Hidden Kent

Fan Bay Deep Shelter

The Fan Bay Deep Shelter is located in within the cliffs to the east of Dover. I was built as a shelter for the Fan Bay Battery which could be found only a few hundred feet away. When in commission the entrance was via a small brick building, this was demolished during the 1980s and the spoil used to block the opening, leaving the shelter sealed. Over time water ingress has opened a hole large enough to squeeze through into the descending stairwell. The stairwell consists of three flights in a roughly U-shaped configuration with the top flight being covered with spoil eroded from the material used to plug the entrance. The shelter seems to be in the same condition it was left in with the main tunnels lined with corrugated sheeting, and what appears to be some sections of tunnel abandoned during construction. The shelter is spacious and cool, with the potential to house a fair amount of equipment and/or personnel.

East Demi Bastion

The East Demi Bastion is a substantial Napoleonic fortification on the cliff side adjacent to the eastern moat of Dover Castle and linked to the castle via tunnels, vaults and a spiral staircase. The Bastion also links to Hudson's Bastion. The gun positions of the Bastion were design to supplement the Harbour's own defences. The walls have notches within them for lamps to be placed, the natural light not being able to penetrate far past the small window openings in the vaults. The walls are also cover in graffiti, not all of it modern day.

The Hudson's Bastion

On the east side of Dover Castle you can find Hudson's Bastion, it is one of a number of fortifications that gave defenders firing positions and yet also allowed for a protected retreat if it came necesaary to pull back into the heart of the castle. The original entrance has been sealed, however you can still gain access from a tunnel leading to the moat called Hudson's Passage. You will also find the Gallery and Caponiere within this structure.

Search Light Batteries

These searchlight positions were originally built next to Dover Harbour to guild ships into the port, however during World War II they primary role was to identify and illuminate ships for the gun batteries above.

¹ Photo: TomG