Photos by John Latter : on the map, in Google Earth (KML)

The photo was taken from in front of the drawbridge of King`s Gate and shows how the entrance to the barbican (on the right of the ruins) was 'offset' to that of the main gates.

Not only would this offset hinder a direct assault by an attacking force (by forcing a reduction in the momentum of any charge), but the flank of any such body of baddies would become exposed to archers on the walls and towers of the Inner Bailey as the baddies made their way from one entrance to another.

The pathway between the barbican entrance and that of the King's Gate is apparently known as a "neck" (from Wikipedia: Barbican).

The Kings Gate is the northern entrance to the Keep Yard (wherein lies the Keep, or "Great Tower") and forms part of the Inner Bailey walls (the southern entrance is the Palace Gate).

The above photo shows the "out-work" and part of the "small area" referred to in the first paragraph of the first quotation below.

Click to see all photos of Dover Castle, one of Dover's English Heritage sites.

Abridged extracts from "The History of the Town and Port of Dover and of Dover Castle (With a Short Account of the Cinque Ports)", Volume 2. Dedicated by the Reverend John Lyon, Minister of "Saint Mary`s", on April 21st, 1814, and published the same year:

The King's Gate, and Bridge

The entrance into the Saxon keep, at this place, was defended by a strong out-work, which enclosed a small area before the great gates (of King's Gate). Some of the ruins of it are still remaining. From the walls of this out-work, the archers could command the whole vallum, from Peverell`s Gate to Albrincis's Tower (ie Avranches Tower).

As there is no appearance of there ever having been a portcullis at the entrance into this out-work, it is probable, that they had only a drawbridge, to secure the passage at this bridge.

The walls at this place were, in some parts, ten feet thick, cased with flint, and filled up with chalk, rubbish, and mortar, which has been considered proof of its being Saxon masonry.

There was a portcullis at the great gates, opening immediately into the Keep (Keep Yard); and on each side a tower; from which archers could command the whole vallum. Though these towers were open in front, they had floors in them; for the holes are still remaining in the walls, which received the ends of the timbers.

The ground compartments were places of safety; where the soldiers could retire to rest, and the women and children remain, in case of a siege. As all the towers were open in front, in the interior walls, it is evident that our hardy ancestors did not require very close rooms to shelter them from the inclemency of a winter's sky.

...After the bridge was drawn up, and the great gates shut, they were not to be opened until the rising of the sun. If the King came unexpectedly in the night, the great gates were not to be opened to him, but he was to go to the postern, called the King's Gate, towards the north; the there the Constable (1), and those who accompanied him, might admit the King, and a certain number of his suite.. When the King was admitted, he had the command; and in the morning, when it was full day, he might admit the remainder of his company.

Abridged extract from "The History of the Castle, Town and Port of Dover" by Reverend S. P. H. Statham, Rector of St Mary-in-the-Castle (ie St Mary-in-Castro) (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899):

Two gates (in the Inner Bailey walls) led in to the inner ward (or Keep Yard), the one on the north, called the King`s Gate; that on the south being named the Palace Gate, or the Duke of Suffolk's Gate. They are vaulted passages between two flanking square towers, and are early English in character. Both were fitted with a portcullis. An outwork, consisting of a wall with towers, was thrown out in front of each of these gates, and the entry to these works was placed obliquely to the main gate so as to allow the approach to be commanded. That at the King's Gate (the King's Gate Barbican) remains much as it was first built, but the one at the Palace Gate has been entirely destroyed.

The Wikipedia 'Barbican' entry reads:

A barbican (from medieval Latin barbecana, "outer fortification of a city or castle," a general Romanic word, perhaps from Arabic or Persian cf. bab-khanah "gate-house" and "towered gateway" or from the mediaeval English burgh-kenning) is a fortified outpost or gateway, such as an outer defense to a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes. Usually barbicans were situated outside the main line of defences and connected to the city walls with a walled road called the neck.

In the 15th century, with the improvement in siege tactics and artillery, barbicans lost their significance. However, several barbicans were built even in the 16th century.

Dover Castle appears in "Dover in World War Two: 1942", a ten minute British Ministry of Information film, released by the US Office of War Information, and narrated by the American journalist, Edward R. Murrow.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any red or blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.

The King's Gate is the northern entrance in the Inner Bailey walls to the Keep Yard; the Keep, or "Great Tower", is immediately behind the viewer.

The King`s Gate Barbican lies on the other side of King's Gate, offset to the right.

The southern entrance to the Keep Yard is Palace Gate.

Click to see all photos of Dover Castle, one of Dover's English Heritage sites.

Abridged extracts from "The History of the Town and Port of Dover and of Dover Castle (With a Short Account of the Cinque Ports)", Volume 2. Dedicated by the Reverend John Lyon, Minister of "Saint Mary`s", on April 21st, 1814, and published the same year:

The King's Gate, and Bridge

...There was a portcullis at the great gates (of King's Gate), opening immediately into the Keep (Keep Yard); and on each side a tower; from which archers could command the whole vallum. Though these towers were open in front, they had floors in them; for the holes are still remaining in the walls, which received the ends of the timbers.

The ground compartments were places of safety; where the soldiers could retire to rest, and the women and children remain, in case of a siege. As all the towers were open in front, in the interior walls, it is evident that our hardy ancestors did not require very close rooms to shelter them from the inclemency of a winter's sky.

...After the drawbridge was drawn up, and the great gates shut, they were not to be opened until the rising of the sun. If the King came unexpectedly in the night, the great gates were not to be opened to him, but he was to go to the postern, called the King's Gate, towards the north; the there the Constable (1), and those who accompanied him, might admit the King, and a certain number of his suite.. When the King was admitted, he had the command; and in the morning, when it was full day, he might admit the remainder of his company.

(1) See the List of Constables of Dover Castle up to 1226, after which the office was combined with that of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

Abridged extract from "The History of the Castle, Town and Port of Dover" by Reverend S. P. H. Statham, Rector of St Mary-in-the-Castle (ie St Mary-in-Castro) (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899):

Two gates (in the Inner Bailey walls) led in to the inner ward (or Keep Yard), the one on the north, called the King's Gate; that on the south being named the Palace Gate, or the Duke of Suffolk's Gate. They are vaulted passages between two flanking square towers, and are early English in character. Both were fitted with a portcullis.

An outwork, consisting of a wall with towers, was thrown out in front of each of these gates, and the entry to these works was placed obliquely to the main gate so as to allow the approach to be commanded. That at the King's Gate (the King`s Gate Barbican) remains much as it was first built, but the one at the Palace Gate has been entirely destroyed.

Dover Castle appears in "Dover in World War Two: 1942", a ten minute British Ministry of Information film, released by the US Office of War Information, and narrated by the American journalist, Edward R. Murrow.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any red or blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.

The Palace Gate, or Palace Gateway, provides the southern entrance into Dover Castle's Keep Yard (see below). Two corner towers of the Keep (or "Great Tower", as it is increasingly becoming known), are visible at top right (ignore the brick chimney-stack).

The northern entrance in the Inner Bailey walls is King`s Gate.

Click to see all photos of Dover Castle, one of Dover's English Heritage sites.

Abridged extract from "The History of the Town and Port of Dover and of Dover Castle (With a Short Account of the Cinque Ports)", Volume 2. Dedicated by the Reverend John Lyon, Minister of "Saint Mary`s", on April 21st, 1814, and published the same year:

Duke of Suffolk's Tower, or Palace Gate

The entrance into the Saxon keep, at this gate, was once secured with a portcullis; and the grooves in the stonework are still remaining.

After entering the gate, immediately on the right hand, there is a tower, which originally was only a recess in the wall, and open in front; but it has been enclosed, and apartments fitted up for the reception of those who commanded in the tower.

Edward the Fourth expended a considerable sum in repairing and decorating this building with lions and fleur-de-lis, for the accomodation of the Duke of Suffolk, who had married his sister, Elizabeth.

Abridged extract from "The History of the Castle, Town and Port of Dover" by Reverend S. P. H. Statham, Rector of St Mary-in-the-Castle (ie St Mary-in-Castro) (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899):

Two gates (in the Inner Bailey walls) led in to the inner ward (or Keep Yard), the one on the north, called the King`s Gate; that on the south being named the Palace Gate, or the Duke of Suffolk's Gate. They are vaulted passages between two flanking square towers, and are early English in character. Both were fitted with a portcullis.

An outwork, consisting of a wall with towers, was thrown out in front of each of these gates, and the entry to these works was placed obliquely to the main gate so as to allow the approach to be commanded. That at the King's Gate (the King`s Gate Barbican) remains much as it was first built, but the one at the Palace Gate has been entirely destroyed.

Dover Castle appears in "Dover in World War Two: 1942", a ten minute British Ministry of Information film, released by the US Office of War Information, and narrated by the American journalist, Edward R. Murrow.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any red or blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.

This southern view of Dover Castle's Keep, Inner Bailey, and Palace Gate was taken from Godwin Road, just before it meets Harold's Road, north of Colton Gate.

The 12th Century Norman Keep, or Great Tower, is 83 feet high with walls 12 feet thick.

The Inner Bailey consists of ten rectangular towers and two gatehouses: King`s Gate in the north, and Palace Gate in the south.

Palace Gate is on the left-hand side of the above photo and has a banner above it, as do each of its flanking towers.

Abridged extract from "The History of the Castle, Town and Port of Dover" by Reverend S. P. H. Statham, Rector of St Mary-in-the-Castle (ie St Mary-in-Castro) (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899):

The (Inner Bailey) curtain forms an irregular polygon about 120 yards each way, supported by fourteen rectangular towers with no inward projection. These towers are nearly of the same height as the curtain, which is a very lofty wall. It is built of flint rubble quoined with ashlar, and battered on the outside at the base. The wall was surrounded by a broad and deep ditch, which is now filled in on the south front.

Two gates (in the Inner Bailey walls) led in to the inner ward (or Keep Yard), the one on the north, called the King`s Gate; that on the south being named the Palace Gate, or the Duke of Suffolk's Gate. They are vaulted passages between two flanking square towers, and are early English in character. Both were fitted with a portcullis.

An outwork, consisting of a wall with towers, was thrown out in front of each of these gates, and the entry to these works was placed obliquely to the main gate so as to allow the approach to be commanded. That at the King's Gate (the King`s Gate Barbican) remains much as it was first built, but the one at the Palace Gate has been entirely destroyed.

Abridged from The English Heritage Trail:

Guardian of the 'Gateway to England', Dover Castle displays a solid strength and determination that has obviously carried it through many troubled times. Proudly standing atop the White Cliffs, overlooking this busy port, Dover Castle has withstood the test of time remarkably well throughout its long and eventful history. Dover Castle, as it stands today, dates from the rebuilding work during Henry II's reign, but the site has been of vital importance since the Iron Age. The first castle at Dover was probably an Anglo-Saxon fortress and, on the arrival of William the Conqueror, the existing fortifications were improved with the building of an earthwork castle. This Norman 'motte' (mound) which supported the castle is today known as 'Castle Hill'.

Work began on Dover Castle in the latter part of the 12th century with the construction of the Keep (or Great Tower) - the largest in Britain - and is entered through a forebuilding more substantial than any other built before or since. At each corner of the Keep lies a buttress turret, and mid-way along each wall is a pilaster buttress. Four storeys high, the Keep comprises a basement, first floor, and a second floor that spans two storeys, the upper level of which is a mural gallery that can be seen today at the end of the Great Armour Hall. The second storey provided the royal accommodation, and the first floor, based on a similar plan to the second, contained rooms with a much less elaborate decor. All floors were connected by staircases set in the north and south corner turrets.

Providing the entry staircase, and two chapels, is the magnificent forebuilding. It is interesting to note the decor of the chapels - the lower chapel of a Gothic style, and the upper chapel late Norman and richly decorated. From outside of the Keep, the significance of the three-towered forebuilding can be fully appreciated, as it can be seen travelling along the eastern wall of the Keep and turning at the corner of the southern wall. It was around this stronghold that the concentric castle was developed and work was completed mid-13th century.

Dover Castle appears in "Dover in World War Two: 1942", a ten minute British Ministry of Information film, released by the US Office of War Information, and narrated by the American journalist, Edward R. Murrow.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.

In addition to the features visible in the Panorama: The Balmoral Cruise Ship at the Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour photo, this wide-angle shot also shows:

1. Most of the Prince of Wales Pier (its lighthouse and cafe) above the left-hand corner of the snow-covered old hoverport on the left.

2. Part of a hill on the right where St Martin's Steps lead to St Martin`s Battery: "The building of the Victorian St Martin's Battery began circa 1870 to counter the threat of a French invasion. The Battery was then 're-modelled' in 1940 during the Second World War".

3. The relatively unusual light conditions and beautiful sky :)

The features common to both photos are:

Both winter view were taken from the access road leading to the Commando Tunnel entrance of the Drop Redoubt moats (1). In the foreground is the barbed-wire fence of Drop Redoubt Road which leads to the Grand Shaft triple-staircase (1).

The Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship, "Balmoral", berthed at Dover's Admiralty Pier (left of centre) on Saturday, 19th of December, 2009, prior to leaving on a 2 night mini-cruise, BL0923, to Amsterdam, Holland (Netherlands) (presumably for Christmas shopping!).

For 'Ship Information' and a history of the Balmoral, see the Zoomed photo of the Balmoral at the Admiralty Pier photo.

A description of the Balmoral from a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines webpage:

Carrying 1350 passengers the Balmoral is certainly the grandest ship of our fleet, yet still compact enough to offer our trademark intimate, homely atmosphere. The Balmoral offers 710 elegant comfortable cabins, world-class cuisine and diverse onboard activities (also see Balmoral Reviews).

The snow-covered concrete apron below the Balmoral was once Dover's hoverport used by hovercraft zipping to-and-fro across the English Channel.

On the left-hand edge of the apron is the Clock Tower.

The Tidal Harbour is below the apron, bounded on its lower side by Crosswall Jetty, the Dover Lifeboat station, and on its upper side by Dolphin Hard Jetty (see the Heltborg photo).

Somewhat obscured by trees further down the mid-foreground slope are boats in Granville Dock, which lies on this side of Crosswall Jetty.

The squat five-storey cream-coloured building in the centre of the photograph used to be the Lord Warden Hotel; to its left are structures of the old railway Marine Station.

(1) The Drop Redoubt and Grand Shaft are owned by English Heritage; they are part of an extensive Napoleonic and Victorian defence system embedded into the Western Heights above the town of Dover, England.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any red or blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.

Constable's Gateway is the pedestrian entrance to Dover's 12th Century Norman Castle, the entrance for vehicular traffic being the Canons Gateway.

Constable's Tower was built by John de Fiennes under William the Conqueror and for this reason was once known as Fiennes' Tower.

In 1216, during the First Barons` War, Prince Louis (later Louis VIII, son and heir apparent of King of France Philip Augustus, unsuccessfully besieged Dover Castle.

Prince Louis' miners, however, so damaged the North Entrance that it was closed and sealed. In the 1220s, Hubert de Burgh then rebuilt Constable's Tower as an alternative entry point which probably led to it being called by its other name of Newgate Tower.

Constable's Tower was modernized in 1882 and is the quarters of the Constable of the Castle, who is usually the commanding officer of any Dover-based battalion.

Constable`s Barbican lies to the right of the above photo.

Click to see the north flank of Constable`s Gateway from further down Constable's Road (ie to the left, and where the Connaught Road Pumping Station photo was taken from).

Queen Mary`s Tower, and then Peverell Gateway (Peverell's Gateway), are the next towers on the western curtain wall to the south (ie right) of Constable's Gateway and the Treasurer Tower (Treasurer's Tower) is the next tower to the north.

Click to see all photos of Dover Castle, one of the town's English Heritage sites.

Abridged extract from "The History of the Castle, Town and Port of Dover" by Reverend S. P. H. Statham, Rector of St Mary-in-the-Castle (ie St Mary-in-Castro) (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899):

The Constable's Tower (Constable's Gate, Constable's Gateway)

"One of the grandest gateways in England. Its plan is that of a triangle with its obtuse angle presented to the field. The angles at the base fall within the line of the curtain and are capped by two large drum towers. The salient angle in like manner is capped by an oblong tower, rounded at each end and flat in the centre."

The three towers are connected with an embattled curtain. Within the triangle a central tower rises to a greater height, and commands the whole. It was supported by the manors of Allington and Tunstal. This gate, called New Gate or Fiennes' Tower (Fienes' Tower) at different times, has undergone several alterations, none of which have added to its beauty. The brickwork arches are supposed to have been added in the reign of Charles I, and the cement covering to the central tower during the present century.

The modern additions are more in keeping with the building, and have rendered it a convenient dwelling-house for the Officer Commanding the troops in the South-Eastern District. The hall was used as a court house at one time, and there is a general belief that the tower was the ordinary place of execution for the Castle, but we have discovered no proof of it.

For a long time the porter's lodge contained a sword, an old key, and a horn, which were described as belonging to the days of Julius Caesar. The horn was supposed to be the original one used in summoning the labourers to their work when engaged in building the Castle. They are now exhibited in the Keep (or Great Tower). The small room, now used as an engine room, was formerly the record office, and the Ports' Domesday Book used to be kept there. About the beginning of the seventeenth century these invaluable documents were either sold to, or stolen by, tradesmen of the town, fortunately transcripts were made of some which have survived to the present day.

The caponiere (caponier) was erected during the great war with France at the beginning of the 19th century, and the outwork, remains of which can still be seen, was built about the same time. The main entry into the Castle was not until comparatively modern times through this gate, but through Mamignot's Towers farther north. The original approach to this tower was up a flight of steps.

Abridged extracts from "The History of the Town and Port of Dover and of Dover Castle (With a Short Account of the Cinque Ports)", Volume 2. Dedicated by the Reverend John Lyon, Minister of "Saint Mary`s", on April 21st, 1814, and published the same year:

John de Fienes, Constable of Dover Castle, his Gate-way, and Tower

John de Fienes (alt John de Fiennes) being placed, by his royal master and kinsman, at the head of the associated knights, and appointed Constable of Dover Castle, he undertook to re-build the principal gate-way, with apartments over it, suitable for a feudal baron of that age; and the particular situation to which he was appointed.

To enable him to discharge the arduous undertaking, the King gave him many lordships and manors; and those which he kept in his own possession, were called Constabularie.

In re-building this new entrance into the Castle, he adopted the plan introduced by Gundulph, the Bishop of Rochester; and he is said to have been the first, who ventured to have a spacious arched passage into the Castles, which he secured with drawbridges, portcullisses, and massy gates. These he considered as preferable to the low gate-ways, and the contracted passages, adopted by the Saxons; when they first sought the aid of the mason, to secure their fortresses with stone walls.

The foundations for the front of this gate-way, and for the piers of the bridge, are laid below the bottom of the ditch (moat), which is, at this place, sunk deep in the solid rock; and it plainly shews, that labour, materials, and expense, were considered as secondary objects by the Constable, in the execution of his plan.

The entrance to the Saxon vallum is between two thick parallel stone walls, and it is arched over with stone. There are two towers on each side of the gate-way, to command the ascent of the hill, and the passage to the bridge.

The entrance into the Castle was secured by two portcullises, and thick gates; and when the bridge was raised up into the recess in the wall to receive it, these barriers rendered the passage perfectly safe.

Dover Castle appears in "Dover in World War Two: 1942", a ten minute British Ministry of Information film, released by the US Office of War Information, and narrated by the American journalist, Edward R. Murrow.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any red or blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.

Click to see The Drawbridge Entrance to Constable`s Gateway of Dover Castle, taken from further up the road in the above photo.

The Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship, "Balmoral", berthed at Dover's Admiralty Pier on Saturday, 19th of December, 2009, prior to leaving on a 2 night mini-cruise, BL0923, to Amsterdam, Holland (Netherlands) (presumably for Christmas shopping!).

For 'Ship Information' and a history of the Balmoral, see the Zoomed photo of the Balmoral at the Admiralty Pier photo.

This winter view was taken from the access road leading to the Commando Tunnel entrance of the Drop Redoubt moats (1). In the foreground is the barbed-wire fence of Drop Redoubt Road which leads to the Grand Shaft triple-staircase (1).

A description of the Balmoral from a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines webpage:

Carrying 1350 passengers the Balmoral is certainly the grandest ship of our fleet, yet still compact enough to offer our trademark intimate, homely atmosphere. The Balmoral offers 710 elegant comfortable cabins, world-class cuisine and diverse onboard activities (also see Balmoral Reviews).

The snow-covered concrete apron below the Balmoral was once Dover's hoverport used by hovercraft zipping to-and-fro across the English Channel.

On the left-hand edge of the apron is the Clock Tower.

The Tidal Harbour is below the apron, bounded on its lower side by Crosswall Jetty, the Dover Lifeboat station, and on its upper side by Dolphin Hard Jetty (see the Heltborg photo).

Somewhat obscured by trees further down the mid-foreground slope are boats in Granville Dock, which lies on this side of Crosswall Jetty.

The squat five-storey cream-coloured building on the right-hand side of the photograph used to be the Lord Warden Hotel; to its left are structures of the old railway Marine Station.

(1) The Drop Redoubt and Grand Shaft are owned by English Heritage; they are part of an extensive Napoleonic and Victorian defence system embedded into the Western Heights above the town of Dover, England.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any red or blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.

Also see the Panorama of Balmoral Cruise Ship and Dover Harbour photo.

This is the entry point to the moat leading to the Drop Redoubt, above the steps shown in the Drop Redoubt and North Entrance Moat, Southwest Entrance Steps photo.

This moat used to connect the Drop Redoubt to the North Entrance until a cutting was made through it for the North Military Road/Military Hill bypass.

The Drop Redoubt and North Entrance, now owned by English Heritage, are two parts of an extensive Napoleonic and Victorian defence system embedded into the Western Heights above the town of Dover, England.

There are two other entrances to the moat surrounding the Drop Redoubt: the Commando Tunnel and the East Access Moat (above the 64 Steps).

For more historical background, see the caption to the Drop Redoubt Bridge Entrance photo.

There is also a video of the North Entrance ruins which has been split into two to meet YouTube requirements:

Video of the North Entrance, Western Heights, Dover (Part 1)

Video of the North Entrance, Western Heights, Dover (Part 2)

The above winter/'christmas card' view (complete with snow!) was taken on Saturday, 19th of December, 2009.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

This is the Images of Dover website: click on any red or blue "John Latter" link to access the Entry Page.