English Heritage Red Guides
2 total works
For over 2,000 years, fortifications on the Dover cliffs have protected this stretch of English coast closest to the continent of Europe. The castle has seen active service from 1066 to the Cold War, and its defences have grown to meet the changing demands of weapons and warfare. This newly updated and expanded guide contains plans, maps, eyewitness accounts and historic photographs of this famous and iconic fortress that dominates the White Cliffs and the Straits of Dover.
Upnor Castle's remarkable history is closely linked to that of the Royal Navy and to national events. It was built by order of Elizabeth I between 1559 and 1567 to a design by Sir Richard Lee, then England's most experienced military engineer. Its purpose as an artillery fortress was to stop hostile warships venturing upriver to attack the fleet and the royal dockyard developing near the village of Chatham.