Grand Shaft, Dover, July 2012

[silverainbow]

Visited with non Member Dan

Quik bit of History about this incredible Structure;

Set back to one side of Snargate Street, Dover, its entrance barred by iron gates is a sloping corridor which leads to the Grand Shaft, a unique 19th Century triple staircase built during the Napoleonic Wars.

Brief DescriptionThe shaft is an ingenious construction of brick measuring 26 feet (8 metres) in diameter and 140 feet (42 metres) in height. It was built between 1806 – 1809. It has three staircases of Purbeck limestone which wind clockwise one above the other down a central brick light and ventilation shaft lit by an occasional window. At the bottom the three staircases meet in the sloping corridor which leads to Snargate Street. There are 200 steps in all separated by several landings.

And for a few of my Pics

Was a great Night out Really enjoyed myself, well worth a look

 

[skeleton key]

I do love the look of this place shocks me i was stationed in Dover and had all this all around me

Cracking write up and loved the pics

:beer:

 

[Ninja Kitten]

how facinating...what a wonderful structure...love to see this..

 

[Maniac]

Shame EH only see fit to open this 2 or 3 DAYS a year! Shame on them.

Small but interesting place this is, must pop back myself sometime.

Nice pics SR.

 

[Wevsky]

I loved the place..just the once mind you..themstairs are a killer! :shock:

 

[Nelly]

Nice stuff fella and quality photos, but what was the purpose of it?? Was it just like a folly in reverse???

 

[silverainbow]

It was a means for the soldiers to be mobilised quickly in the event of an attack the barracks were originally built at the top

 

[Nelly]

Ah, I see, cheers fella

 

[Shush]

Looks like Dover and surrounding areas are a gold mine, this is fanbloodytastic. Cracking pics really show it off well too

 

[silverainbow]

Looks like Dover and surrounding areas are a gold mine, this is fanbloodytastic. Cracking pics really show it off well too

Thank you

 

[Maniac]

Looks like Dover and surrounding areas are a gold mine, this is fanbloodytastic. Cracking pics really show it off well too

There is quite a lot there, enough to make a good day or two of it to see the popular stuff. Sadly at the moment thou EH have been on a bit of a mission so some places you can't do right now, but there's still enough for a good lot of exploring particularly if you've never visited before.