Dover Castle’s original entrance, along with several lost towers and long-gone defensive walls, has been unveiled for the first time thanks to a state-of-the-art digital model. This groundbreaking discovery is part of the new exhibit, “Dover Castle Under Siege,” meticulously crafted over 800 hours by English Heritage experts, including historians, curators, and one of the country’s leading historical 3D artists.
The digital reconstruction offers a glimpse of the castle as it likely appeared in 1216, prior to its siege and damage during a “forgotten” civil war that altered the course of English history. The model plays a central role in the exhibit, which opens the castle to the public in unprecedented ways.
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Visitors can now explore Dover’s medieval and Georgian underground tunnels and casemates through an immersive exhibition. The model, along with the opportunity to stand near the original entrance where invaders once breached, provides a vivid historical experience. The new access through the tunnels and onto the great earthwork defense known as the Spur offers a panoramic view of the castle to visitors for the first time.
Photo courtesy English Heritage
Between 1215 and 1217, England was engulfed in a civil war. French soldiers, led by Prince Louis ‘the Lion’ (son of King Philip II of France), allied with English rebel barons against King John. Dover Castle, remaining loyal to King John, was a formidable fortress strengthened over the preceding 40 years. Its layered defences allowed only one practical route for attack: the northern tip where the main gate stood.
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The digital model reveals the original entrance, defended by King John’s twin-towered gatehouse, from which a wooden bridge crossed a deep outer ditch to a fortified barbican. This model offers a vision of Dover Castle in a brief moment of calm before the siege.
Paul Pattison, English Heritage’s Senior Properties Historian, remarked, “When you see the model, Dover Castle almost rises from the ashes of the siege in 1216; the level of detail is astonishing. It has taken us months of research, deliberation and difficult decision-making to be able to produce this model. From historical records, plans and maps, and archaeological, topographic and laser surveys – we’ve left no stone unturned in making this model as accurate as possible.”
Photo courtesy English Heritage
After the siege, the castle underwent extensive and expensive re-fortifications to prevent future breaches. Many of these changes, including new entrances at Constable’s Gate and Fitzwilliam Gate and a network of underground tunnels, are still visible today.
“Creating this digital model of Dover Castle was an intimidating prospect mainly given the sheer scale of the castle – it’s the country’s largest in terms of square acreage,” says Bob Marshall, English Heritage’s Architectural Illustrator. “But by combining all of the archaeology and archival research with detailed surveys, I was able to painstakingly create this model to high standards of accuracy, which has helped to inform the entire new experience. I think this use of technology will continue to change the way so many people think of Dover Castle. It hasn’t stayed the same over hundreds of years. Each era, from medieval to Georgian to the Second World War, has left its mark.”
We open to the public on 22 July so mark your calendars! If you’re an English Heritage member, you can enjoy an exclusive preview of the new space on 20 & 21 July.
Dover Castle’s original entrance, along with several lost towers and long-gone defensive walls, has been unveiled for the first time thanks to a state-of-the-art digital model. This groundbreaking discovery is part of the new exhibit, “Dover Castle Under Siege,” meticulously crafted over 800 hours by English Heritage experts, including historians, curators, and one of the country’s leading historical 3D artists.
The digital reconstruction offers a glimpse of the castle as it likely appeared in 1216, prior to its siege and damage during a “forgotten” civil war that altered the course of English history. The model plays a central role in the exhibit, which opens the castle to the public in unprecedented ways.
Visitors can now explore Dover’s medieval and Georgian underground tunnels and casemates through an immersive exhibition. The model, along with the opportunity to stand near the original entrance where invaders once breached, provides a vivid historical experience. The new access through the tunnels and onto the great earthwork defense known as the Spur offers a panoramic view of the castle to visitors for the first time.
Between 1215 and 1217, England was engulfed in a civil war. French soldiers, led by Prince Louis ‘the Lion’ (son of King Philip II of France), allied with English rebel barons against King John. Dover Castle, remaining loyal to King John, was a formidable fortress strengthened over the preceding 40 years. Its layered defences allowed only one practical route for attack: the northern tip where the main gate stood.
The digital model reveals the original entrance, defended by King John’s twin-towered gatehouse, from which a wooden bridge crossed a deep outer ditch to a fortified barbican. This model offers a vision of Dover Castle in a brief moment of calm before the siege.
Paul Pattison, English Heritage’s Senior Properties Historian, remarked, “When you see the model, Dover Castle almost rises from the ashes of the siege in 1216; the level of detail is astonishing. It has taken us months of research, deliberation and difficult decision-making to be able to produce this model. From historical records, plans and maps, and archaeological, topographic and laser surveys – we’ve left no stone unturned in making this model as accurate as possible.”
After the siege, the castle underwent extensive and expensive re-fortifications to prevent future breaches. Many of these changes, including new entrances at Constable’s Gate and Fitzwilliam Gate and a network of underground tunnels, are still visible today.
“Creating this digital model of Dover Castle was an intimidating prospect mainly given the sheer scale of the castle – it’s the country’s largest in terms of square acreage,” says Bob Marshall, English Heritage’s Architectural Illustrator. “But by combining all of the archaeology and archival research with detailed surveys, I was able to painstakingly create this model to high standards of accuracy, which has helped to inform the entire new experience. I think this use of technology will continue to change the way so many people think of Dover Castle. It hasn’t stayed the same over hundreds of years. Each era, from medieval to Georgian to the Second World War, has left its mark.”
To learn more, please visit Dover Castle Under Siege from English Heritage.
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