Dover castle spans 2,000 years of history from a bronze age
fortress ditch system, roman fort & lighthouse, saxon fortress & church, Norman keep and medieaval walls, Napoleonic
tunnels, and World War II Tunnels plus a nuclear bunker, Dover was always at the forefront of the latest technological advancements
in military engineering.
The great Keep was built in the 1170s by the orders of King
John I designed by Horace the Engineer. Other castles designed by him include the impregnable Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland,
which from certain angles could be Dover's twin.
A French invasion was foiled in 1216 by the constable of the
castle Hubert De Burgh as the French managed to make the outer wall collapse through mining underneath. This led to numerous
technological improvements which King John decided had to be made and every monarch since has made this pledge due to Dover's
proximity to mainland Europe.
Dover Castle is known as the 'Key to England' as Dover is
the 'Gateway to Britain', invaders would need to get hold of the key (castle) to gain access to the Gateway (Dover) and take
over Britain.
The castle is now in the care of English Heritage and is open
daily.
