DOVER CASTLE
Dover, Kent, England
Dover Castle was an originally fortified earthwards by native Britons before the Romans invaded in 43 A.D. It was built close to an 80 foot high Roman lighthouse which still stands.
The first castle was more than likely a Saxon fort. After the Battle of Hastings the fortifications were improved by William the Conqueror. He built a motte and bailey design castle.
The inner bailey and the Keep were built during the reign of Henry II. In 1216, a group of rebel barons had invited Louis VIII of France to come and take the English crown. Canterbury, Rochester and London had already fallen to Louis, and King John's forces were besieged by Prince Louis at Dover. The constable of the castle, Hubert de Burgh had successfully defended the castle at Chinon in 1205 and he had a well-supplied garrison of men.
The siege began on 19 July. Louis' men successfully undermined the barbican and attempted to topple the castle gate, but De Burgh's men managed to repulse the invaders, blocking the breach in the walls with giant timbers. After three months Louis called a truce on 14 October and soon after returned to London. However the Dover garrison repeatedly disrupted his communication with France, and Louis began a second siege on Dover Castle on 12 May 1217. However, with many of his men involved in the siege, he suffered heavy defeats in the Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217. After another defeat at the Battle of Sandwich, Louis gave up his claim on the English throne. Dover Castle had stood firm.
The fortifications were improved over the centuries. Massive rebuilding took place during the Napoleonic Wars, including the expansion of tunnels to serve as barracks.
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 realization that the chalk of the cliffs would not provide significant protection from radiation, and because of the inconvenient form of the tunnels and their generally poor condition.
Roman Lighthouse at Dover & Dover Inner Bailey photos:
from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dover_Castle