This time, I have been to visit Dover. The famous white cliffs…
The lorries that snake around the port and line up in their blocks ready for transit…
Its wildlife…
And its urban ruins.
Dover has a long history as the first entrance to Britain. These days, it is almost posing as an old working class seaside town; fish and chip shops line the high street and the people seem disenchanted with their role as gatekeepers. The centre is small and following the steep road east you can soon discover the castle. Completed in the thirteenth century, it had already by this point served as the first defence against French invaders during the Great Siege of 1216-7.
This site that I visited was the ruins of St James’ Church. This Norman style place of worship was built around the same time as the castle, in the eleventh century, but was severely damaged in the Second World War.
Consequently, despite being a listed structure, it is significantly more accessible than the £28 entrance ticket to Dover Castle.
Further out lies the lighthouse and the hazy, colourful sea.
