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This image shows a castle door, which was etched with some macabre graffiti by English soldiers during the Napoleonic era. The simple wooden plank door, from the top of a remote tower in Dover Castle, was rediscovered years ago, but its secrets were only revealed during recent restoration work.
More than 50 examples of graffiti were uncovered, nine of which depict public hangings – a common occurrence in Dover at the time. One illustration shows a hanged man wearing a military uniform and bicorne hat, similar to the distinctive headpiece favoured by Napoleon.
The medieval fortress on the Kent coast was transformed into a modern military garrison in the 1790s, when the threat of invasion from revolutionary France was severe. New barracks were built for soldiers, while St John’s Tower, which had a commanding view of the vulnerable northern end of the castle, was repurposed as a watchtower.
It is thought that soldiers, bored on their long stints keeping a lookout for enemy activity, carved the graffiti into the tower’s door with their bayonets and knives. Along with the hanged men, there is a detailed carving of a single-mast sailing ship, most likely an eight-gun cutter, a vessel used by the Navy as well as smugglers and privateers.
Many initials and two surnames – Downam and Hopper (or Hooper) – are also carved on to the door, along with some religious imagery. ‘This graffiti gives a unique glimpse into the minds of these soldiers, especially during such a charged period of time,’ said Paul Pattison, Senior Properties Historian at English Heritage, which owns Dover Castle.
‘What makes this door such an extraordinary object is that it is a rare and precious example of the ordinary person making their mark,’ he added, ‘whether that be simply for the purpose of killing time or wanting to be remembered.’
The door is currently on display as part of Dover Castle Under Siege, a new exhibition housed in the castle’s Northern Defences.
Text: Calum Henderson Image: English Heritage
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