Dover Harbour

Among the earliest references to Dover’s natural harbour are give in the Doomsday book:-

 “At the entrance to Dover Harbour is a mill, which wrecks almost all ships, through its great disturbance of the sea; it does very great harm to the King and his men; it was not there before 1066. Of this, Herbert's nephew says that the Bishop of Bayeux gave permission for it to be made by his uncle, Herbert son of Ivo”

The natural harbour was then the estuary of the river Dour what is now the Market Square area of Dover, this was also the area where the 5,000 year old ‘Bronze Age Boat was found.

One of the problems with this natural harbour was the constant silting up and shingle being washed down the coast and into the harbour. This is caused by the very strong easterly tide which wash the shingle from west to east into the harbour. In 1606 a Royal Charter brought the ‘Dover Harbour Board into being comprising of eleven commissioners the chairman was also Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. This began the development of The Dover Harbour Board, they fought a constant battle with the silt and shingle and slowly developed piers and basins. Shipyards began to grow on the western beach at Shakespeare in the 18th century going on to build some of the finest sailing ships in the world, this brought a much needed prosperity to Dover after going through years of depression.

In 1776 America declared independence from Great Britain just two years later in 1778 France declared war on Great Britain in support of America. As the fear of invasion by the French increased Dover had to start building it’s defence this was started by the development of the Western Heights and the many batteries along the coast line such as Guilford & Townsend Batteries to name just two.

This defense work also brought prosperity to the town as military regiments started to move in. By the late 18 century Dover was thriving in it’s new prosperity around the harbour business’s such as sail makers, rope and net makers all associated with the ship and fishing industry started to appear, smuggling was also thriving in Dover & Deal.The 19th century brought the biggest changes to Dover harbour with the building of the Admiralty Pier, Eastern Arm and Southern Breakwater which was started in the mid 1800's and completed in the early 20th century. Expansion continues to this day with the development of the Eastern Docks to accommodate the ever increasing amount of freight lorries passing through the port, this expansion is slowly eroding away Dover Seafront. Development also continues at the cruise terminal at the Western Docks with the building of a second berth for the new giant cruise ships that come to Dover.

DHB Tug Dauntless 2004