The North Entrance, Dover

The North Entrance was the main entrance to the Western Heights fortification. This entrance was close to the town of Dover, making it a convenient point for military access or carrying supplies into the fortress. It dates from the 1860s and features two bridges that cross over ditches leading to a tunnel. A pair of arched doorways are at the outer end of the tunnel.

Inside the tunnel is a staircase leading to three gun rooms. There are also three large water tanks. In the past, they supplied water to the Western Heights barracks. An inner entrance leads to a guardroom, a brick structure accessible from the roadway. Interestingly, the guardroom contains an early type of central heating in the form of a grate with ducts for moving cold and hot air.

This historic landmark is currently in a state of ruin and has been the target of vandalism over the years. Tours are available to explore the inside of the tunnel only once a year during a Western Heights Preservation Society open weekend.