Western Heights Dover,

The Western Heights of Dover were built as part of a huge programme of fortification in response to Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom.

The site is believed to have been first fortified in 1804 when Lieutenant-Colonel William Twiss was instructed to modernise the existing defences.

To assist with the movement of troops between Dover Castle and the town defences the Grand Shaft was built into the cliff at a cost of £4000. There are two bricklined shafts, one inside the other with a triple staircase in the outer and the inner acting as a light well to illuminate the staircases.

The Drop Redoubt (redoubt means "detached fort") is one of the two forts on Western Heights, and is linked to the other, the Citadel, by a series of dry moats.

The artillery at the Redoubt faced mostly inland; it was intended to attack an invading force attempting to capture Dover from the rear.

The rise of Napoleon III during the 1850s caused a further invasion scare, and a Royal Commission was set up in 1859 to investigate the defences of Britain. As a result the Drop Redoubt had its defences improved.

During World War II, the Redoubt housed a squad of commandos that, in the event of invasion, would have been responsible for destroying Dover Harbour. Their presence was secret and the lines around the Redoubt were mined.

Today, much of the site is open as a country park. The Dover Western Heights charity occasionally organises open days for both the Drop redoubt and the Great Shaft.

Opening Times

Any reasonable time.

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Ticket Prices

Access to the site is free.

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Disabled Facilities

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More Information

Telephone: 0870 333 1181

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