King Henry VIII had a long and intimate connection
with Dover, having held the offices of
Lord
Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of
Dover
Castle before he became king.
Henry did much to improve the Castle and the fortifications
of Dover itself by adding the Moat Bulwark on the north
side of the harbour and a similar bulwark (which developed
into
Archcliffe
Fort) on the south side. This provided shore batteries
on either flank of the harbour.
When Henry visited Dover he stayed in the Royal Apartments
in the
keep and
inner
bailey of the Castle. Records survive from 1513
of his orders to the Barons of the Cinque Ports to fit
out their fleet to convey him and his entourage to Calais
(then an English possession). He arrived at the Castle
on 15 June and stayed until 30 June when he embarked
for Calais.
