Detached Bastion, Western Heights

The Detached Bastion forms part of the Western Heights Fortifications on the western hill overlooking Dover. Unlike the famous castle on the eastern side of Dover most of the Napoleonic fortress is buried in the hillside. This Bastion forms part of the North Lines defences (which runs from Drop Redoubt to The Citadel), but has a moat or ditch separating it from the North Centre Bastion, hence the name Detached Bastion. Access now is by way of the defensive ditches and one of the gun ports, which leads into the underground tunnels and rooms inside the Bastion. Photos taken March 2001.
For a plan of the Western Heights see Maps.

 

View of North Lines, with ditch separating the Detached Bastion (on right)

from the North Centre Bastion (on left).

 

Front of Detached Bastion showing gunports.

 

Close up of gunport.

 

Gunroom inside Bastion, note steel joists carrying upper floor.

 

View inside Bastion showing upper floor.

 

View inside Bastion with rifle slits covering moats.

 

Corridor with rifle slits on inside of moat walls.

 

Ramps leading to upper floor of Bastion.

 

Upper corridor, note hole in floor which is made up of single large slabs of slate (1 1/2" thick).

 

View from upper floor level of gun port in Bastion.

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