Dover Castle

Dover Castle is situated in Kent and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history.

The secret tunnels

The fortifications were improved over the centuries. Massive rebuilding took place during the Napoleonic Wars, including the expansion of tunnels to serve as barracks.

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During the Second World War the tunnels were converted into an underground hospital and a military command centre from where the Dunkirk evacuations were masterminded. Later the tunnels were to be used as a shelter for regional government in the event of a nuclear attack. This plan was abandoned for various reasons, including the realisation that the chalk of the cliffs would not provide significant protection from radiation, and because of the inconvient form of the tunnels and their generally poor condition. Tunnel levels were denoted as A - Annexe, B - Bastion, C - Casemate, D - DUMPY and E - Esplanade. Annexe and Casemate levels are open to the public, Bastion is 'lost' but investigations continue to gain access, DUMPY (converted from WW2 use to serve as a Regional Seat of Government in event of an atomic war) is closed, as is Esplanade (last used as air raid tunnel shelters in WW2).

Related Topics:
Second World War - Dunkirk evacuations

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