North Centre Detached Bastion

The North Centre and Detached Bastions are located between the Drop Redoubt and the Citadel within the Western Heights fortifications in Dover. Their primary purpose was to strengthen the town’s defences against a potential invasion from the north, particularly along the Folkestone Road. During the early 19th century, this road was considered a likely route for an attack by Napoleon and the French Grand Army, and the bastions were strategically placed to help prevent such an advance.

Construction of the North Centre Bastion began in 1804 as part of the broader Western Heights defensive works. However, progress was slow, and by 1815, when Napoleon was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, the bastion remained incomplete. The project was reviewed again in 1859 by the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, which recommended a major update of Britain’s coastal defences. As a result, work resumed to finish the North Centre Bastion and to construct the new Detached Bastion and its caponier, a covered structure used to provide flanking fire into surrounding ditches.

During the second half of the 19th century, both bastions were fully armed and formed a key part of the Western Heights’ military role. However, like much of the fortification system in Dover, their importance declined rapidly by the early 20th century. The guns were removed around the turn of the century as military strategy and technology evolved. After that, the bastions saw only limited use, mainly serving a minor local defence function during both the First and Second World Wars.

Following the end of the Second World War, the British Army vacated the Western Heights entirely. Since then, the North Centre and Detached Bastions have been left abandoned and unused. Over time, the condition of the site has deteriorated. The defensive ditches surrounding the bastions have become heavily overgrown, and the structures themselves have suffered from significant vandalism. Despite their current state, the bastions remain an important part of Dover’s military heritage and serve as reminders of the town’s long-standing role in defending Britain from invasion.