Dover
Archaeological finds have revealed that Stone Age people lived in the area now known as Dover. Iron Age artifacts also exist within the same region, showing continuous human presence over millennia. During the Roman period, this location became a fortified port called Portus Dubris. It connected to Canterbury and Watling Street through an extensive road network. A partly preserved Roman lighthouse stands today as the tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain. Remains of a villa with preserved wall paintings were discovered nearby. The name derives from the River Dour flowing through the town. In 1974, bronze axes of French design were found at Langdon Bay off the coast. This find likely represents cargo from a sunken ship dating back to the Bronze Age. Another discovery in 1992 revealed the so-called Dover boat six metres underwater. Radiocarbon dating placed its construction around 1550 BC, making it one of the oldest seaworthy boats ever found.
Forts were built above the port to guide passing ships and defend against invaders. Dover served as a bastion during the Napoleonic Wars when French forces attempted landings. German attacks targeted the town during the Second World War. Louis VIII of France landed his army on Dover's mainland beach seeking to depose King Henry III. Henry III ambushed the French with approximately 400 bowmen atop The White Cliffs of Dover. Cavalry attacked the invaders on the beach but were slaughtered by French troops. The French seized Dover village and forced English troops back to Canterbury. French control lasted three months before English forces pushed them out. During the Cold War, a regional seat of government operated within the White Cliffs beneath Dover Castle. This facility was omitted from Soviet military plans produced in 1974 showing a 1:10,000 scale city map. The port would have served as an embarkation point for sending reinforcements to the British Army of the Rhine if a Soviet ground invasion occurred. Fortifications adapted the higher land on either side of the valley to perform protection functions against potential attackers.
The town has undergone significant transformations in recent decades including high-speed rail links to London. A new retail area called St James' opened in 2018 featuring shops, restaurants, a Travelodge Hotel and Cineworld Cinema. In 2019, a new 500m Pier extended west of the Harbour alongside a newly unveiled Marina. These projects formed part of a £330 million investment in the area. The railway reached Dover from two directions with lines connecting to Folkestone in 1844 and Canterbury in 1861. High-speed service into St Pancras International reduced journey times between London and Dover to 55 minutes non-stop. Electrification under British Railways began in 1959 as part of Stage 1 of Kent Coast Electrification. Stage two electrified the line up to Ramsgate via Deal in January 1961. The line from Folkestone into Priory was electrified in June 1961. A tram system operated in the town from 1897 until 1936 before being replaced by modern transport methods. In December 2020, freight trucks formed long lines due to sudden border closures with France caused by COVID-19 strains.
The English Channel at this location forms the narrowest point known as the Straits of Dover. It serves as the busiest shipping lane in the world today. Ferries crossing between here and the Continent must navigate through constant streams of commercial ships. The Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme allocates separate lanes for vessels passing through the strait. This scheme is controlled by the Channel Navigation Information Service based at Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Dover. MRCC Dover coordinates civil maritime search and rescue operations within these waters. The port provides much of the town's employment alongside tourism activities. Ferry lines include services to Calais operated by P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways, and Irish Ferries. Additional routes connect to Dunkirk through DFDS Seaways operators. Several ferry companies have ceased operations over recent years including Hoverspeed which stopped in 2005. SpeedFerries ended their service in 2008 while LD Lines withdrew their Dover-Dieppe route on the 29th of June 2009. SeaFrance closed their Dover-Calais service in 2012 after operating it exclusively. The old Dover Marine railway station houses one passenger terminal with a car park. A second purpose-built terminal extends further out along the pier.
The White Cliffs of Dover serve as a major tourist destination attracting visitors from around the world. Over 368,000 tourists visited Dover Castle during 2019 alone. Matthew Arnold used the setting of Dover in his 19th-century poem titled Dover Beach. Felicia Dorothea Hemans wrote her poem published in Forget Me Not in 1827 in a patriotic vein. Lydia Huntley Sigourney recorded her thoughts following her visit during a tour of 1840. Charles Dickens featured Dover several times in A Tale of Two Cities. M.R. James located part of his 1911 ghost story Casting the Runes within the town's Lord Warden Hotel. Russell Hoban repurposed Dover as Do It Over in his 1980 post-apocalyptic novel Riddley Walker. Songs inspired by the location include Vera Lynn's recording of There'll Be Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs of Dover made in 1942. Eric Johnson released an instrumental rock composition called Cliffs of Dover on his 1990 album Ah Via Musicom. British band Blur included Clover Over Dover as track 12 on their 1994 album Parklife. American band Bright Eyes released Calais to Dover as track 13 on their 2020 album Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was.
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Common questions
When was the Dover boat constructed according to radiocarbon dating?
Radiocarbon dating placed the construction of the Dover boat around 1550 BC. This discovery in 1992 revealed a six-metre vessel found six metres underwater off the coast.
Who defeated French forces at The White Cliffs of Dover during Henry III's reign?
King Henry III ambushed the French army with approximately 400 bowmen atop The White Cliffs of Dover. Cavalry units attacked the invaders on the beach but were slaughtered by French troops before English forces pushed them out after three months.
What is the narrowest point of the English Channel called near Dover?
The Straits of Dover form the narrowest point of the English Channel at this location. It serves as the busiest shipping lane in the world today and is controlled by the Channel Navigation Information Service based at Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Dover.
Which ferry companies ceased operations between Dover and France recently?
Hoverspeed stopped its service in 2005 while SpeedFerries ended their operation in 2008. LD Lines withdrew their Dover-Dieppe route on the 29th of June 2009 and SeaFrance closed their Dover-Calais service in 2012.
When did high-speed rail links reduce journey times to London from Dover?
High-speed service into St Pancras International reduced journey times between London and Dover to 55 minutes non-stop. Electrification under British Railways began in 1959 as part of Stage 1 of Kent Coast Electrification.