History
Dover has an ample supply of cave & tunnel systems that were utilised for Air Raid Shelters during both World Wars, but the principle shelter for the town was sited in an old chalk quarry to the north west of the town centre.
The Quarry's origins are unclear, but it would appear that chalk from here was used in the construction of Dover Harbour. The original adits were cut by hand in a grid pattern, evidenced by the pick marks in the chalk - the earliest graffiti found here dated from 1914.
In preparation for the anticipated conflict with Germany, further tunnel sections were cut further in and this is where these tunnels differ greatly from the usually method - rather than excavating and then using corrugated sections, the tunnels have been bored out by machine, with brick sections being built to reinforce and the floor being cut in and concreted.
A large Decontamination Centre was built on the Quarry floor, complete with medical facilities, unfortunately this was demolished to make way for factory units some time ago.
The amount of graffiti dating from the 1940s is staggering - just about every flat surface has something inscribed on it.
Pictures
Visited several times over the Christmas period, and shot with both film and digital.
The Decontamination Centre before demolishing.
Taken during WW2 - Brew time!
The following pictures are from the front of the tunnels, these were usied as kitchens etc, and were later used by an engineering company for storage.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Toilet Block
7.
Priory Hill Tunnel Section
8.
9.
10.
11.
Westmount Tunnel Section (quite sterile by comparison)
12.
13.
Fiveways Junction (all the tunnels converge on this point)
14.
15.
This is where the earlier WW2 shot of the women was taken.
16.
and finally, some examples of WW2 graffiti
17.
18.
(The latin in this picture translates as "Either conquer, or die")
That's it, thanks for looking.
Dover has an ample supply of cave & tunnel systems that were utilised for Air Raid Shelters during both World Wars, but the principle shelter for the town was sited in an old chalk quarry to the north west of the town centre.
The Quarry's origins are unclear, but it would appear that chalk from here was used in the construction of Dover Harbour. The original adits were cut by hand in a grid pattern, evidenced by the pick marks in the chalk - the earliest graffiti found here dated from 1914.
In preparation for the anticipated conflict with Germany, further tunnel sections were cut further in and this is where these tunnels differ greatly from the usually method - rather than excavating and then using corrugated sections, the tunnels have been bored out by machine, with brick sections being built to reinforce and the floor being cut in and concreted.
A large Decontamination Centre was built on the Quarry floor, complete with medical facilities, unfortunately this was demolished to make way for factory units some time ago.
The amount of graffiti dating from the 1940s is staggering - just about every flat surface has something inscribed on it.
Pictures
Visited several times over the Christmas period, and shot with both film and digital.
The Decontamination Centre before demolishing.
Taken during WW2 - Brew time!
The following pictures are from the front of the tunnels, these were usied as kitchens etc, and were later used by an engineering company for storage.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Toilet Block
7.
Priory Hill Tunnel Section
8.
9.
10.
11.
Westmount Tunnel Section (quite sterile by comparison)
12.
13.
Fiveways Junction (all the tunnels converge on this point)
14.
15.
This is where the earlier WW2 shot of the women was taken.
16.
and finally, some examples of WW2 graffiti
17.
18.
(The latin in this picture translates as "Either conquer, or die")
That's it, thanks for looking.
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