Name: Dover Castle
Address: Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU
Telephone: 0370 333 1181

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Dover Castle

We’re excited to announce that we’re planning to reopen our sites in the coming weeks. We’re really looking forward to seeing you again. On 13 June we will reopen the first phase of our sites, with a significant number of further sites reopening in early July. We hope to have all sites open again by August. We’ll be sharing more information on how you can book your visit as soon as we can, and will be announcing which sites are reopening in advance of this. The first sites to reopen will be announced around 10 June, and we'll let Members know by email ahead of this.

Dunkirk 1940: The Making of the Miracle

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OUR PLANS FOR REOPENING

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Address

Castle Hill, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU

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Commemorate #Dunkirk1940

In May 1940, the rescue of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk was coordinated from the tunnels beneath Dover Castle. From 19 May - 4 June 2020, we'll be bringing the drama of this rescue, codenamed Operation Dynamo, to life through digital storytelling across our social media channels. You’ll be transported into the wartime tunnels of Dover Castle to experience the rescue effort through stories inspired by eyewitness accounts.

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Things to See and Do

Dover Castle Timeline

800 BC - AD 43Iron Age Hillfort

Massive earth ramparts and ditches are constructed, which will provide the foundation for the medieval castle's curtain walls. Regular cross-Channel trading takes place.

115-40A Roman Lighthouse

The Romans build a lighthouse here to guide ships into the harbour, the base of the fleet patrolling the Channel.

7th CenturyMinster Church

Eadbald, King of Kent, founds a minster church for 22 monks in the 'castrum' of Dover - either the Roman fort in the town or the hillfort on the headland.

10th-Early 11th CenturySt Mary's Church

The church of St Mary in Castro is built beside the lighthouse.

1066Norman Castle

William the Conqueror defeats King Harold, then turns to Dover. He takes the town, burns it, and builds fortifications there, before heading to London for his coronation.

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1180-89The Castle Rebuilt

Henry II rebuilds Dover Castle, spending vast sums on it. It is the most expensive castle project of its time.

1205-15First Royal Fleet

King John establishes the first royal fleet and completes the castle's outer defences.

1216-17Great Siege

After King John reneges on Magna Carta, Prince Louis of France invades England and besieges Dover Castle. It is successfully defended by a few hundred men.

1217-56The Castle Completed

Under Henry III, enormous sums are spent strengthening Dover, making it one of the largest and most strategically important castles in England.

1263-65De Montfort's Dover

Simon de Montfort challenges Henry III's government and captures Dover Castle. The future Edward I is briefly held prisoner here.

1265Countess Eleanor de Montfort

After de Montfort is killed in battle his wife, Eleanor, leads the defence of Dover, holding out with 29 archers. She is forced to surrender to Prince Edward when he brings troops from London.

1520Fit for an Emperor

On 25 May the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, arrives at Dover for a meeting with Henry VIII. The emperor probably stays in the great tower.

1625-6Castle in Decline

Henrietta Maria, the teenage French princess, occupies the castle but is said to be 'poorly accommodated'. It is later refurbished by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.

1642Civil War

The garrison of 20 remains loyal to Charles I. A daring merchant called Drake and 11 men scale the cliffs and take the castle for Parliament, with few shots fired.

18th CenturyExpert Defences

England faces the threat of French invasion, so the defences are upgraded.

1793-1815Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Huge sums are spent on the town and castle defences. Barracks are constructed in a complex of tunnels beneath the castle.

1850sAnother Napoleon

Major renovations take place again with the threat of invasion from Napoleon III.

1890sHistorical Appreciation

The top floor of the Great Tower is furnished with displays of armour and opened to the public.

1904State Care

The church of St Mary in Castro, Roman lighthouse and Colton's Gate are transferred to the Ancient Monuments Branch of the Ministry of Works.

1939-45Second World War

The Napoleonic tunnels have a new role as naval and later combined services headquarters, where the Dunkirk evacuation is masterminded. Air attacks earn the area around Dover the nickname 'Hellfire Corner'.

1956End of Military Use

The castle's last gun batteries are scrapped.

1962-1980sFinal Secret

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, the tunnels are renovated and equipped to serve as one of 12 regional seats of government in the event of nuclear war.