Citadel Battery

LEFT: Citadel Battery from the East, Above Western Outworks, May 1999

Citadel battery is situated at the western-most point of Western Heights defences and was started in 1898 for three 9.2 inch breech loading guns. At the same time a similar battery was installed behind Dover Castle at Langdon cliffs, here three 9.2 inch guns were installed together with two 6 inch weapons. These were coast defence guns.

Schematic Drawing of 9.2 BL Gun on Barbette Mounting

In front of Citadel Battery is a mini defensible ditch which starts to the right of gun one and runs along the front of the battery and terminates by running into the Western Outworks southern ditch. Most of the steel palisade fence striding the ditch can still be seen.  A Type 23 pillbox can also be seen next to gun three.

Citadel Battery, Gun No. 3  in Foreground, May 1999

Citadel Battery, Gun No. 1 Showing Gun Holdfasts, May 1999

The actual guns for both batteries seem to have taken some time in getting to Dover. In June 1900 the Dover Express reported that the three guns had still not been delivered to Dover and the reason for this apparently, was that the Wellington Dock which had the only crane capable of lifting these guns was undergoing extensive repairs.

The Express reported again in April 1901 that one gun for Citadel Battery and several mountings had been delivered to Dover that month although progress was hampered somewhat by an accident while unloading at the quayside. The paper states that one of the chains being used to lift the gun from the barge, the S.S. Cheviout, snapped which allowed one end of the gun to drop, smashing into the hold of the barge, damaging it and causing water to pour in. Apparently pumps were used to keep the water level down while temporary repairs were effected and the whole episode finished in not only removing the gun and mountings but by there being an official enquiry into the accident by the military authorities.

The probable cost of repairs to the barge were estimated at £2000; quite a sum in 1901.

An original schematic drawing showing  a cross section of the artillery store & lamp room connected to No. 2 gun.

The lamp room does not appear to have been built.

Drawing: Public Records Office: WD78/3787

During the WW2 years quite a staff worked at the battery.  The total manning the guns was 91 people, and this number included a Battery Commander, a Section Commander,3 Relief Section Commanders, range finding and instruments specialists, telephonists, Battery Commandant's Assistants, Storeman, and AA detachment, an artificer and a gun crew of 66 men.

Source: Public Record Office: WO 192/45

Rear of Fire Control Post for Citadel Battery. Access Bricked Up, May 1999

View From Fire Control Post Looking Out Over Citadel Battery and Out To Sea, May 1999

There are no guns now at Citadel or Langdon Batteries although at the Citadel Battery sections of the steel gun platform of number one gun are now lying on the ground and the concrete emplacements and underground magazines are still easily accessible. Langdon Battery is now the site of a coastguard lookout (built on top of one of the emplacements) and although emplacements and magazines are still there they are fenced off from the public.

Entrance to Number 2 Magazine

Above Doorway into Magazine

Please Click on letter to see photograph of magazine taken in direction of line

The Following Show Details of Nbr. 1 Gun Mounting

Can anyone give us any details regarding the various fittings ?

Photographed in 1999 by the author

There are several WW2 anti-invasion defences set-up around Citadel Battery.  These include two Spigot Mortar mountings, two pillboxes, and a fieldgun emplacement.  See the section on pillboxes of WW2 for pictures of the latter.

WW2 Spigot Mortar Mounting Under The Grass Opposite Gun Nbr. 1

There's another one opposite next to a type 23 pillbox.

1940 Vintage