List of Palmerston Forts at Dover facts for kids

The Palmerston Forts that protect Dover were built a long time ago. They were created because people in Britain were worried about a possible invasion from France. These forts were designed to keep the important Port of Dover safe. If an enemy fleet captured Dover, it would be easy for them to invade the country.

What Are the Palmerston Forts?

The Palmerston Forts are a group of strong defensive buildings. They were built in the 1800s around the coast of Britain. They are named after Lord Palmerston, who was the Prime Minister of Britain at the time. He believed Britain needed better defenses.

Why Were They Built?

In 1859, a special group called the Royal Commission looked into how well Britain was defended. A Royal Commission is like a big official investigation ordered by the government. This one found that Britain was not ready for a possible attack. At that time, there was a lot of tension between Britain and France, and many people feared a French invasion.

Dover was a very important place to defend. It's a port city right on the English Channel, the narrowest part between England and France. This made it a likely target for an invading army. The new forts were meant to stop any enemy ships or soldiers from landing there.

Who Built These Forts?

Building these huge forts was a massive job! The work was done by the Royal Engineers, who are soldiers specially trained in engineering and construction. They worked alongside many civilian contractors, which means regular building companies and workers. The Royal Engineers oversaw all the construction to make sure it was done correctly.

Which Forts Defended Dover?

Many new forts were built, and older ones were made stronger. Here are some of the important fortifications in Dover that were part of this big defense project:

• Admiralty Pier Turret
• Archcliffe Fort
• Dover Castle complex, including:
  • East Demi Battery
  • Hospital Battery
  • Shotyard Battery
  • Shoulder of Mutton Battery
• Fort Burgoyne
• Langdon Battery
• Western Heights complex, including:
  • Dover Citadel
  • Citadel Battery
  • Drop Redoubt
  • Drop Battery
  • Grand Shaft Barracks
  • North Centre Bastion
  • North Centre Detached Bastion
  • North Entrance
  • South Entrance
  • South Front Barracks
  • St Martin Battery