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Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
Dover Priory Station
The Priory Station was opened on 22 July 1861 as a temporary
terminus by the London Chatham and Dover Railway when
their line from London reached Dover. On 1 November 1861 it
became a through station when the tunnel connecting it with
the Harbour Station opened. Originally called Dover Town it
was renamed Dover Priory in July 1863, taking its name from
the nearby remains of St Martin’s Priory. After this the name
Dover Town was taken by the South Eastern Railway for their
original terminus.
As built, Dover Priory had an overall roof covering the
platforms and was provided with goods, carriage and engine
sheds. Passenger services for the town were consolidated at
the Priory Station in 1927 when the old Harbour Station was
closed (the Town Station had closed to civilian traffic in October
1914). The engine shed was closed in 1928 when a new shed
near the old Town Station was opened. In 1932 the station was
rebuilt in the modern style of the Southern Railway.
During the Second World War the station saw much traffic
including the evacuation of the children of Dover in June 1940.
It had the dubious honour of being the victim of the first shell
to hit the town, which destroyed the passenger footbridge on
11 September 1940.
Since the war the station has seen a large increase in cross
Channel passenger traffic as the Eastern Docks has developed.
With no rail connection to the Eastern Docks, shuttle buses
connect with the arrival of train serivces from London. In 1994
the Priory Station became Dover’s only railway station when
the Marine Station closed.
In August 2006 major renovations started at the station.
Including the refurbishment of the station building, booking
hall and toilet facilities, and planned improvements to the
external circulation for vehicles. There were also works to
improve port interchange facilities, signs for pedestrians and
CCTV coverage in the waiting areas.
In December 2009 high-speed trains started running from
Dover Priory to London St Pancras. From Ashford International
the new Javelin trains use the high-speed line built for the
Eurostar Channel Tunnel services. Passengers are now able to
reach London in 1 hour 6 minutes, saving at least 30 minutes
on the previous quickest journey time.
terminus by the London Chatham and Dover Railway when
their line from London reached Dover. On 1 November 1861 it
became a through station when the tunnel connecting it with
the Harbour Station opened. Originally called Dover Town it
was renamed Dover Priory in July 1863, taking its name from
the nearby remains of St Martin’s Priory. After this the name
Dover Town was taken by the South Eastern Railway for their
original terminus.
As built, Dover Priory had an overall roof covering the
platforms and was provided with goods, carriage and engine
sheds. Passenger services for the town were consolidated at
the Priory Station in 1927 when the old Harbour Station was
closed (the Town Station had closed to civilian traffic in October
1914). The engine shed was closed in 1928 when a new shed
near the old Town Station was opened. In 1932 the station was
rebuilt in the modern style of the Southern Railway.
During the Second World War the station saw much traffic
including the evacuation of the children of Dover in June 1940.
It had the dubious honour of being the victim of the first shell
to hit the town, which destroyed the passenger footbridge on
11 September 1940.
Since the war the station has seen a large increase in cross
Channel passenger traffic as the Eastern Docks has developed.
With no rail connection to the Eastern Docks, shuttle buses
connect with the arrival of train serivces from London. In 1994
the Priory Station became Dover’s only railway station when
the Marine Station closed.
In August 2006 major renovations started at the station.
Including the refurbishment of the station building, booking
hall and toilet facilities, and planned improvements to the
external circulation for vehicles. There were also works to
improve port interchange facilities, signs for pedestrians and
CCTV coverage in the waiting areas.
In December 2009 high-speed trains started running from
Dover Priory to London St Pancras. From Ashford International
the new Javelin trains use the high-speed line built for the
Eurostar Channel Tunnel services. Passengers are now able to
reach London in 1 hour 6 minutes, saving at least 30 minutes
on the previous quickest journey time.
