The Dover Southern Breakwater was constructed at the beginning of the 20th Century, and with the Eastern Arm and Admiralty Pier, it forms an enclosed harbour. It was built using large granite blocks and it extends nearly three quarters of a mile in length and is about twenty feet wide. At the far East and Western ends, a large number of rooms provided accomodation for the hundreds of troops who manned the guns, unfortunately they are currently in a very dilapidated state, with no signs of future restoration. There are also casemates, which served as magazines for the guns, which still have shell hoists in place at the extreme ends. There are searchlight emplacements , which can be seen on the Breakwater's south face, these however are no longer accessible.
The Breakwater is currently owned by Dover Harbour Board, and used by the Dover Sea Angling Association.
The outside of the Breakwater, showing one of the searchights
Looking East from the middle
Looking towards the Eastern end
Entrance to the fortified end
Gun ports in the wall
Looking towards the Eastern end and South Foreland
A Lancaster Bomber comes over the Breakwater
The later concrete buildings
The original buildings
The forified Eastern end
Inside one of the rooms
Inside another
Another room, with old light still in place
Inside one of the other rooms
This room is used to store the bikes for cycling along the Breakwater
Old lamp post base, dated 1908
The middle of the Breakwater
Base of the lighthouse in the middle
Looking up to the lighthouse
Looking along the Western end
Looking back from the Western end
Looking back to Dover harbour
17 comments:
top stuff mate
Does anyone know the other name for Dover southern Breakwater please?
Sorry but I cannot answer your question, but perhaps you or someone else can help me find out about a photo I have of my great grandfather who was part of the breeches buoy detachment when the breakwater was being built. In the photo my great granddad and 3 others are wearing sailors caps 4 are in full waterproofs and 2 are wearing cork life jackets. In front of the group is a written placard with the words breakwater life savers breeches buoy detachment , the remainder I can only make out is probably board. Any help please George Dean 1518 hrs. 14 4 2016.
My grandad was supposed to have laid the first brick of the breakwater, im also trying to find any pictures
I've been in Dover since 1980.This should be opened up for visitors as it's an important part of Dovers history.
My great-grandfather came down from Northumberland when my grandad was still a little boy of four. He was an engineer and helped build the breakwater etc. My grandad followed in his footsteps and worked at the port, although I am not sure what he did, and later became Mayor of Dover during the war years.
On another point, I'm so pleased to see the clock tower and old Customs House are being preserved amongst all the Western Docks Regeneration. The new public access will be very enjoyable once finished I think. I do hope the Harbour Board will preserve the Admiralty Pier, Eastern Arm and the Breakwater which, along with the white Cliffs, Castle, Pharos and Drop Redoubt are iconic landmarks which give Dover a special place in England's history...and still more being discovered as time goes on!
As far as I'm aware it has always been called The Breakwater, along with The Eastern and Western Arms; Admiralty and Prince of Wales Piers also.
I remember fishing the breakwater back in the 70s more so the 3 day festival.good days
I fished Dover breakwater with my father in the 70’s. I remember being told about the dangerous tides and “don’t fall in the drink!”. But is there anywhere or source I can locate how it was built?
Given the dangerous waters and currents it must have been risky for construction gangs to take out and lay granite blocks and concrete?! How was the sea bed levelled off? Did they send down men in diving bells??
Such a shame that a marvel of British civil engineering and military history can’t be preserved by English Heritage (whilst still allowing angling to happen in moderation) or otherwise.
I was brought up in Dover in the late 40s, and the Breakwater was always known as the “Detached Mole”. Hope this helps. Michael.
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It was built of concrete blocks and faced with granite blocks.
Yes please
I worked for the Harbour Board in the late 1970s and one of my roles was to accompany the fishermen to the Breakwater. We would board the boat from the Prince of Wales Pier. Happy Days.
I really don't know about this in Dover however my Great Grandfather was Coxwain of Littlestone Lifeboat and they wore Cork life jackets, so possible something to do with life saving,
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