Headline for March 24 1999

Barrack Site Clearance Project

The site of Grand Shaft Barracks is at last having its trees cut.  The White Cliffs Countryside Project in conjuction with English Heritage have decided to cut down a lot of growth mainly that which has 'sprung up' in the last 15 years or so in an attempt to curb vandalism and as a step towards interpreting the site for visitors.

The replica Grand Shaft Barracks guardhouse which has been re-created by Dover District Council and Dover Town Council at the foot of the cliffs on the footings of the original building now forms an impressive entrance to the 1809 triple staircase,   but until now visitors walking the 200+ steps to the top were faced with trees, bushes and rubbish all of which were madly out of control, on their arrival.

New signs are currently being erected which give the layout of the original barrack buildings together with a new heritage trail which will take the visitor on a journey through barrack life.

This latest venture should be welcomed by all those that care for our Western Heights today.

The following photographs were taken on Friday March 26 and show just what a difference the pruning has made to the look of the area.  One of the new trail signs is also shown.  In due course all of the new signs will be made available here.  The site still looks pretty overgrown, but this is a vast improvement on how it looked prior to this work.   Previously the various grass banks were completely invisible.    More information will be added as it becomes available.

 

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One pile of rubbish taken from the undergrowth

 

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These are the main steps from near the Grand Shaft entrance upto Drop Redoubt Road

 

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Looking across from the entrance counterscarp of Drop Redoubt to St. Martin's Battery

 

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From the top of Drop Redoubt Road (Taken from Jeep Cherokee!!)

 

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From St. Martin's Battery.   Green blob on top left is expense magazine on Drop Redoubt rampart

On the horizon are (left to right) Dover Castle keep, Swingate antennae and St. Mary-in-Castro

 

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The new main sign board for a   'Soldier's Life Trail'

 

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Detail

 

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Detail