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Historic England Research Records

Dover Town Walls

Hob Uid: 467817
Location :
Kent
Dover
Dover
Grid Ref : TR3125741642
Summary : Medieval town walls, probably 14th century in date. No structures survive above ground. Murage grants were issued between 1324 and 1483.
More information : It is probable that Dover was not walled until the 14th c as no
repairs to the gates are recorded until the 15th c. (1) Sites
of gates were as follows:-
['A' TR 32264147] Easterbrook Gate (TR 34 SW 188) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['B' TR 32184140] St Helen's Gate (TR 34 SW 189) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['C' TR 32114133] Conjectural site of Postern or Fisher's Gate
(TR 34 SW 190) (3)
['D' TR 32074130] Butchery Gate (TR 34 SW 191) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['E' TR 32014126] Boldware Gate (TR 34 SW 192) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['F' TR 31894119] Snar Gate (TR 34 SW 193) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['G' TR 31874122] Adrian Gate (TR 34 SW 194) (3) More correctly
Upwall Gate (1) (Site of)
['H' TR 31824136] Cow Gate (TR 34 SW 195) (Site of) (3)
['J' TR 31824143] St Martin's Gate (TR 34 SW 196) (Site of) (3)
['K' TR 31874153] Biggin Gate (TR 34 SW 197) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['L' TR 32074143] Foundations of tower found.
Probable site of gate (3) at Dolphin Lane.
Course of wall shown (3). There is no evidence that these it overlay
the defences of the Saxon Shore Fort. [See TR 34 SW 2]
(1-4)

There are no traces of wall or gates. Tablets mark the sites of
Snar Gate, Cow Gate, and Biggin Gate. Where Wheelers' plan (auth 4)
differs from Batchellers' plan (auth 3) between Snar Gate and Cow
Gate, Wheeler is probably in error. (5)

During building clearance in 1962, foundations of the town wall were
encountered along the S side of Townwall Street, from the River Dour
to Newbridge. Walling, 6-8 ft thick, of chalk block, flint and mortarwas exposed. The S face was heavily waterworn. At Newbridge, the
wall turned S through 90 degrees for about 15 yds and then
disappeared westwards under Newbridge by turning through another
right angle. Foundations of Butchery Gate were encountered on the
W bank of the Dour. The area has now been redeveloped. (6)

(TR 3141) Town Wall, Dover.
(Murage grants testify to the construction of Medieval walls between
1324 and 1483). Nothing now remains of the defences, whose extent
is known from plans only. The southern line appears to have run
from a point east of Eastbrook gate "across the former Woolcomber
Street" along Town Wall Street and Snorgate Street, turning north to
cross Ardian Street; there were three gates in the western wall,
which curved east over the Folkestone road to cross Canon Street and
then turned south through Pencester Gardens to return to the southern
wall. Nothing remains above ground today, but even Leland seems to
have been uncertain whether the town was completely walled. (7)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : Hist of Dover 1899 62-4 (SPH Statham)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : OS 1:1250 1957-62
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
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Source Number : 3
Source :
Source details : Dover Castle 1853 15-19 (plan) (W Batcheller)
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 4
Source :
Source details : (EGJ Amos and REM Wheeler)
Page(s) : 47,58
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 86 - 1929
Source Number : 5
Source :
Source details : F1 ASP 22-MAY-64
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 6
Source :
Source details : F2 ASP 03-JUN-64
Page(s) :
Figs. :
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Vol(s) :
Source Number : 6a
Source :
Source details : Inf Mr Bevan, Boro' Engineer Dover BC
Page(s) :
Figs. :
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Vol(s) :
Source Number : 6b
Source :
Source details : Inf Mr Jones, Boro' Engineer, Drawing Office, Dover BC
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 7
Source :
Source details :
Page(s) : 155
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 1971

Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 1400
Monument Start Date : 1300
Monument Type : Town Defences
Evidence : Documentary Evidence

Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TR 34 SW 18
External Cross Reference Notes :

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Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-05-22
End Date : 1964-05-22
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1964-06-03
End Date : 1964-06-03
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1991-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1991-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1992-12-31