Dover Castle, England
We spent most of Saturday at Dover
Castle. It was less than a ten minute walk fromwhere we were staying.
When we arrived a guided tour of the tunnels was about to start, so we
joined it. Afterwards, we had lunch. I got sushi, as one does when one
visits a medieval English castle. I like to keep things traditional.
A magpie pooped on Newman. I suppose that's traditional as well.`
After lunch there was another tour about to start of the WWII tunnels,
including the hospital they had.
It was around 1pm or so when that tour ended, and we walked by a
WWII-era anti-aircraft gun. People in period military uniforms
were getting ready to fire it. It was near the cliff edge.
Obviously it was just a blank—a bang with no shell. But it
was a pretty loud bang (but again, probably, not as loud as a real
shell. Next to the gun was a platform that was used to spot planes
and ships that might be coming from across the Strait of Dover to
attack. This was the same platform that we saw the previous day
from the harbor area downtown.
After that, we went to the ancient Roman lighthouse, Pharos, which is
the oldest Roman-era lighthouse that still stands, and the St. Mary's
in Castro Church that is right next to it.
Next, we went to the castle itself, starting at the bottom, where a
historian was in period dress and talking about what life would have
been like then (her role was a cook for "the people upstairs"). We
made our way up the levels to the top of the tower, which has a great
view of the area.
We took a break, then took a tour of The Spur, which was an addition
during the end of the Naponeonic Wars in the early 19th Century.
After that, we walked around the outer wall, sawa the officer's
barracks that were built in the mid-1800s.
As we were wrapping up our visit and about to head out, I noticed
that the haze in the sky had lifted and I could see the coast of
France, with its white (or grey) chalk cliffs, 20 miles away.
I had to break out my telephoto lens and take some pictures. It
was a nice way to end the tour. Also, we were not allowed to take
pictures in the tunnels (they didn't want people messing things up
or not paying attention and getting lost, as there are 4 miles of
tunnels below the castle, and more beyond it.
When we got back, we looked at the ruins of an 11th century church
that was right next to where we were staying.
Saturday, September 27, 2025.
2025 England Pictures
Part 1: Hunstanton (37 pictures)
Part 2: Rising Castle (41 pictures)
Part 3: Ely (9 pictures)
Part 4: Dover Town and Cliffs (45 pictures)
Part 5: Dover Castle (136 pictures)
Displaying all 132 pictures
Approaching and Entering Dover Castle.
We walked from Castle Street to Castle Hill Street.
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Stephanie walks towards the entrance to Dover Castle.
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A sign with information on the castle (from the late 18th/early
19th century).
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A sign about the anti-aircraft guns that were used to
protect the the castle...(more)
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One of the mobile 3.7-inch WWII British anti-aircract guns.
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I think the “disc golf basket” in the middle is for a
signal fire.
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Information on the Casemates in the Dover White Cliffs .
Anti-aircraft Gun Demo and Spotting Platform
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Smoke from after they fired the gun. It was loud,
but not that loud.
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Putting away things after the demonstration firing of the
anti-aircraft gun.
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Watch where you're pointing that thing! An anti-aircraft
gun by Dover Castle.
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“What? How many? I'll get the artillery
boys right on it!”
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Note that I'm pale because
the sun was shining and blew out 1/2 the picture.
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The communication room under the observation deck on the
lookout platform.
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Someone cleaning the artillery gun after the daily test-firing
by Castle Dover.
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A mobile WWII anti-aircraft artillery gun by Dover Castle.
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The White Cliffs of Dover, as seen from the WWII lookout
at Dover Castle.
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The White Cliffs of Dover, as seen from the WWII lookout
at Dover Castle.
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The White Cliffs of Dover, as seen from the WWII lookout
at Dover Castle.
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Shakespeare Cliff (referenced in King Lear) just west of Dover.
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Stephanie and Newman with Shakespeare Cliff in the background
on the left.
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Stephanie and Newman with Shakespeare Cliff in the background
on the left.
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Frank with the White Cliffs of Dover in the background.
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Frank by Dover Castle, with the White Cliffs of Dover
in the background.
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Frank by Dover Castle, with the White Cliffs of Dover
in the background.
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The port of Dover and Dover Strait from the lookout deck
by the cliff's edge.
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The anti-aircraft gun after the demo; a mobile gun is visible
above it.
Pharos Lighthouse, St. Mary's Church,
and Around The Great Tower
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The 2000-year old Roman-era Pharos
Lighthouse.
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Information on the St. Mary Church, Pharos lighthouse,
and the 4-gun battery.
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Looking up at the top of the 2000 year old Pharos Lighthouse
at Dover Castle.
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St. Mary de Castro Church next to the Pharos Lighthouse.
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Panorama of Pharos Lighthouse
and St. Mary's Church within Dover Castle.
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Along the inside of the outer wall of
Dover Castle, with plenty of cannons.
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The courtyard and buildings surrounding the Great Tower.
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Some of these buildings included a gift shop and lunch place.
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Lo, all ye hail the boy who would be king! (It was a
cute costume.)
The Castle/Great Tower
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What ho art those strange towers beyond the crennelation?
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Examples of spices available in the 13th century
(???, numeg. cinnamon,...(more)
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A historian in period dress who explained what life
was like then.
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A recreation of how the castle kitchen might have looked.
The Spur Tunnels
The Outer Wall
Ruins of St. James Church
St.
James Church was a Norman-era church built in the 11th century,
restored in the 19th century, had its roof damaged from a nearby bomb
explosion in WWI, was restored in 1931, and destroyed by German artillery
fired from France in WWII. It was turned into a public space in 1970.
It is next to The White Horse pub, apparently the most popular place in
Dover for food and drink, and they were booked up for the rest of the
evening when we tried to go there for dinner.
2025 England Pictures
Part 1: Hunstanton (37 pictures)
Part 2: Rising Castle (41 pictures)
Part 3: Ely (9 pictures)
Part 4: Dover Town and Cliffs (45 pictures)
Part 5: Dover Castle (136 pictures)
This page last modified Dec 15, 2025.
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