Dover Castle, Kent - September 2006
Situated atop the White Cliffs at 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, the underground tunnels.
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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.
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The plan seen here within the castle grounds showed us where most parts of
Dover Castle were. We decided to concentrate mainly on the inside
bits owing to the wind and rain.
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It was easy to see why a castle had been built here at Dover, first in
1066 then rebuilt in the 1180s.
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A rather commanding view of the castle Keep just poking out above the
surrounding wall.
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Our friend Bob is seen here checking out the notice in the Keep Yard so we
can work out what to visit next.
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The Princess's of Wales Royal Regiment Museum was interesting, here's Mike
filming away!
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The Naafi Officers' Mess at Dover Castle was a good example of how to p***
the visitor off with second rate service, luke warm tea and poor quality
food served by kids. Give the catering a miss!
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The highlight of our Dover Castle visit was to see the Secret Wartime
Tunnels where we walked through an interesting sound and light exhibition
of what life was like in the underground hospital during war time.
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This is the wartime telephone exchange in the secret tunnels, full of the
latest 1940s technology! This picture and the next were not taken by
us as sadly photography wasn't allowed in the tunnels.
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The plotting room in the Secret Wartime Tunnels for Operation Dynamo and
the evacuation of British and French forces from Dunkirk's beaches.
It was all fascinating stuff and it had us enthralled.
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Back out in the daylight we hurried along to the castle Keep. Dover
Castle is run by English Heritage and the entrance cost us £9.50, but it
really irritates us when you pay good money and then find you can't take
pictures, in this case in the underground tunnels. We get so
irritated by this 'no photos' policy!
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Within the Keep were several exhibitions, including Henry VIII's bedroom
for his visit in 1539 and Thomas A Becket's chamber.
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Just inside the Keep, Belinda posed for a few photos on the stairs before
moving on up the four storeys.
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Mike looked a bit awestruck by the exhibits inside Dover Castle's
Keep. You up there Belinda?
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On top of the castle Keep now, and we were violently reminded that this
was not the best day of an otherwise excellent summer in 2006!
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Despite the rotten weather we managed to get some shots of the view, here
looking towards the Western Heights in Dover.
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Looking down to the main bit of Dover Castle.
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The spiral stairs in the Keep were rather narrow.
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Also in the Dover Castle Keep we saw the exhibition of Henry VIII's visit
in 1539. Off with her head! Here Belinda enjoyed whizzing the
tapestry thing along!
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This looks like where the moat used to be and was our parting shot of our
visit. There are Dover Castle websites on our UK
tourist links page.
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