Throughout England’s history, the country has been home to hundreds of castles. Which English castle is the most famous?
Dover Castle is considered one of the finest castles in the world. It occupies an important strategic location at the narrowest point between southeast England and northwest France. The castle has served numerous purposes in the thousand years since it was constructed.
For more on Dover Castle and why it was the “key to England”, read on.
Ancient History
Dover Castle is situated in perhaps the most important strategic location in all of the United Kingdom. Built on the southeast corner of Britain, it oversees the Channel at the narrowest point between England and the European mainland.
Dover Castle sits on Castle Hill and the hill was occupied for many centuries before the castle itself was built. There is evidence that a hillfort occupied the hill during the Iron Age, before the Roman invasion of Britain.
When the Romans conquered Britain, they constructed their own fort nearby. This fort was called Dubris and served as a home for the “Classis Britannica”, the Roman fleet dedicated to monitoring and guarding the Channel.
The Romans did not build a fortress on Castle Hill, but they still saw the usefulness of the location. They placed a lighthouse, called a “pharos” on top of the hill, helping ships find their way to shore.
In 215 CE, the Dubris fort was demolished and replaced by a new one in 270 CE. The fort and the lighthouse were likely used for centuries until the Romans departed Britain for the final time in the 5th Century.
It isn’t clear if the fort and pharos were used during the Dark Ages following the Roman occupation. Their sturdy construction and defensible location would have made them an appealing home for nearby Britons.
Dover Castle
In approximately 1000 CE, the church of Saint Mary in Casto was built, using the pharos as part of its construction. The lighthouse became a bell tower, with an adjoining chapel. The church was unusually large for the time, suggesting that it was funded by royalty.
Following the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the victorious William the Conqueror marched on Dover. It was a key location for ensuring easy passage between England and his native Normandy.
Historians believe that William ordered the construction of defenses around the church of Saint Mary in Castro but no physical evidence survives.
In the late 1100s, King Henry II fortified Castle Hill by ordering the construction of the castle that still stands today. No expense was spared and the result was one of the most advanced castles in Europe at the time.
Henry entrusted the building of the castle to Maurice, his chief engineer. At the heart of the castle was its great tower, serving as a residence for the nobility while also having a number of defensive positions.
Exactly why the castle was built is unknown but is theorized that it was meant to serve as a place for important travelers to rest while making the pilgrimage to Canterbury.
Attacks and Uses
The castle’s ability to function defensively was tested in 1216 and 1217. The First Barons’ War led to a faction of English noblemen and Prince Louis of France besieging Dover Castle. Hubert de Burgh led the defense and held off the attackers, despite the castle suffering damage to its main gate.
Following the war, King Henry III had the damaged areas of the castle repaired or replaced by even stronger fortifications. It was attacked again in 1265 during the Second Barons’ War but that siege ended with negotiations rather than bloodshed.
From that point on, the castle was entrusted to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Lord Warden was tasked with overseeing the nearby port towns of Kent and making sure that they performed properly in service to the English monarchy.
During the late Middle Ages, the Great Tower was adapted to serve as an occasional royal residence, used by foreign diplomats or English royalty on their way to or from the continent.
Dover Castle served numerous functions in the following centuries. It was a prison, a barracks, and then a military headquarters during both World Wars. Its military use faded during the Cold War.
Today, Dover Castle is a visitor attraction rather than a defensive position. It remains one of the world’s most magnificent castles and was voted Britain’s favorite in a nationwide poll.