry
VIII ordered that a substantial ‘bulwark’ be constructed. Later when
the Spanish Armada threatened the south coast, this fort had to be
strengthened.
Again, in the reign of James I, it became necessary to spend more
money on the repair of the fort. This was in 1624 during the war in
the Netherlands, when an army of 12,000 men was brought to Dover
and embarked for Holland. After the restoration of the Monarchy in
1660, the fort was fully manned with a captain, a lieutenant, an
ensign, a sergeant, two corporals, sixty soldiers, one drummer, one
gunner and two matrosses (assistant gunners). As soon as it became
evident Charles II was safely established on the throne, an order was
issued in June 1661 reducing the manning levels at the fort to a
captain, lieutenant and four gunners.
In the 1750s work was carried out on the fort, building two new guard
houses, raising a parapet and constructing new barracks. In 1780,
with war against France raging, £1,200 was spent bringing the fort up
to date. During the Napoleonic Wars additional money was spent on
the fort, despite it being considered obsolete. The military considered
the expense worthwhile until the developments on the Western
Heights became operational.
On 7 February 1844 the South Eastern Railway opened its line to
Dover from Folkestone. The company’s Town Station was reached by
means of two short tunnels under the south west corner of the fort. A
report in 1847 stated that the fort was armed with six 32 pounder
guns mounted on traversing platforms. Its masonry walls were in
good order having the appearance of being recently restored. An
additional 32 pounder gun was mounted so as to fire over the
rampart, and was used for general artillery practice. In 1872 the fort
was re-armed with five new 10 inch guns and a 7 inch gun on a
Moncrieff disappearing carriage. The advantage of this type of
carriage was that the gun was lowered below the parapet for
reloading, protecting the gunners from enemy fire.
The fort was not upgraded during the First World War other than the
mounting of some small calibre, quick firing guns to prevent landing
parties taking advantage of the shelter of the cliff face. In the early
1920s the railway’s demand for more tracks resulted in parliamentary
permission being given for the removal of the southern half of the
fort. The the railway tunnels were removed and the cliff was cut
back.
Little used during the Second World War, by 1956 the Ministry of
Defence no longer considered it a military installation. In 1979 it was
transferred to the hands of the Department of the Environment and
scheduled as and Ancient Monument. During the construction of the
new A20, in the 1990s, part of the entrance and the dry moat had to
be destroyed. In 1995 work started to convert the fort for use by the
Emmaus Community, a group working to help homeless people by
providing accommodation and work for them. The fort now provides
accommodation and workshops, where old furniture is recycled and
sold in the shop on the premises.
