The Towers at Dover Castle
Starting at the south western end of the outer curtain wall, at the
Canon's Gate, the first of the towers, on our left as we walk from the gate
towards the Naafi block, is Rokesley's tower
Rokesley's Tower
The tower is round fronted and square backed and it stands on a solid stone plinth to protect its base. At least three arrow loops survive, two of which can best be seen from the Canon's gate bridge.
Canon's Gatway entrance with Rokesley's Tower to the left
To the right is a garderobe
Inside Rokesley's Tower
Fulbert's Tower
It is interesting to note that the face of this tower is square, unlike all the others towers along this stretch of the outer curtain wall, which are round or 'D' fronted.
Hurst's Tower
Hurst's tower can tell us more than most other towers along this
part of the wall, the first thing to notice is the height of the banks to each
side of it. Hurst tower stands at something like the original 13th century
ground level, the banks each side are manmade. The earth was piled up on the
inside of the wall to protect the curtain wall from the effects of shot and
shell during the late 1700's, early 1800's.
This tower was once much higher then it is now. The current height is due to the
cutting down of almost all the towers of Dover during the 1760's, when the
towers were lopped to clear fields of fire for the newly installed guns.
Say's Tower
Inside Say's Tower
Gattons's Tower
Peverell's Tower and Gate House
Peverell's tower is part of the original castle built by Henry II. It was originally a pair of square towers joined across the top to form a gatehouse, the round front was added later, by Henry III, as was the tower on the right hand side which has the conical tiled roof.
Queen Mary's Tower
This tower sits in the back garden of Constable's tower, not accessible to the public
Constable's Tower and Gateway
Inserted into the curtain wall by Hubert de Burgh between 1221 and
1227 to replace the old North Entrance.
Now the home of the deputy-constable
The Hall
From inside the castle
grounds
Treasurers's Tower
Treasures's Tower like Queen Mary's Tower is not open for public viewing
Godsfoe Tower
Godsfoe tower was almost certainly a residential tower
Crevecoeur Tower
Bottom left, the drum shaped structure with the concrete top is a well,
Norfolk Towers
The Northgate was the target of the French forces during the long
siege of 1216. It was here that they mined the tower, bringing it crashing down,
as they charged in they were met by the soldiers and knights led by Hubert De
Burgh. So it was here that much of that bloody hand to hand fighting took place.
The gate house received a great deal of damage, so much so that the gatehouse
was closed completely following the end of hostilities. Hubert had the ruined
gateway sealed up, a third, beak shaped tower being built where the gate passage
once was, this trinity of towers is now known as the Norfolk towers. With the
closure of the North Gate Hubert had to build a replacement, the first of these,
Constable's Tower and Gateway, the second is the next tower to be found along
the north eastern section of the wall, it is FitzWilliam's Gate.
Norfolk Towers partially seen on the left.
From inside the castle the Norfolk Towers are hidden by 18th century casemates
that completely seal it away behind what are now storage and visitor toilets.
Fitzwilliam Gateway
Inserted into the curtain wall when the North Entrance was sealed
up. Its two beak-shaped towers mirror the Norfolk Towers and are best seen from
outside. Very much the back door to the castle.
The rear of the main entrance once had living accommodation above it, but now
only fragments survive.
Normally closed, but is occasionally opened when the castle is busy or under certain
circumstances.
View from the top, inside the castle
The entrance at the bootom looking in.
Just inside
Looking up the stairs you can see the two beak-shaped towers
At the top of the stairs looking into the castle.
Avranches Tower
Averanches tower is a rare surviving crossbow tower.
The tower stands at what is believed to be the entrance to the old
iron age hill fort, it has lost it's top, or third floor but the second floor is
open to view. Looking into the tower you can still find the stair case leading
up to the upper floor.
The tower, like many others, is open at the back. It is suggested that this is
to allow another tower to protect it by pouring fire into it's open back.
Averanches was protected by Pencester's tower.
Here arrow loops of the lower level can be seen, not open to the public.
Pencesters Tower
Very little of Pencesters Tower survives. It would have protected
Avranches Tower
Coltons Gatway
