On Sunday, 4th Feb Emily, Daniel, Roslyn, Chris and I did a day trip to Dover which is 75 miles (120KM) south-east of London. Dover is famous for Dover Castle, its white Cliffs and is the gateway to Europe. Dover guards the English side of the shortest sea crossing to France, there is only 21 miles of the English channel between Dover and France.
Dover Castle is one of the mightiest fortresses in Western Europe, guards the English side of the shortest sea crossing to France. The keep of Dover Castle was built under the orders of King Henry II between 1181 and 1187 and the walls are 7 metres thick. The castle has survived many battles and sieges and was also the headquarters for operations against German submarines in WW1 and served as a command post for the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. Beneath Dover's Medieval castle and within its famous white cliffs lies a huge network of military tunnels which have been in use since Napoleonic times.
Unfortunately, there was a lost of mist and fog around (as it was a typical English winter day) and the visibility was not very good of the white cliffs and the photos don't really show what it was like.. But it was still it was a great fun day and amazing to see massive cliff faces made entirely of chalk.
Chris outside the enterance to the tunnels under Dover Castle.
Dan having a bit of fun with one of the cannons inside the castle.
The gang at the main enterance to the keep of the castle.
This is the old roman lighthouse and the Saxon church. The lighthouseis from 50AD and is possibly the oldest standing building in England.
A map of the tunnels showing the 3 layers which formed the complex web of rooms and passages.
Inside one of the rooms in the tunnels - an old telephone exchange which was once used during the war.
Roslyn guarding our picnic table while we went to get our picnic lunch from the car.. Maybe not the best day for a picnic as we were freezing by the end of it..
A cannon and some cannon balls.
Me walking along the outer wall of the castle.
The gang inside the castle.
The gang outside the keep of the castle.
Dan and Nat inside the keep.
Nat outside the Saxon church and lighthouse. The church dates from AD1000.
The white cliffs behind some building in town.
Emily and I couldn't help ourselves with all this chalk around we had to leave messages for the others.
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