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Research for a new experience that opened at Dover Castle this July has led to the discovery of a heavily graffitied door dating to the 1790s, revealing intriguing insights into the thoughts of the soldiers stationed there at that time.
Dover Castle was transformed into a military garrison towards the close of the 18th century, when the threat of Napoleonic invasion was at its peak. Previously an ageing medieval building, the castle gained new barracks and defences, and St John’s Tower – where the door was found – provided a crucial view over the most vulnerable section of the site.
It is thought that one or two guards would have been stationed in this tower at any given time – and that they used moments between eyeing the horizon for an incoming enemy to carve around 50 graffiti into the tower door. Many of the markings are the dates, names, and initials that we might usually expect. The year of the French Revolution (1789) is among the dates, accompanied by two dates that relate to building work on the castle: 1798 and 1855. Two surnames, Downam and Hopper/Hooper, stand out for having been written in full among all the initials, giving a small glimpse into the identities of the guards stationed in the tower.
Some of the graffiti is notably artistic: a detailed and accurate carving of a sailing ship draws the eye, while a carefully carved chalice with an intricate cross may symbolise Holy Communion. More sinister are at least nine depictions of hangings, which could represent some of the executions that are known to have taken place in Dover. However, as one of these images features a man in a bicorne hat, there has naturally been speculation that this could be an imagined execution of Napoleon himself.
Now that the door has undergone conservation work, it is on display as part of Dover Castle Under Siege, a new immersive visitor experience which opens up the northern defences and tunnels of the castle, as well as featuring a brand-new exhibition focusing on the castle’s crucial role in the history of defending England. For more information, visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle.
Text: Rebecca Preedy
