Dover Castle, Kent - September 2006
Situated atop the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent is
Dover Castle together with its vast network of Secret Wartime Tunnels
used to command Operation Dynamo during WWII. We visited several
exhibitions at the castle, along with the Keep and, of course, toured
the amazing underground tunnels.
|
|
On arrival at Dover Castle we walked up this steep incline to enter the
castle perched high on the cliffs above Dover. A small Dotto
Train was provided for those less able. Soon after entering we...
|
...found this castle plan board in the grounds which showed where the
key areas of Dover Castle were. We decided to concentrate mainly
on the inside bits owing to the wind and rain.
|
|
It was easy to see why a castle had been built here at Dover,
originally in 1066 then rebuilt in the 1180s.
|
Here's a rather commanding view of the castle Keep jutting up above the
sturdy surrounding wall.
|
|
Our friend Bob checked out the notice in the Keep Yard to decide what
part of the castle to visit first...
|
...and our choice was the rather uninspiring Princess's of Wales Royal
Regiment Museum.
|
|
The Naafi Officers' Mess at Dover Castle was a good example of how to
p*** the visitors off with second rate service, luke warm tea and poor
quality food served by surly kids. BYO and give the catering a
miss!
|
The highlight of our Dover Castle visit was the Secret Wartime Tunnels
tour. First off we walked through an atmospheric sound and light
exhibition of what life was like in the underground hospital during war
time...
|
|
...then the guide led us through that amazing underground hospital, and
up on another level we came out to this period wartime telephone
exchange in the secret tunnels, full of the latest 1940s technology!
|
Here's the plotting room in the Secret Wartime Tunnels for Operation
Dynamo and the evacuation of British and French forces from Dunkirk's
beaches. The castle's tunnels had us enthralled, well worth the
visit.
|
|
Dover Castle is run by English Heritage and adult entrance cost £9.50
at the time of our visit, please check out our UK tourist resources for relevant
websites. Back out in the daylight we next moved on to the castle
Keep. Within the Keep were...
|
...several exhibitions, including Henry VIII's bedroom for his visit in
1539 and Thomas A Becket's chamber.
|
|
Just inside the Keep, Belinda posed for a few photos on the stairs
before moving on up the four storeys.
|
We thought some of the areas inside Dover Castle's Keep could do with a
bit of a revamp.
|
|
Once on top of the castle Keep we were violently reminded that this
was not the best day of an otherwise excellent summer in 2006!
|
Despite the rotten weather we managed to get some photos of the view;
this one looking towards Dover's Western Heights.
|
|
Looking down to the main part of Dover Castle and...
|
...the narrow spiral stairs in the Keep.
|
|
One of the better exhibitions in Dover Castle's Keep was this one of
Henry VIII's 1539 visit. Here we enjoyed whizzing the tapestry
thing along reading the details along the way, but we have to report
that the Keep exhibits at Dover Castle generally disappointed.
|
The moat used to be here? Our Dover Castle experience was mixed;
the Secret Wartime Tunnels aside, we felt some of the castle areas and
exhibits were overdue a rethink (modernisation?) and the visitor
catering was pretty dire in the two cafés there.
|
