No. 26 A nim Jiiiist 11

BUCKLAND MILL, DOVER.

From a copy of the original drawing, by courtesy of Messrs Arjo-Wiggins THE DOVER SOCIETY FOUNDED IN 1988 Registered with the L ivic Trust, Affiliatul to the Kent Federation of Amenity Societies Registered Charity No. 299954 PRESIDENT: Brigadier Maurice Atherton

VICE-PRESIDENTS: A. F. Adams, Mrs Silvia Corral, Ivan Green, Jack Ind Peter Johnson, Miss Lilhan Kay, Miss rialomena Kennedy, Peter Marsh The Rt. Hon. The Ijord Rees Jonathan -«oggett, Terry Sutton, Miss Christmo Waterman and M?rUn Wright

THE COMMITTEE C h a i r m a n : Jack Woolford 1066 Green Lane, Temple Ewell, Dover CT16 3AR Tel: 01304 822871

v ,ce-L hairm an. (!): JohnG erra/d 77 Castle Avenue, Dover CT161EZ Tel: 01304 206579 Vice-Chairman (2): Jeremy Cope 53 Park Avenue, Dover CT16 lH D Tel: 211348

H on. Secsf . lRy: _eo Wright "Beechvvood", Green l^ne, Temple Ewell, Cover CT16 3A Tel: 01304 823048

H on. Treasurer. Jennifer ‘- e r r a r d 77 Castle Avenue, Dover CI16 1EZ Tel: 01304 206579

Members Secretly: S.iej,. Cope 53 Park Avenue, Dover CT16 lH D Tel: 01304 211348 Soqa L'EOEIary: Joan Liggett 19 Castle Avenue, Dover CT161HA lei: 01304 214886

E d i t o r : Merril Lilley 5 E a s t Cliff, Dover CT16 1LX Tel. 01304 205254

C iairm an of Planning Sub-Committee: Jerem y Cope 53 Talk Vvenue, D o ei C T 1 6 1 H D Tel: 01304211348

Chairm an cf Projects Suft '.of i je: John Owen 83 C astle avenue, E)over C TI61FZ T e l : 01304 202207

Press Sbcrf-w v '"errv S u t t o n • 17 Bewstxury Cross Lane, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3HB Tel: 01304 820122 Archvist MiKe Sartin 3 Richmond Court, Godwyne Road, Dover CT16 1SJ ’’’el: 01304 205585 A. F. A d a m s , Adrian Galley, Margaret Reason and Svbil Standing w ith Mike McFamell as an Adv isory Member. Contents

2 EDITORIAL 4 EIGHTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Leo Wright 6 ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR 1996 8 PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT Jeremy Cope 9 PROJECTS John Owen 9 Melbourne School Project, Operation Greenstix, Environment Week 12 MEMBERSHIP NEWS Sheila R. Cope 13 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINISHED? Jack Woolford 14 A GRAND DAY OUT - Chatham Dockyard Jean Pearce 15 TOUR OF BUCKLAND MILL Cecily W. Walker 17 REPORT OF THE MARCH MEETING M ay Jo n es 17a Dover's Cruise Terminal

19 SHOPPING LIST for IM PA CT — Members’ Suggestions 20 IM PACT: A SAD FAREWELL Julian Owen 25 K.F.A.S. - THE FUTURE OF EAST KENT Merril Lilley 29 THE GRAND SHAFT Terry Sutton 30 PORT CONTROL John Bartlett 32 THE COASTGUARD STATION AT LANGDON Steve Peters 34 A DAY ASHORE Merril Lilley 35 DEADLINE 36 THE FESTIVAL OF DOVER: Spirit of the Sea Donna Sowerby 38 BRITAIN’S OLDEST PORT Sheila R. Cope 41 REVIEWS: The Tempest Joan Liggett 41 The Leiuers Concert Sheila R. Cope 42 Terry's Triumph Jack Woolford 42 WELCOME TO CALAIS ACCUEIL Jack Woolford 43 EXCAVATIONS AT TOWNWALL STREET Keith Parfitt 44 SAXON OR NORMAN ? Joe Harman 45 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 46 WHITE CLIFFS COUNTRYSIDE PROJECT Melanie Wrigley 48 THE FACTORY SHOPS INQUIRY Terry Sutton 49 DEFENCE OF DOVER CASTLE Arthur Goodburn ( r ------^ The Objectives of the Dover Society Editorial founded in 1988. In every August issue of the Newsletter the • to promote high standards report of the Annual General Meeting takes o f planning and architecture precedence. The ninth AGM of the Dover Society took place on April 22nd this year and is reported • to interest and inform the by Leo Wright, our Secretary, and this report is public in the geography, followed by a financial statement from our history, archeology, natural Treasurer, Jennifer Gerrard. We propose, in history and architecture of future, to include a financial statement in all the area August issues. • to secure the preservation, The work of the Planning Sub-Committee is, protection, development and for the first time, reportedby Jeremy Cope, who improvement of features of has taken over the chairmanship after the historic or public interest resignation of Lawrence Gage. Society members will be aware of the work Lawrence did for the • And commitment to the belief Society, having read his detailed reports in every that a good environment is a issue of the Newsletter since April 1993. As the good investment. current planning report makes plain, it is rare to find a person with Lawrence’s enthusiasm, energy and breadth of vision. That his plans for The area we cover comprises a Millennium project for Dover failed to the parishes or wards of materialise has been a source of great Barton Buckland, Castle, disappointment to all of us. He will be greatly Lydden, Temple Ewell, missed by the committee. Maxton, Pineham, Priory, Ken Wraight has also resigned from the River, ,St. Radigund’s,Town committee, deciding to take a rest after serving & Pier and Tower Hamlets. on it since 1988 (w e hope to see you back, Ken!). His place hasbeen takenby Mike Sartin, who has All Members receive three agreed to take over the job of archivist from Sybil News-letters a year and in Standing, who had problems in storing all the each year the Committee materials after she moved house. Sybil has organises about ten become secretary for the Planning Sub­ interesting events - talks, com m ittee. tours, visits, Members’ At the AGM our chairman, Jack Woolford, Meetings and usually a thanked all the members of the committee for Christmas Feast. their work throughout the year and also all other The Society gives Awards members of the Society who help committee for improvements to the members in various ways. This may be an area, monitors planning opportune moment to invite further help from proposals and supports, joins members. The most recent version of the in or initiates civic projects application form for membership of the Society and arts events. provides a section for new members to volunteer their services under the headings of Social Events, i J) Projects, Clearance Work, Photography, Writing reports, reviews and articles and Survey the main section of this Newsletter. These 3 Work. However members of several years are, after all, our main summer events standing m ay not be aw are o f this. H elp is and I know several members who are welcome in a variety of ways. For instance, never able to attend indoor evening Joan Liggett, our Social Secretary, has a meetings but look forward to joining our small team of helpers on occasions for sum m er outings. T here are m ore to come, food and table preparation at some of our the tour of the Cote D’Opale, 17th July, indoor meetings. John Owen, our Projects and the trip to Kew Gardens, 14th organiser, needs volunteers for several Septem ber. events each year. The Newsletter uses Listing these trips prompts me to end regular writers, proof-readers and the editorial with another message to distributors. If you would like to offer help members. Planning and organising the in any Society activities, please let me social calendar takes a great deal of time. know or contact the appropriate committee Please help Joan Liggett and the Social m em ber. Committee by filling in application forms Another regular feature of the August for trips carefully and legibly and booking Newsletter is a report and reviews of the places in plenty of time in advance. Dover Festival. Thanks to Donna Sowerby One more explanation is needed for her contribution and our regrets that regarding the organisation of small party we did not receive as many reviews as in visits. In Newsletter 25 both the Editorial previous years for what has become a and the Dover Chat page gave details of fortnight of delight in Dover's calendar. these visits and explained how places Thanks to Sheila Cope for her, as ever, would be filled in 1996. T he visits w ere for masterly reviews of Mark Frost’s talk and parties of ten or twelve people and the the museum exhibition. Society has 230 members. As this was a We have included in full Julian Owen’s new venture and there were so few places message to the Dover Society, and indeed - although at this stage there were no to Dover, on the eve of the departure of dates available - it was decided, for this the I m p a c t team to pastures new - in year, to consult members and collect Folkestone. The rewarding, visible records names at the March Meeting. This was of their work in Dover, in Snargate Street done and all three visits ( Port Control, and York Street, at the Grand Shaft, New Coastguard Station, and Swale Barge Trip) Bridge, the Promenade, car parks and were booked, if not over-booked, at this elsewhere, will be a lasting reminder of meeting. We realise this may not be an their stay here. ideal way to collect names for small party We have never before had so many visits and in 1997 we will explore other summer outings and events. In May the methods. As the trips are for small numbers Society hosted the annual day conference of people and the dates often fixed at fairly of the Kent Federation of Amenity short notice, it would not be practical to Societies, attendedby about ninety people, list them on the back cover in the main who heard speeches in St. M ary’s Parish programme of events. Centre in the morning and then proceeded, For members who missed the trips, or after a memorable lunch, to tours of did not read the references to them in Eastern and Western Docks in the Newsletter 25, I hope this will suffice. If afternoon. Also in May, the Society there are to be repeats of these visits in sponsored and organised the Vardon Organ 1997, details will be given in April 1997. Recital, reported here by our chairman. PLEASE READ YOUR NEWSLETTER. In June there were trips to Chatham Best Wishes to all our readers. The next Dock Yard, the Coastguard Station, Port meeting, in the Autumn, will be on 21st Control and Buckland Paper Mill. Reports October, at St. Mary’s Parish Centre. on all these trips and meetings constitute E d it o r

SlPa 1.4 The Eighth Annual General Meeting of the Dover Society on 22 April 1996 at St Mary’s Parish Centre LEO WRIGHT, Hon. Secretary

T h e EVENING o f the Society’s A nnual G eneral M eeting w as, th is year, divided into three parts : the formalities and reporting, which must be legally completed : the presentation of three awards and an illustrated talk on the achievements of Im pa c t , by Julian Owen. With such a full programme the Chairman made every effort to expedite the formalities, including, as he himself expressed it, "avoiding being carried away by his own exuberant verbosity". We shall have to wait until Monday, 21 our relationship with Dover District Coun­ April 1997 before we see the Minutes with cil and Dover Harbour Board, where the the full record of the formal proceedings. agreements strongly exceeded the disagree­ This is just a summary impression. ments. In particular, there has been a re­ The voting (which was unanimous in cent very successful meeting with Officers favour) concerned a change in the consti­ of the Council. Merril’s Newsletter has con­ tution, designed to make room for one tinued to project our image with distinction more member of the Executive Committee and the Peverley Paper, with lavish illustra­ and Mr. Michael Sartin was elected. How­ tions, will shortly be on sale. The produc­ ever, with regret, the Chairman had to tion of these and a whole evening’s slide announce two resignations: Ken Wraight - show with commentary, in January, are a foundation member of the Committee - only part of the far from small contribution and Lawrence Gage. A resignation letter of Budge Adams. Projects continue to make from Ken was read out in which he begged news; membership at 426 is at a record us to think of the future. Every member height; the social programme flourishes, was urged to recruit new members, at least with the addition of some ‘minitrips’. The ten years younger than themselves. Treasurer presented a very satisfactory fi­ Lawrence Gage’s resignation arose from nancial position with her usual firm clarity. a difference of opinion on the Society’s If there is to be a last quote in this very best strategy for improving Dover’s pros­ brief summary it must be the Chairman’s pects. The Chairman paid tribute to Law­ proclamation that : "Dover must have a rence’s invaluable contribution to the Soci­ major millennium project : what world- ety, his professional expertise and tireless famed place has a better claim?” and fearless pursuit of both the smallest The formalities completed, the members and largest issues. The Committee will proceeded to make three more Awards for address his replacement as Chairman of 1996 - the first to Arjo Wiggins, havingbeen the Planning sub-Committee at its next made at the Christmas Feast. In the words meeting. of Lawrence Gage: “So many awards in one The Chairman paid tribute to the Com­ year must surely mean that some very good mittee members and indeed the many things are happening in Dover, despite the members who had done so much to con­ gloom and doom that some would have us tribute to a successful year. He outlined believe”. The presentations were made by our The award was for the up-grading of a 5 President, Brigadier Maurice Atherton. The portion of Dover Seafront with particular first was to the Sanctuary Housing Asso­ approval for the high quality materials ciation for the renovation of listed build­ and detailing, the imaginative and elegant ings formerly the Royal Victoria Hospital, design of shelters and for jointly sponsor­ Dover. This combined socially valuable ing the Public Art Competition resulting in provision of housing for the homeless, Ray Smith’s 'On the Crest of a Wave.’ The inventive internal planning to provide good new scheme will provide a fine environ­ accommodation and quality restoration ment for cruise-liner passengers as they work to the exterior of the building. This set foot on Dover soil and we look forward project is a model of how best to take full to the possible upgrading of the remainder advantage of a redundant yet well-loved of the Seafront. building, which will continue to provide a With the Awards completed, we heard valuable service. after the interval, from Julian Owen about Michael Evans, the Architect of this the achievements of I m p a c t in Dover. project, on receiving the certificate, ex­ The basic facts which faced them plained the constraints - environmental, are: that Dover is a long valley town, that architectural and financial which govern the A20 cuts a swathe through the town such projects. This one had entailed four and that there remains the need for more and a half year's work. He added that developm ent, notably in the St. Jam es's Dover has a number of other buildings area. I m p a c t focused on the approaches which would benefit from similar treat­ to the town, on improving the links ment but that, unless there is a change of between various parts of the town and heart and finance from above, there will encouraging and supporting building be no more such projects. improvements. The second award was to I m p a c t for the The talk was fully illustrated by a rejuvenation and general upgrading of superb collection of slides - one and a Snargate Street, Dover. We had consid­ half carousels of them. Many showed ered giving a general award to cover all the "before and after" appearance of indi­ their many different projects but decided vidual projects. Others showed some of it would be most appropriate to make an the all-important employment generated award for a specific project that best repre­ by I m p a c t . sented their work. The project had re­ Most important now for the Dover quired close co-operation with the ow ners Society is what remains to be done and and users of buildings in the street and we were shown some of the eye-sores and the end result shows imaginative and bold areas that could be improved. use of colours and high quality materials I m p a c t will be departing for Folke­ and detailing. The scheme has made an stone before the end of the year but we enormous difference to the important shall not be left bereft because the Town initial impression one has when entering Centre Management Committee has the town from the A20. Julian Owen, been formed with Terry Sutton, a Vice­ responding on behalf of the I m p a c t team President of the Dover Society, as expressed pleasure and appreciation at Chairman. So, with the T.C.M. Committee the excellent co-operative relationship and the Dover Society, Dover virtually has which had existed between I m p a c t and a Syndicat d'lnidative for the future. the Dover Society, such as had not always A.G.M.s as such, whether at Lloyds existed in their other locations. of London, The Channel Tunnel or the The third award was to the Dover Dover Society, are not the most popular Harbour Board, in this particular case in occasions but this evening was a warm­ association with I m p a c t , and it was hearted occasion and very well attended. received by Jonathan Sloggett, Managing The conversation during the interval Director of the Harbour Board. seemed even more animated than usual. <> 6 THE DOVER SOCIETY

(Registered Charity No, 299954)

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 1996

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

NOTE i-THE CONCERT FUND The fund is the surpluses arising from the Primavera Concerts promoted by the Society. This amount was held to assist any future cultural events that may be held in the Town whether promoted by the Society or any other o f the Town's organisations. During the year the balance o f £50.06 was donated to concerts organised by St Mary's Church, Dover.

NOTE 2-PROJECT FUND The Fund arises from grants and awards made in respcct of the Society's projects less costs incurred thereon. The principal projects involving these funds have been the planting o f Lousyberry Wood and restoring Lyddcn Pond. Fund movements for the year Balance at the 1st April 1995 445.55 Income - Dover Hoteliers and Guest House Group 50.00

Sundry expenses 79.12

Balance at 31st March 1996 ______£416.43

NOTE 3-PEVERLEY PUBLICATION The Society will be publishing John Pevcrley's account of the Western Heights fortifications. Grants have been received from Eurotunnel, Pfizer, National Westminster Bank, Hammonds and David Shaw MP. The order has been placed for printing the publication.

Grants in hand at 1st April 1995 1,354.00 Grants received during the year ______0.00 Grants in hand 31st March 1996 ______£1.354.00

N L 26 ACCOUNTS of the DOVER SOCIETY for the YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 1996

BALANCE SI!KET INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT AS AT 31ST MARCH 1996 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 1996 122S 1995 1996 1995

CURRENT ASSETS Subscriptions 1,412.00 1,308.00 Society badges 112.76 Donations Received 72.50 1,484.50 32.50 1,340.50 Building Society Account 6198.04 6075.98 Bank Current Account 737.34 529.40 Christmas Gathering 0.05 (112.97) Cash in hand 65.02 135.11 Wine & Wisdom 77.88 28.50 7,113.16 6,740.49 Goodwin Sands 15.86 19.08 CURRENT LIABILITIES Rochester 65.00 Dover Archive Rescue 0.00 500.00 Greenwich 117.30 Monies received for Society badges 0.00 109.00 Arras 40.86 Subscriptions in advance 114.00 94.00 Museum Evening 71.42 105.35 £6,999.16 £6,037.49 Faversham (5.00) Tunbridge Wells 74.00 M ontrcuil 516.50 Represented by:- Guided Walks in Dover 10.00 398.37 10.65 636.11 MEMBERS AND MEETINGS General Fund 5,228.73 4,187.88 AGM and Members meetings (170.38) (110.25) Concert Fund N ote 1 0.00 50.06 External Meetings (55.00) (225.38) (28.00) (138.25) Projects Fund (Tree Account) N ote 2: 416.43 445.55 Peverley Publication N ote 3i 1.354.00 1,354.00 Net Surplus (deGcit) 44.39 44.39 (72.74) (72.74) £6,999.16 £6,037.49 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS Photocopying (298.47) (271.53) Millennium Project (62.35) (296.95) Postage and Telephone (132.52) (154.07) Jennifer Gerrard. Treasurer Affiliation fees and Insurance (215.00) (185.00) Committee Room Hire (110.00) (818.34) (110.00) (1,017.55)

Dover Archive Rescuc (500.00) We have examined the above Balance Sheet and attatchcd Income Special Presentation (30.00) and Expenditure Account and certify that they are ii^accordance Building Society and other interest received 257.31 292.24 with the books and records supplied to us. Donations Made (70.00) 157.31 (80.001 (287.76) SP, SURPLUS for the year 1,040.85 460.31 Charten SURPLUS brought forward 4.187.88 3.727.57 5 St James's Street, SURPLUS carried forward £5,228.73 £4,187.88 Dover, Kent. I g ^ - r NOTE: On the Income and Expenditure account only, bracketed ( ) items are debits or net costs, unbracketed items are credits or net income 8

The work of the PLANNING Sub-Committee

Reported by JEREMY COPE, Chairman

S o c ie t y m e m b e r s will no doubt be aware are concerned that more out-of-town shop­ that Lawrence Gage has resigned as ping can only harm the town centre. We Chairman of this sub-Committee. I must cited the Harbour Board's proposal for first pay tribute to the work Lawrence factory shops at the W estern Docks as the did both for the Society and for Dover. sort of development that would help the Not only does he possess considerable town rather than cause further damage technical ability as a professional archi­ likely with a White Cliffs Business Park tect but he has imagination. As Planning location. One has only to think of the Chairman he was the visionary force effect of the out-of-town Tescos. behind the Dover Millennium bids realis­ ing how the special nature of our Town AMUSEMENT ARCADES could be capitalised in celebrating the We objected to the proposals to set up year 2000. We may well come to regret another arcade in Bench Street. We have that the bids came to nothing and that enough already and it will do little for somehow Dover was unable to bring a Dover’s image in such a prominent posi­ scheme to a successful conclusion. It is tion. If permission is given then we have unfortunate that at the present time local asked that the external appearance is such government’s power to promote any such that there will be little offence to the bid is so circumscribed by a lack of cash public's sensibilities. and must have been a significant part of Dover’s failure. St. JAMES'S STREET AREA Lawrence also brought his skill to We welcome the fact that the plan for bear on a whole range of planning matters the development of this area is now to go other than the millennium bids and ahead. It is a fifteen to twenty year project t will be difficult for us to make up for and the only pity is that the Council is this loss. obliged to take such a long term approach. The matters noted by Lawrence in his We will remind DDC that as soon as cash last report still remain on the committee's becomes available then would they please "matters tobe monitored” list. Other items demolish the derelict garage building and subsequently dealt with are as follows:- plant trees, flowers and shrubs to make FACTORY SHOPS the best of Dover’s frontage. Although no one was able to attend the The committee hears very little from mem­ public enquiry a written submission was bers of the Society of their concerns and made. Our attitude is not of opposition to ideas. I f there is anything on the town's factory shops but to the proposed loca­ amenities that you think we should take up, tion. We support the District Council and please write to me at 53 Park Avenue, Dover. PROJECTS s U pdate JOHN OWEN, Chairman, Projects sub-Committee j i ------^ MELBOURNE SCHOOL PROJECT FEBRUARY 1996 .A sk e d b y District Council officer Penny Graham to help with the re-design of the children’s play area and some tree planting, the Dover Society was happy to respond. A site m eeting of Mr Nick Cox (District Council), Miss Tappenden (Melbourne School) and me (knowledgably aided by my wife Ann), was held on 12 February. The site has a westerly aspect and is on exposed ground falling to scrub at the school boundary. The soil is poor. To produce as soon as possible some shade and shelter with educational inter­ est in close proximity to the hard standing Melbourne School children helped with theirtree planring play area Mr Cox suggested suitable spe­ by the Dover Society and DDC officer Mr Nick Cox. cies planted in containers flanking the On 16 February there followed a tree existing short wall. He was happy to sup­ planting session (trees by DDC) in which ply an appropriate list. Containers re­ the children turned out in force to partici­ quire compost, the cost of which needs to pate. MrN. Coulson, AactingHeadteacher, be taken into account. Ongoing manage­ thanked all involved and said how good it ment would need to be thought through. was that the children should take an ac­ An alternative would be to plant tive role in looking after their environ­ directly into the ground to form a hedge­ ment. Miss Tappenden (class teacher) like feature concentrating resources on said “It’s good to see the children doing trees and shrubs. something practical and useful". A happy tree planting group at Melbourne School, Dover

Centre: Mr NickCox.(DDC) Above: Miss Tappenden (teacher) Right: M r C o u ls o n (Acting Head) Project Officer (Dover Society) M r B a rr (Buckland Paper Mill) 10 OPERATION 6REENSTIX 96 — MARCH 1996

T h is year Dover Cadets carried out a no film in the camera! 'It can happen to photographic survey of the town centre anyone, kind people tell me! trees which made a pleasant change from The selection of photos taken well the usual litter collection and graffiti depicted the rich variety of trees to be removal projects which were organised found in our town centre from Townwall by the Dover Society in partnership with Street to Charlton Green and well merits Dover District Council. our closer attention as we rush by on our daily round. Certainly the young participants got a great deal out of the expe­ rience with Instructor Rhian Roberts giving them a helping hand. Armed with reference books the sea cadets adopted a very profes­ sional approach and it was right and proper that one of their two teams, com­ prising Daren Frank, Chris Quint, Jay Hare and Nicholas Corlett should WINNERS: THE SEA CADET TEAM RECEIVING THE TROPHY FROM THE carry off the inscribed DUTY MANAGER, MCDONALD’S, DOVER, MALCOLM McALLUM glass trophy. CCF Dover We had a bright sunny Sunday morn­ Grammar School, the runners-up, re­ ing in which to operate and a fine selec­ ceived a Dover Society shield. tion of tree photographs were shot, the We thank Zoom Photos of Cannon Sea Cadet team led by Petty Officer Sarah Street and White Cliff Dover Hotel & Butler winning the trophy which was Guesthouse Group who also sponsored presented by McDonald's manager who this environmental project. sponsored the cadets by providing re­ freshments on completion. RUNNERS-UP: DOVER GRAMMAR SCHOOL RECEIVES THE DOVER SOCIETY CUP The project carried out on behalf of the District Council required the cadet teams to photograph designated species accord­ ing to an annotated map provided. Disposable cameras w ere used producing som e excellent tree profile shots. Happily 'shooting' cadets with my standard camera for the record imagine my alarm when at the end of it all I discovered there was BT/CIVIC TRUST ENVIRONMENTAL WEEK TheBlighted Shop Project

M-EMBERS w ill recall that some five years ago the Society dressed the windows of‘Dickens Corner' in the Market Square as its contribution towards the reduction of empty shop 'eysores' throughout the town: we like to think that the success of that project assisted in the return of the property to active business. The intention was to do something for the appear­ ance of Dover Town Centre, to give support to the BT/Civic Trust Envi­ ronment Week, to the D o v e r F e s t iv a l (27 May-7 June) and to interest our seasonal visitors. The premises became available in March and rather than wait for the planned start we formed a small group of members and set about cleaning up The official opening: JOE HARMAN, JACK WOOLFORD, Chairman, JOHN OWEN of the tbe shop Happily we had Dover Society with Sea Cadets ANN HERRING and JASON WAKEFIELD w i ^ d is p ] a y The problem of empty shops is still up and running by Good Friday and the with us and we all have our pet ‘eyesores’. Easter weekend. In co-operation with the District Council At an early stage in our efforts an old the Society has tried to address what is a lady, arriving breathless at the shop, ex- far from simple problem. For success the pressed great disappointment. Following acquisition of just one property to ‘do up’ the habit of many a year she had come to requires a number of factors to come buy herself some new shoes, together at one and the same time. The ‘Spirit of the Sea’ features a flag Walters’ formershoe shop in King Street hoist of‘The DoverFestival’backgrounded (off the Market Square) became available with the White Cliffs simulation ( + masts!) through the excellent co-operation of set in a sea of information pamphlets, Dover District Council, Tersons, Walters Admiralty charts, seaweed, starfish, crabs & Sons of Folkestone and Deal and the and shells, nets and floats and ropes and Dover Society. Together we were able to a bollard. Sea orientated posters cover make this one happen. the background walls. The display was officially opened on Thank you to those stalwart volunteers the first day of Environment Week by who regularly turn out to keep the shop Dover Society Chairman, Mr Jack Wool- entrance reasonably clean. ford, standing in for the new Town In achieving our objective it is pleasing Mayor, Cllr. Lyn Young. The local press to have been able to provide an additional published our photo but cut out the publicity outlet for local events. o all-important Sea Cadets (column Senior Cadets JASON WAKEFIELD and ANN HERRING of restraints, no doubt!) essential to TS Lynx, Dover SCC the'Spirit of the Sea’ theme. Additionally we have to thank Lieutenant D. Kemp, RNVR(SCC) commandingofficer, Dover Sea Cadets, for the smart appearance of the cadets at the official open­ ing, HMS Victory, the Mary Rose, RN M useum , HMS W arrior, all of Portsmouth; Dover Museum, Tourism Dept., DDC and to Messrs Sharp & Enright, ships’ chandlers, for their consid­ erable help. Overheard whilst window dressing: ‘Are they real, Mummie?’ (starfish), 'They built proper ships in those days’, 'Cor, look at that bottle of rum - that’s the spirit’, and ‘Work out the signal and you’re inboard!’. Many complimentary messages havebeen received and the Society is pleased that in some small way it has contributed to the improve­ ment of the local environment and provided a focus of interest.

Membership News — SHEILA R. COPE

M any thanks to the majority of members we need. Is anyone willing to take on the who paid their subscriptions on time, responsibility for the raffle? thus saving the Society the cost of a letter or a Thanks are also due to those who have phone call. 1 do realise that a more prominent introduced new members - twenty-six since reminder in the Newsletter at renewal time the last Newsletter. They are:- would be useful. Unless specially requested Mr &" Mrs P. Wyborn-Brown, Major & Mrs cheques are not acknowledged. The Commit­ Cheesman, Mr R. Livingstone, Mrs M. W. Jones, tee also appreciates the completion of the Mr &" Mrs J. Gilbey, Mrs I. Wright, Mrs P. Gay, lower part of the membership form. We do Mr P. Jackson, Miss D. Green, Miss G. Parkin, take note of the skills of our members and if, Mr P. Chambers, Mr R. Frisby, Capt. & Mrs for example, you have offered to write articles, Bodiam, Mr & Mrs J. Sykes, Mr M. Webster, then you will probably be asked to do so! Mr. P. Bennett, Mrs W. Coffey, Mrs A Whittle, Active participation by many people is what Mr& Mrs B. Shephard, Mr D. Brooks-Laurent. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINISHED (?) ------JACK WOOLFORD ------

D espite o u r g o o d adv ice to Mr Gummer, to maintain the whole of the County of Kent as an integrated peninsula according to the wishes of its people, he has decided to accept the recommendation of the “new" Local Government Commission that Gillingham-Rochester (but not Dartford-Gravesend)) should be separated out from the County and become a unitary authority. This w hat the "STOP PRESS” in our April to support unitary status is perhaps already Newsletter 25 forecast, although I was mis­ having an effect on current “County’ projects, taken in guessing that the removal of pres­ for I cannot imagine that the County Council sure for decision on a government in will initiate new projects in an area for which difficulties would necessarily mean delay. it soon will not be responsible... Thus it would Consequently Rochester-Upon-Medway seem unlikely that Chatham will gain a new City Council and Gillingham Borough library or Strood a new northern bypass ..." Council will be abolished and their The future of Local Government will functions and those of the County Council continue to be interesting and important, if in those areas transferred to the new (as not actually exciting. Political activity in yet unnamed) authority in 1998 after North West Kent has still not ceased: but elections in 1997. Meanwhile transitional even assuming that this is the end of a arrangements for services and staff will sordid story, a new government may alter consume more time and money, and, as the rules. Contrariwise the new non-Kent­ the President of our fraternal CITY OF ish Unitary Authority (as yet unnamed: ROCHESTER SOCIETY observes in its Dickensia, "Medwavia"?) may show us how May Newsletter: much better to do it. The implications for ".. Henceforth our elected members will no Dover are endless. Watch this column! longer be able to blame Maidstone for any In the meanwhile, we should pay close shortcomings, real or imagined, andwillhave attention to the new Dover Town (Parish) to stand by their own decisions. Their decision Council - and attend its meetings.

Saturday and Sunday TILMANSTONE 3 - 4 August 1996 Tilmanstone Villaae Photographs Hall '' Saturday: Open 11 am - 6 pm and History Sunday: OpenlOam-4pm ADMISSION: Adults 25P EXHIBITION Children 10P REFRESHMENTS CHATHAM DOCKYARD: A GRAND DAY OUT ------JEAN PEARCE O n Saturday 1 st June members of the Dover Society set off on a pleasant warm day for Chatham Dockyard. The coach, its passengers chatting in antici­ Georgian church. It now has a rather sad pation of an interesting time, deposited us air, like a well brought-up lady left waiting just in time for morning coffee at the Wheel­ at a Regency ball and not knowing quite wrights Restaurant. We browsed over maps what she should do. and brochures - eighty acres to walk over The Commissioner’s house has a much and so many things to see. Where do we more inviting air when viewed from the begin! Having newly arrived we decided to front. The walled garden at the rear isbeing follow in the footsteps of William Crockwell. restored and interested the many visitors On the 4th of November in 1758 William, walking around. It is a peaceful place, full then fifteen years of age, presented of plants, birds and insects and an ice­ himself at the gates of Chatham Dockyard house. to begin his apprenticeship. We followed Next came something more serious - the him around the Wooden Walls Gallery and Ordnance Gallery which contained guns of learned of his many skills, from the choice various types and ages used on ships; some of timber to the rigging of the sails that were captured from other countries and many needed to produce a ship of the line. with splendid decorations on their barrels. William’s diary, realistically brought Several cases held models of guns and to life by the exhibits, talking heads, mortars. smells and lighting, told us of the long The exhibition, with its stories of arti­ hours, great skill and hard work he facts recovered from the warshipInvincvible, experienced. which was wrecked in 1758, made the peo­ Where to now? The story of the RNLI was ple who had sailed on her very real to us. housed nearby. Real lifeboats that had been The life histories of various other craftbuilt used throughout the years were on display. at the yard made interesting stories, too. All were there, from the self-righting craft Time for a cuppa and a short break. But, of today back to the open rowing boats of woe! We have run out of time! We left by many years ago. The horse pulling a boat way of the shop (which is usual) noticing a onto the shingle was so realistic that we good selection of books for young and not almost offered it our lunch-time apple! so young naval enthusiasts. Lunch outdoors and a time to refresh On our journey home we thought of ourselves, after which we strolled beside Drake, Henry VIII, Pepys, Nelson and the Medway which brought us to the large especially our friend William Crockwell.

BINDERS for the Newsletter More than eight months ago members were offered the opportunity of ordering a further Binder to preserve their Newsletters. Since then only four members have made a reserva­ tion. We cannot order less than 100 items and by now the binders held, especially those who have been members for a long time must have binders that are full or overflowing. If and when we receive sufficient requests we will order from the suppliers. Cost will be only marginally above the original one, round about £3.00 -£3.20. Drop a note in to Budge Adams at 24 Castle Avenue or phine 208008. ARJO-WIGGINS’ HIGH-TECH ENTERPRISE AT DOVER

A ft EYE-OPENING CECILY W. WALKER Tour of Buckland Mill

I t w a s a f i n e and comfortably warm valley. Paper was made by hand until 1814, evening when twenty two members when Buckland Mill burnt down. By the signed in at the mill office, collected their time it was rebuilt there were advances in visitors’ passes and were directed through paper-making. A new machine had been a well-kept garden to the elegant Buckland invented which produced a continuous House, built in 1823 by the mill owner, sheet of paper of indefinite length and the Thomas Horne. first machine of this kind was installed in On arrival we were offered coffee and Buckland in 1830. The mill changed hands biscuits and given a warm welcome by the several times until in 1888 it was sold to Technological Services Manager, Mr. Keith Wiggins Teape Co. Ltd., from which time Barr, who briefly described the history of there was steady expansion until the the mill, as outlined in a company leaflet present day. The mill was enlarged, mod­ which was available for visitors. ernised and com pletely electrifiedby 1936. In the eighteenth century Buckland was War damage forced the mill to close until one of several small mills in the Dover 1945. Since then the dem and for more exacting and sophisticated specifications a man on duty, while the central computer led to necessary new buildings and ex­ unit is manned constantly by three opera­ pansion to keep pace with the changing tors. Everywhere we went we were aware of modern market. flashing lights and numbers recording every In 1992 Wiggins Teape amalgamated detail of the work in the different areas with Arjo Marie, based in Southern France, through which we passed. to become Arjo-Wiggins. The British side of Operations at the mill are governed by the joint enterprise consists of three mills, the criteria of efficiency, safety, non­ at Buckland in Dover, Ivybridge in Devon pollution of the environment and the and Aberdeen in Scotland. highest technological standards. All the Buckland Mill has a specialised produc­ water used in the pulpers is treated and tion, making four colours of Conqueror recycled; electricity generated in the CHP notepaper and fine art papers. It also has plant does not cause air pollution; up-to- storage facilities for all export orders to date machinery is used throughout. There Europe, which are loaded here and driven was so m uch to see and learn. We were to their destinations via Eastern Docks or impressed by the high safety standards. the Channel Tunnel. There were handrails on all staircases and We set off to view the mill buildings in instructions to use them. Earstops were four groups, led by Mr. Barr, Mr. Len provided in noisy areas. The drying Southwood, Mr. John Smith and Mr. Andrew machines were fenced and within glass Dibley. The tour began by walls, the process visible but safe. climbing a long metal staircase into the mill One of the most satisfying sights at the to see the first process of paper- end of the whole process was to watch making, the” pulpers”, large vats containing pristine, even-sized stacks of paper being a warm, bubbly, whitish mixture of chalk, automatically wrapped in coloured paper, eucalyptus pulp and cotton linter. glued and stuck down as though by some We were surprised to learn that the paper giant hand, then stacked on pallets for stor­ today is made of mainly eucalyptus pulp age. from Brazil, Portugal or Spain and not, as Finally, most of the party accepted the formerly, from Swedish softwood. The small invitation to see the latest acquisition of the proportion of cotton linters required are company, the Combined Heat and Power brought in. Once 200 women were em­ Plant, com missioned in 1994, financed ployed just to sort rags on the premises. jointly by Scottish Hydro and Arjo Wiggins We proceeded through each stage of the Fine Papers. This involved a change from paper-making process, beside impressive coal to natural gas, a more “environmen- machines with their huge rollers spewing tally-friendly” fuel, to power steam turbines out yards of wet-looking, off-white sheets, to generate electricity, making the mill self­ others cutting, measuring, trimming and sufficient in energy once again. Almost half much else - all in a relentless, efficient the electricity made is surplus to require­ manner. ments and is supplied to Dover Harbour We were fascinated by all we saw and Board via underground cable. heard and appreciated the patience of our We must take this opportunity to guides when we bombarded them with ques­ express our thanks to our guides and our tions. We learned that the mill appreciation of the friendly attitude employs about 230 workers and operates of all the staff we met on this most twenty four hours a day, with the men informative tour. o working in five teams on twelve hour shifts, the machines stop only for one week EDITOR'S NOTE at Christmas time. All operations are London Road and Crabble Hill can be seen in the controlled by computers, which are based heading picture of this article, running bottom strategically throughout the mill at key left to top right. At bottom right can be seen part points, each one under the watchful eye of of the site of the recent Saxon grave finds. Report of the March Meeting The meeting on March 25th followed the same pattern as that of the last two years, with an address by a visiting speaker in the first half of the evening and a group session for members in the second half The speaker this year was John Turgoose of Dover Harbour Board, describing the development of the new cruise terminal. In the discussion groups which followed the main subject discussed was a “ shopping list' for Dover, after the departure o f the IMPACT team this summer. Members also, as usual, suggested ideas for future trips and meetings. This exercise is always an invaluable help to the social planning committee. There follows a list of the ideas submitted by members for the IMPACT ‘shopping list1' and an account of the talk by John Turgoose, contributed by May Jones.

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Dover's Cruise Terminal- MAY JONES

A s soon as I saw a superb colour slide Obviously a special cruise liner terminal appear on the screen I knew we were going was essential. The Harbour Board had two to enjoy John Turgoose’s talk. The slide options; the expensive creation of land in showed a wonderful aerial shot of the Port the relatively deep water of the harbour or of Dover from the south-west, taken under the use of an existing area. They were perfect conditions, with the water a deep fortunate in owning the freehold of the blue-green and the cliffs at their whitest. It Dover Marine Station land, but the building suggested an attractive location of a non­ was listed and much work was necessary, industrial port, which, together with Vera as it was in poor condition when it was Lynn’s wartime success with a popular handed back in 1995. The first report was song, endears the port to its main cruise unfavourable, but a local architect, Trevor customers, the Americans. There are few Gibbens,appreciated the potential of the other ports in the world to match this setting site and he proceeded with plans for the and these factors have given it a marketing development. The Harbour Board obtained advantage since 1993, when cruise liners the blessing of English Heritage and the again began to use Dover as a Port of Call. Secretary of State for the Environment. The speaker described the development The plan could go ahead. of the Cruise Terminal and the Harbour The Marine Station was built on one of Board’slatest services, illustrating hispoints the first pieces of harbour reclamation, throughout with excellent views of the port. begun on October 30th 1909, with granite With the demise of thejetfoil and the train setts laid to form a wall around the area, to ferry, the cruise liner activity had proved a be infilled with chalk. By September 21st, sound replacement. Cruise companies were 1913, the railway lines were laid, the steel first approached in 1990 and by the sum ­ frames of the great station building were mer of 1994 both the Statendam and the in place, ready for the coming of the South Vistafjord had made Dover a port of call. Eastern and Chatham Railway (later Berthing place at Eastern Docks was at a the Southern Railway). One photograph premium however and shipping movement showed the Golden Arrow in 1936, with had to be very speedy. On one day last year its William Shakespeare engine. the Black Prince sailed at 6pm, a banana The station originally occupied three and boat docked at 8pm, was cleared during the a half acres but only a quarter of that was night and the berth was ready for the next needed for the cruise terminal. The build­ arrival the following morning. ings at the southern end, additions to the original, were demolished and some brick­ work was removed to expose the steel frame Southampton is nearer to Heathrow, Dover which needed repair. The visible painted has easy access to Gatwick Airport via the sections were shot blasted to clean and M20 and to routes on the eastern side of the repair them and the red, white and blue country via the M25 Thames crossing. Every paint removed and replaced by the former cruise line had been visited by the cruise fawns and browns. A mezzanine floor was team and these advantages made clear. created for the passenger lounge, with a A local Cruise Welcome Group has been tinted glass roof. Display panels were set up to explore ways of coping with the erected in front of the boundary division. increased num ber of visitors to the town on Baggage handling is now at ground level a day when a cruise liner is calling, with and the rest of the building provides cov­ sometim es up to 1200 passengers. The ered car parking, with the railway lines “ground-handlers” needed to know what buried (as required by English Heritage). coach tours have been arranged and to have Outside a paved area provides parking for details of local attractions. Many tours are coaches and a canopy protects passengers pre-booked ahead from the ship, with Lon­ entering the building. The elegant War don being a popular choice, especially for Memorial to employees of the Southern Americans. Canterbury attracts many more. Railway, retained as a feature of the termi­ Dover Castle is one of the most popular nal, can be viewed to advantage from the places to visit but can accommodate only departure lounge. 700 people at a time, Canterbury Cathedral Dredging has made it possible to extend perhaps 1000. What happens when there the quay space for the largest cruise liners. are two large liners in port at the same time? Mr. T urgoose listed some of the ships which Everything has to be fitted in to a 12 hour are expected in Dover this year. The Black stay, normally from 7am to 7pm. Only Rus­ Prince, of Fred Olsen Lines, will be joined sian ships stay longer, for about 36 hours. later in the year by the Black Watch. For Many passengers, perhaps a quarter or a these Dover will be the home port and they third of them, like to make their have the greatest number of calls, 30 in this own arrangements, using local taxis or year. Costa Line of Genoa will also use buses or walking to local attractions. This is Dover as a home port for some of its ships, expected to grow. the Costa Allegra and the Costa Marina, While passengers are ashore, food and running regular cruises to the Norwegian water supplies have to be taken aboard. fjords, the Baltic and St. Petersburg. The Local companies ( though not individual Norwegian Crown, with 1200 passengers, shops) provide a great deal of the fresh was due to call on 4th May, and eight more produce, but milk comes from the Nether­ times this year. The largest vessel expected lands. Water is delivered, via the new main in 1996, the Royal Princess, with 1300 laid through the town, at the rate of 200 passengers, would call nine times and the tonnes per hour. Island Princess twice. Norwegian Lines Local traders, said Mr. Turgoose, must would make 21 calls altogether and Prin­ market themselves and encourage visitors cess Lines 11 s. Cunard’s Royal Viking Sun, into the town itself. Often the ship’s crews with the best rating in the world, was due to are the best customers. Living, as many of call three times. them do, on board for six to nine months, Mr. Turgoose spoke of some of the advan­ they want to buy basic needs like station­ tages which may have disposed cruise com­ ery, toiletries and electrical goods. The larg­ panies in favour of Dover. In an expanding est known purchase to date has been a industry, Dover was as yet little known, washing machine! but, in its favour, the terminal was ready for “Tourism alone”, said our speaker, “Can­ use, whereas some other ports, such as not solve all Dover’s unemployment prob­ Genoa, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and lems. New firms and factories are needed, Greenwich, were still building and their then with greater employment improved facilities were not complete. Although shopping facilities will follow”. For local people there will be no access Pier pro vides an ideal vantagepoint to watch to the terminal when a vessel is in dock. the liners arrive and depart. There is a “meet and greet” area where Note: A list of cruise ships with the dates of people can contact friends among the their visits is posted at the entrance to the passengers At any time the Prince of Wales Prince of Wales Pier. o cxDcxxJCocDCoaxxoocDooooccxsxxxxocxxxxcx^oaxxoDcocxMocoocxxocra^^ Shopping List for I m p a c t Suggestions made by Dover Society members at the Meeting on 25 March Areas still in need of attention 1 London Rd./High St. and environs. Cherry Tree Ave. area. Beaconsfield Road. One suggestion was that empty shops could be converted to residential use. 2 Remainder of the Sea Front. 3 Riverside Walk still needs further work. Steps/bowling green area. 4 Many pavements in need of attention, e.g. East Cliff and London Road. Restoration/Conservation/Upkeep 1 Poster boards at York Street roundabout to go. 2 The Painted House needs a facelift. 3 Restore the fountains in the Sea Front area. 4 Flower beds near Law Courts. 5 Rosebed at the rear of St. Mary’s Church. 6 B. & Q.'s river frontage. 7 Bollards to prevent parking outside Proteus House. 8 Remove advertisements on Kwiksave building. 9 Friday Market site needs attention (now abandoned??) 10 Woolcomber Street/Townwall Street junction. 11 Generally more attention to cleanliness and litter clearance everywhere. Could the Council keep the fronts of empty shops swept clean? Could shop owners be asked to keep their pavements clean and shop fronts smart? (Council/Chamber of Commerce?) Ideas for new projects. 1 Red/Yellow/Green footprints to places of interest. 2 Better access to Castle - bus or lift 3 Car park for Connaught Park. 4 Big signpost and big m ap in the M arket Square. 5 Dog litterbins. 6 Regular bus service to Castle and Connaught Park, starting at Market Square. Pipe Dreams 1 Persuade Woolworths to return. 2 Persuade market traders to return to the Market Square. 3 Demolish Burlington House. 4 Demolish 1950s properties in the Market Square and create a Millennium Square enhancing the White Cliffs Experience o IMPACT A Sad ACTION IN LOCAL IMPROVEMENT Farewell A FINAL REPORT from JULIAN OWEN

Th e Im pact team has not fled the toum boundaries and may not vacate the Castle Street premises until September. They are looking ahead to an exciting new programme in Folkestone, but there is still a lot happening in Dover and some finishing touches to apply. Meanwhile, after Julian Owen had addressed the AGM of the Dover Society in April, I asked him to suggest his 'shopping list’ for Dover. Here he elaborates on some of the points he made in his April talk and contributes some of his own views on the future of the town. Sadly, this is the last Im pac t report for the Newsletter and thus an opportunity to thank Julian and his team for their work in Dover. We shall miss them. E d ito r. MAKING THE TOWN WORK Your Society has been very kind to the longer view, but be ready to lobby for con­ Impact team, making our short stay in tinued improvements of the town. Dover a pleasant one, not least with the I think we need to look beyond a simple unexpected presentation at the AGM of an "shopping list” of one-off schemes, and iden­ Award for our work in Snargate St. and the tify areas where change might be encour­ Grand Shaft. We were very pleased to be aged, or needs to be responded to, as well as associated with the Sea Front and Royal areas where special conservation meas­ Victoria Hospital projects, which also re­ ures are urgently required. For example, ceived Awards. Those of you who patiently one of the key challenges we faced, coming endured the talk and slide show at the AGM to Dover when we did, was to try to respond will remember that I talked about some of to the major change in the whole structure the areas that still need attention, as part of the town brought about by the construc­ of a continuous commitment to conserve tion of the A20. and develop Dover’s precious assets - but Essential though it was to the town’s with a “health warning” that these were my future, the new road presented a whole own personal comments. fresh set of challenges, not just in appear­ In talking about some of the things ance, as Dover’s new “front door”, buy also that Impact set out to do in Doverand Deal, in how to achieve the regeneration of the and the reasons why we chose them, I Western Docks and Seafront not as a sepa­ emphasised the priority for projects which rate area but very much as part of the town. affected the way the town works as well as Integrating the redevelopment of the the way it looks. Towns are alive, they need Russell Street area with the town centre is constantly to change and adapt, respond­ also very clearly an important issue, as are ing both to opportunities and a need for the longer term challenges faced in the continuity. Charlton Centre area. I would like to think Bearing in mind that there are no imme­ that the continued activity in Town Centre diate plans or budgets for continued envi­ Management will go no further than the ronmental improvement, and even the day-to-day issues and help bring about the Conservation Area Partnership scheme has right response to these opportunities, as had to be put on hold, perhaps now is an well as a means to bringing about a number appropriate time to draw breath and take a of minor improvements. DOVER SEAFRONT OPENING 23.1.96

FLYING A KITE FOR YORK STREET parking, and attractive links through to the Market Square and Cannon Street. I don’t I think I may have horrified some of the count myself amongst those who want to audience and some of the readers of the see the demolition of one side of the Dover Express with sweeping references to Market Square to “open the view”. The the re-planning of the York Street area, and buildings there are not of exceptional value I was certainly "flying a kite”, but why not? but they do have a scale that helps to It is clear that a lot remains to be done in provide the Market Square with its urban this area, where historic streets were swept quality and focus as a space. Similarly, away after the war and sensitive archasol- although I quite understand why people ogy remains to be displayed to better ad­ were keen to get rid of advertising hoard­ vantage. To me, this is an unnecessarily ings, I think this is only part of the solution unattractive edge to the town centre, and for the York Street corner, which cries out now that the A20 takes another route is a for sensitive redevelopment, again to rare opportunity to restore hum an scale to regain some of the urban form. this part of the town. I therefore questioned whether the right WESTERN DOCKS - A MORE course would be merely to tidy up some of PROMISING FUTURE the surrounding sites - Queen Street, New Street, Saxon Street and Priory Street for In the last few weeks, interesting propos­ example - or to take a more comprehen­ als have started to come forward for the sive look at what is arguably now unneces­ regeneration of the Wellington Dock area, sarily a dual carriageway, and could with the first phase of amended proposals provide much better surroundings to the for factory shops. Personally, I welcome White Cliffs Experience, with better coach the re-use and renovation of the dockside buildings, especially if they are linked more The Co-ordinator will assist the Com­ firmly to the town centre. We don’t have to pany’s Board of Directors to deliver a see a massive new road junction to serve demandingbusiness plan which.will con­ the development, and much of the water tinue the excellent work already under­ area can be retained. Later phases may taken by local people and businesses un­ prove more problematic, but what we can der the guidance of the I m p a c t team . We see so far could link very well with the are delighted that all the hard work in pedestrianised New Bridge area, and is an setting up a local partnership of this kind added impetus for continued attention to to manage town centre issues has come to Bench Street. fruition and we look forward to launching the new company on the next stage of its TOWN CENTRE MANAGEMENT journey to bring greater prosperity and In my talk, the main issue I raised on enjoyment to all who live in and use its the town centre was the subject of what we centre. have come to call the “missing link" - the area at the heart of the centre around WORK GOES ON Boots, which still suffers more than its In the meantime, you will have real­ fair share of traffic problems and in ised, however, that I m p a c t projects are my view weakens the enjoyment of a still receiving finishing touches in both fine pedestrian environment. We still Dover and Deal and work has been hope to include some minor improve­ progressing in areas such as New Bridge, ments to Worthington Street in our York Street Corner, Victoria Crescent programme, to give at least some impres­ and in Deal at the entrance to the Pier. sion of greater continuity to the shopping In addition, a fresh project should soon area, but in the longer term it would be start at Flying Horse Lane, adding to the good to see at least some traffic removed group of projects along the riverside. At and the street re-designed to give it a more the AGM, I advocated a cautious approach pedestrian feel. to the ideas for a ramp on the riverside walk near the Bowling Green - not Town Centre Management has proved because I didn’t think it was a good idea, to be a popular challenge for candidates but because it would be all too easy to for the newly created job of Town Centre spoil what at present is a charming Co-ordinator, and applications have scene with an over-engineered solution. been flooding in. Candidates are being Here are some of the things happening at asked to demonstrate strong organis­ the moment. ational skills and the drive to achieve results along with determination and YORK STREET CORNER a high degree of self-motivation and The interesting blue wavy railings initiative. will certainly have caught your attention Dover Town Management Company at the York Street Corner. Fronting the will appoint its first Co-ordinator towards path around the entrance area of the the end of July and the new organisation Nu-Age Night Club, they are part of a will be run from 7 Castle Street, in package of visual im provem ents at one of an office generously donated to the the most prominent corners in the town, Company for its first year, by John Ullman, achieved in partnership with the Nu-Age one of a list of local sponsors which Club and the Unitarian Church. Shrubs includes Dover Harbour Board, Boots the and hedging are yet to be put in place, Chemists, Marks and Spencer, Arjo to round off the transformation of a cor­ Wiggins, Travel Market, Hammonds and ner of Dover which gives vital first im­ the Charlton Centre (Park Rutland Ltd) as pressions of the town to visitors and well as the County and District Councils. passers-by. > VICTORIA CRESCENT and ing touches will shortly include some striking new lighting columns made by LONDON ROAD craftsman Ray Hudson. Again simple Another scheme, now finished apart from robust planting will be added, along with the planting, is the repair of the walls and the work in Victoria Crescent and at the stone capping at Victoria Crescent, and York Street corner. restoration of the railings. We have re­ built the sections of the piers which were SEAFRONT PROMENADE in disrepair and have added decorative We w ere delighted to receive new s that ball tops to each section. A new railing Ray Smith’s sculpture ‘On the Crest of a crafted by a local blacksmith sits atop the Wave’ was nominated for the County’s wall and the entrances to the Crescent Rouse Kent Public Art Award. The works have been fitted with new granite chan­ of art nominated can be anything from nels and granite setts and paved withblue statues to sculptures, ornate street lamps engineering bricks to match the other to overhead shelters, or murals, but they side of the road. Together this project and must be on permanent public display. the work on the Royal Victoria Hospital The award, now in its third year, is spon­ gives a much needed boost to this part of sored by West Mailing’s Kings Hill devel­ High Street and opens up an opportunity opers Rouse Kent and is supported by for fagade improvements to the buildings Kent County Council and South East Arts. themselves in the future. Soft landscap­ Members of the I m p a c t team were ing works will follow at the same time and invited to the aw ard dinner on 3 June and as part of the same contract as those for were delighted to be associated with the York Street corner. Dover Harbour Board in the receipt of the London Road as a whole remains an "Rouse Chair”. We have received many area in need of continued and sustained complimentary comments concerning the action, in terms both of conservation and new ly designed prom enade and it is a joy land use; we shouldn't ignore the fact that to see people sitting around Ray Smith's it continues to support a myriad of small sculpture obviously enjoying the setting, businesses, as well as being an area of the summer sun and soaking up the significant quality. I would have liked to atmosphere of the spirit of Dover. have seen a repeat of the kind of im prove­ The whole subject of Channel Swimming ments we were able to bring about in is to be commemorated in a specially Snargate Street designed set of plaques on a plinth near the sculpture. NEW BRIDGE We look forward to the continued im­ A great deal of delay has built up here, provement of the promenade in due not through any misjudgement on our course, and have passed on to the part but through the inadequacies of the DHB the latest suggestion for a n o t h e r underground service mapping supplied statue, celebrating the first crossing of the initially by the public utilities. It was es­ Channel by a lady pilot - the American, sential to move water and gas supplies Helen Quimby, whose picture graces the before work could get fully under way and US 50 cent stamp. Get your teeth into this put the contract back by quite a this one, Budge! number of weeks. These frustrations are nowbehind us and, at last, emerging from ARCHCLIFFE FORT the subway into New Bridge one is Here, the Emmaus group are working presented wuth an entirely new vista. hard not only to achieve a worthwhile The improvements here have created a project in its ow n right but also to put the spacious, safe environment for pedestrians historic site back into effective use. Our heading towards the seafront. The finish­ role hasbeen to work with their architects to upgrade the frontage, and once again Church of we have shared the frustration of under­ ground services not being where they are S t GEORGE the MARTYR, DEAL supposed to be. The first, St. George the Martyr in High Street, has followed IMPACT carrying out CASTLE HILL ROAD reconstruction and improvement works Many of you will have had fun on the to pavements outside the main gate , traffic obstacle race running up and down including a secluded garden for the blind. Castle Hill Road recently. We are confi­ Now the church, with I m p a c t help, plans dently assured by our K.C.C. Highways other work within the churchyard, in­ colleagues that the packet of safety meas­ cluding re-paving, landscaping, bicycle ures, which I m p a c t has been able to add stands and a lighting scheme which will to by way of upgraded materials and bet­ illuminate the paths around the Church - ter quality design (such as the lighting and possibly a flood-lighting scheme for columns) will be finished by the end of the east elevation fronting High Street. this week (28 June). DISABLED ACCESS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DEAL VICTORIA BAPTIST CHURCH The Deal Chamber of Commerce has A grant has been awarded to the realised that although Deal Town Centre Victoria Baptist Church in Victoria Road. works very well now, complacency should Two disabled access ramps are proposed not be allowed to set in and it has recog­ to the front and side entrances. Materials nised the value of working together with to be used have been specified to be all sections of the town to continue to in keeping with the appearance of this keep Deal firmly in business. Four mem­ Victorian building. bers of the I m p a c t team and some mem­ bers of the Joint Committee, helped run a DEAL PIER local event on 7 March, as a result of which w orking groups are now looking at Last but not least, work is due to be com pleted this m onth on a m ajor schem e key prom otional and developm ent issues around the forecourt to Deal Pier. Taking affecting the town centre. One of these activities involves the production of a its cue from the 1950s design, and follow­ Town Centre Shopping Guide which will ing a number of design meetings with local groups, attractive new paving and assist in attracting visitors/customers to the town as a destination. The Working extended planters, with specially designed Group involved with the production of new curved seats, enhance the seafront. the guide will also involve itself in the The District Council next have the pleas­ promotion of planned events. ant duty to use to best advantage a sub­ Recent improvement works in Deal have stantial bequest specifically for a new feature for the site, which could well be a coincidentally involved two town centre churches. new piece of art to rival Dover's. o

East Kent Hospice Benefits from the work of Society Members Recently several members of the Society assisted at a Do ver Museum Quiz for Dover Harbour Board, who, in appreciation of our help donated £100 to the Society. It was decided to give this unexpected bonus to support the East Kent Hospice, which had already received £150 from the Society on the occasion of the Vardon Organ Recital. DOVER HOSTS THE KFAS CONFERENCE 25 The Future FEDERATIONS Amenity Societies of East Kent MERRIL LILLEY

T h e Kent Federation of Amenity Societies holds an annual Spring Conference at a different venue each year. This year the 31 st conference of the KF AS was held in Dover at St. Mary’s Parish Centre on Saturday, 11 th May and hostedby the Dover Society. The Chairman of the Dover Society, Mr. Jack Woolford, is also the Chairman of the KFAS so, with his dual involvement, he was the key figure of the day and particularly anxious that the event should be a successful one. It is pleasing to report that the Chairman was not disappointed. The day was an unqualified success. Eighty-seven people attended; the weather was fine; the speeches were good; the discussion animated; the lunch excellent and the afternoon trip exceeded all expectations. The subject of the conference was bodies. It has its own twice-yearly publi­ THE FUTURE OF EAST KENT , focus­ cation, Kent Matters, and, in addition ing on the way in which the economic to its Spring conference, holds an stability of East Kent is closely linked to Annual Conference at Wye College each the ferry ports. September. Members were cordially in­ The proceedings started with coffee at vited to join this year’s conference at Wye ten o’clock, followed at ten-thirty by the on September 14th and 15th, 1996. The Annual General M eeting of the KFAS. Chairman’s speech was followed by the Anticipating the full programme to follow Treasurer’s report and the election of and the keen interest in the subject matter officers, bringing the AGM to a close by of the conference, the chairman adroitly eleven o’clock concluded the business of the AGM The remainder of the morning session in thirty minutes. He welcomed the consisted of two addresses, the first by Rt. Hon. Lord Astor as the new president, John Gerrard, Services General Manager Arthur Goodburn, of the Dover Society, as of the Dover Harbour Board, entitled Treasurer and Bob Radcliffe as a new "The Channel Tunnel and the Ferry Ports: committee member. He was pleased to Can they all survive?’’, and the second by report that the KFAS had 78 affiliated Ian Gill,of the East Kent Initiative, explor­ member societies. There were members ing the role of the East Kent Initiative in present from Canterbury (2), Rochester(5), regenerating the local economy. Chilham(2), Oaken Hill(2), Shoreham(l), John Gerrard illustrated his talk with a Ramblers(l), Chartham(2), Hawkhurst(2), number of appropriate slides, starting Broadstairs(2), Ramsgate(5) and the Weald with a striking aerial view showing “ storm of Kent(l) together with 61 members of clouds over the White Cliffs of Dover". In the Dover Society. answer to his own question on the chan­ The Kent Federation of Amenity Socie­ nel tunnel and the ferrry ports - can they ties is itself also affiliated to the Kent all survive? - the speaker said that the History Federation and many other short answ er is No! or, at least, not in their

THE SPACIOUS PARKING AREA AT THE CRUISE TERMINAL present form. There would have to be over the freight lorry check-in); and the some rationalisation. He went on to trace construction of an elevated road to facili­ the history and construction of the tate the flow of inward bound traffic. Tunnel, then to assess its present per­ Since the installation of this roadway the formance, quoting statistics on the gradual largest ferry can be emptied in nine min­ increase of traffic through theTunnel utes. All operations have been speeded through 1995 to the first quarter of 1996, up. A lorry can check in in three minutes. showing a rise in the percentage of cars, Other areas of the dock have been coaches and freight traffic.Already by developed as the Harbour Board has April 1996 there was an increase of 22% diversified its operations into the import­ for cars and 13% for coaches compared ing of fresh produce. With the building of with the figures for 1995. A reduction in a new berth for cargo ships and extensive tariffs was attracting more customers to cargo sheds and cold storage Dover is now the tunnel. the fourth largest importer of fresh Next the speaker summarised the vast produce into the U.K. changes and modernisation which had Another development was to use the taken place in the ferry industry since the cargo berth, when it was free, for the late eighties, resulting in a marked im­ occasional cruise liner and this use provement in customer services and in­ gradually increased. Twenty-four cruise creased traffic on the ferries. Many ferries ships used it in 1995. With greatly increased made five trips per ship per day. demand for cruise ship visits the Harbour He then went on to talk of the the re­ Board invested £10 million in convert­ sponse of the Dover Harbour Board to the ing the Western Docks Marine Station competition from the Tunnel, describing into a fine new Cruise Terminal. This in detail, once again with the aid of slides, was opened on 19 April 1996 and 104 all the changes which have taken place at cruise calls are booked for this year. the Eastern Docks; the building of new It is hoped that the economy of the town berths; new signs to help drivers (includ­ will be helped by the visiting passengers ing one of the longest signs in existence, and crews. In addition the number of summer visi­ ing skill levels, helping school leavers, tors to the port has been substantially introducing training packages and increased by another of the Harbour providing redundancy couselling, inves­ Board’s projects, the new yacht moor­ tigating site development and investing ings provided in the Tidal Basin at the in tourism. Western Docks. As the first speaker had started with These three important developments, a question, the second speaker ended the cargo trade, the cruise terminal and with one. How can we kick-start East the extra yacht moorings, will all play a Kent? crucial part in the future of the port, said Following the two addresses the morn­ the speaker. Returning to the subject of ing ended with a lively question and an­ the ferry services, he said the future was swer session, in which the two speakers uncertain. It was clear there would have fielded, to the best of their ability, a dozen to be rationalisation and it was expected or more pertinent and thought-provoking that the present number of sailings of questions from the floor. The Chairman eighty-seven ferries a day should in the thanked speakers and audience and re­ future reduce to a more realistic figure of m inded all that there was only an hour in about fifty-five. which to enjoy the excellent lunch before The second speaker was Ian Gill of the proceeding to the afternoon tour of the East Kent Initiative, who spoke on the Port of Dover. drastic effect the Channel tunnel was At two o’clock two large coaches left expected to have on jobs in East Kent. from Pencester Gardens for a two-hour The Kent Im pact Study in 1991 concluded tour, the time to be divided equally that the economy was in a fragile state, between the Eastern and the Western that the projected job loss was likely to Docks, one coach proceeding east and the bel0,500 by 1996 and more by the year other west. 2000. The losses were in the areas of the At the Eastern Docks the tour included Kent coalfield, agriculture and the ferry the Port Control building on the Eastern industry and the present unemployment Arm, dealing with all sea traffic, then the figure stood at 27,484. Control building within the port area, The EKI was form ed as a direct result of controlling all movements on land. This the KIS, with the objectives of encourage part of the trip need not be described in ing investment, reducing unemployment, detail here as it is already covered improving transport and infrastructure, elsewhere in the Newsletter. (See the raising the profile of the tourist industry, article by John Bartlett on a separate visit ensuring provision of suitable develop­ to Port control). ment sites and improving business At the Western Docks the coach party opportunities in East Kent. visited the Cruise Terminal- a treat in­ It was intended that the EKI, which em­ deed to be some of the first local visitors to braces Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shep- be allowed a glim pse inside. As there was pey, Swale and Thanet, should a cruise ship in port each visitor was provide a single voice for the area, gain issued with a special red sticker to enable support from a range of organisations and the party to pass through port security. help promote local and regional strategies. We passed beneath the entrance canopy, Already the EKI hadachieved m uch through the check-in hall, up the gleam­ for the area, securing Assisted Area ing escalator to the departure lounges, Status; obtaining European funding and exclaiming as we went on the fantastic funding from The Single Regeneration transformation of the old Marine Station Budget Fund; embarking on various pro­ into this attractive and spacious interna­ grammes such as SME, KONVER and tional cruise location. Passengers embark­ PESCA; contributing valuable work in rais­ ing at Dover pass this way and pause in the comfortable lounge to view the mag­ so little time. They had been given some nificent arching spines of the old station leaflets about Dover about an hour before and the re-furbished splendour of the disembarking but hadn’t read them care­ Southern Railway’s Memorial from the fully. They’d enjoyed their visit, had lunch Second World War. at Dickens Corner, bought some very good By chance we met a couple of cruise greetings cards from The Gift Box in passengers from Michigan, USA, return­ Bench Street, one in particular for a ing to the ship after walking into Dover. Golden Wedding. They thought that all We were anxious to know their impres- the people were very friendly. So we left sionsofthe town. Yes, they thought it was them to resume their cruise and returned a nice little town to visit. They had walked to our coach. past the Grand Shaft and wanted to go in Back to St. Mary's Hall for tea and thank but it was closed. Yes, they realised they you speeches to all who had contributed should have seen the castle, but there was to this superlatively successful day.

The Official Opening of the Cruise Terminal

More than 200 guests attended the departed for a fourteen-day Norwegian official opening of the Cruise Terminal on cruise. 20th June 1996. Dover H arbour Board Guests were greeted by Jonathan Chairman, John Maltby announced that Sloggett, Managing Director of Dover already 108 cruise liners had booked for Harbour Board and the opening was per­ 1997, making Dover the busiest cruise line formed by Peter Ward Chairman and Chief port in the UK. Executive of Cunard. He unveiled a wall The Cunard Royal Viking Sun was in plaque set between two photographs, one port for the opening and guests had a tour of the Golden Arrow and the other of of the vessel and lunch on board, before it The Royal Viking Sun.

The Grand Shaft -- TERRY SUTTON

O ne of Dover's best known tourist way down through the cliff was designed to attractions, the Grand Shaft, is open again provide a surprise route by which British following restoration. The perpendicular troops could emerge from their Western shaft through the cliffs, linking Snargate Heights barracks to swoop on any French Street with the Western Heights, is open bridgehead, cutting off hopes of reinforce­ every afternoon (except Mondays) between ments. It was all a complete waste of money two and five. because no invasion came. The re-opening ceremony was But the three spiral staircases, each of performed by Brigadier David Godsal, 140 steps, leading to another fifty-nine steps Deputy Constable of Dover Castle, when a in the open air, for many years provided a kilted nineteenth cent, re-enactment group, route for garrison troops as they headed for the 42nd Highlanders, mounted guard and the fleshpots of Snargate Street and the rest gave a demonstration of musketry, firing. of Dover. How they managed to climb back The shaft was built during the threat of a afterwards leaves a lot to the imagination! Napoleonic invasion and the triple stair­ It’s quite a climb! 30

THE CONTROL BUILDING AT THE END (ALMOST) OF THE EASTERN ARM

JOHN BARTLETT Port Control A VISIT TO THE EASTERN DOCKS

T he GROUP assembled rather anxiously. It was a dull day, threatening rain and a bitterly cold wind. Hardly the best of conditions for a tour of the docks.. Once underway the weather was largely hundred people to run this vast twenty- forgotten, since the tour was made in the four hour operation. This included eight­ comfort of a minibus and was largely een policemen with two cells at their indoors at Port and Terminal Control. disposal, both of which enjoyed a high The first part on the bus covered terri­ occupancy rate! Last year Dover port tory known to most of us - the booking handled 18,000,000 passengers and we hall and the drive through the check were given the illustration that the one points towards the ferries. However, our million freight lorries, if placed end to guide from the Dover Harbour Board, end, would stretch from Dover to Perth Valerie Crimmin, enlivened it with in Western Australia - a very credible interesting information and statistics - description to those of us who live near for instance that DHB only employed six Townwall Street! Much of the recent expenditure has numerous radio channels available for been to facilitate quick and efficient communications with ships, hovercraft handling, since this is one of the main and small pleasure craft, in addition to advantages featured in the advertising of Terminal Control, Coastguard, police, the ChannelTunnel, the port’s menacing emergency services and the harbour op­ neighbour. Foot and car passengers erators, such as mooring parties and tugs. have seen reporting times fall from an Although in a superb position to hour to twenty minutes. My own experi­ observe the port and its approaches, all ence of the tunnel - taken out of curiosity, the modern technology allows the staff of course - suggests the port does as to operate when visibility is so poor well as or better in this respect. Even that they cannot see the sea below them. more impressive was the saving for Their duties are to control anything that freight drivers, who could now be proc­ floats. Entry to the port is controlled essed almost as quickly, whereas a few by the banks of red and green lights at years ago most would have spent six to e^ach entrance and they allocate the eight hours in the port area before board­ order of entering and leaving the port ing a ferry. This improved check­ and which berth is to be used. They in operation has been achieved by the have details of all sailings from the installation of automatic and computer­ operating companies and do their ised weighbridges, allowing rapid clear­ utmost to facilitate the maintenance of ance and allocation to ferries.. This route the timetabling. However, it was stressed is followed by all units weighing over that the ultimate authority for any ship in seven tons. the port is the captain. Another facility that must prove very All the radar displays and radio com­ attractive to the freight fraternity is the munications are recorded and kept for Truck Stop Area. This is a large safe park­ several weeks. The room below the Con­ ing area, within the docks, where lorries trol Room is a mass of recording machines can stay for up to forty-eight hours. For and filing cabinets, where these records the drivers, food, showers and overnight are kept. facilities are available. For car passengers Returning to the minibus we saw there are two Welcome Break restaurants the new facilities built to replace the with well-stocked shops and children’s old submarine pens. These are two ware­ play areas. houses to handle cargoes, one cold Our first stop was at the Port Control, storage and the other at normal tempera­ situated in the tower at the end of the ture. Dover’s contracts with the freight Eastern Arm. Obviously we were transporters means that one third of the intruding on a very busy work area, where fruit imported into the country passes all the port's floating movements were through the port. being controlled by two officers. How­ Our final stop was at Terminal Control. ever we were made very welcome and This serves the same purpose as Port they gave us a fascinating and compre­ Control, but deals w ith everything on dry hensive description of their duties and land. It has a commanding view over tne equipm ent. whole terminal area, but was under ex­ The facility was upgraded in 1991 and tensive renovation, so we were not able to the equipment is now the very latest see it in operation on this visit. available in the field. There are three Our thanks to Joan Liggett for her part radars, which between them observe all in the organisation of the tour from the movements from those in the port itself, Society side and again to our excellent right across to Calais, plus those of traffic host from DHB, Valerie Crimmins. A very passing through the Channel. There are enjoyable and informative tour. o 32

THE COASTGUARD STATION STRATEGICALLY SITED ON THE CLIFF ABOVE THE EASTERN ARM.

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY VISIT The Coastguard Station atLangdon Battery ------STEVE PETERS

D o v e r C o a s t g u a r d S t a t i o n at advantage of our waiting time to look at Langdon Battery is the base for the Dover from this hitherto inaccessible Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination vantage point. The Castle looked very Centre (MRCC), its responsibility extend­ impressive from this more lofty perch, ing from Norfolk to the Isle of Wight. It is the Pharos, at this particular angle, being on the cliffs above the Eastern Arm and has hidden behind the church. Visibility was uninterrupted views of Dover Harbour, good but the French coast was just ob­ the Channel and the French Coast beyond. scured by mist. Langdon Battery gets its name from the Once an aggressive gun site, this is now battery of defence guns that were in­ a tranquil base surrounded by lush grass, stalled here in 1910 and it was actually on shrubs, brambles and attendant wildlife. the circular bases of the larger 9.2 guns We saw rabbits, magpies, jackdaws, star­ that the control rooms were constructed lings and a variety of gulls. This must be in 1979. one of the finest working environments On Saturday 25 May 1996 eight mem­ in Kent. bers of the Dover Society met in the Our host for the visit was Andy Roberts Battery car park. Arriving early we took whose seventeen years Merchant Navy traffic when the new Op- 33 erations Centre was opened and full radar was commenced. The system was further updated with Automatic Data Process­ ing in 1983 and extended to full radar m onitoring in 1993. After a video display Andy took us to the Con­ trol Room. We half ex­ pected to see bluff seafar­ ers with eyes glued to bin­ oculars peering into the far distance - far from it. We found crisp, alert com­ puter operators monitor­ ing their screens control­ ling the most modern com­ puter/radar linked mari­ time coordination system in the world, with just an occasional relaxing glance from their windows at the panoramic view. The lo­ cation of the Coastguard Station is irrelevant, we were told. It could just as easily operate from Bir­ m ingham . We were able to see on screen the radar image of THE “RADAR INSTALLATION — THE COASTGUARDS’ “SEEING EYE” maritime ^traffic actually experience was typical of most coast- in the Channel at that time. It was possible guards. A maritime background is essen- to focus on any section of the Channel for tial (includes ex-Helicopter Rescue per- closer scrutiny. This was applied to the sonnel) when making appraisals of Chan- Margate area, where we were able to see nel situations and subsequent communi- a flotilla of yachts racing from Harwich to cation with the seamen concerned. the French coast. The screen was then Andy explained that the Service made diverted to the Dover area where we were radio broadcasts every hour (every half- able to watch ferries crossingbetween the hour in conditions ofbad visibility) known two coasts and weaving through the other as the Channel Navigation Information traffic using the separation scheme. Service (CNIS) giving details of weather, Each vessel; entering the control area tides and any navigation difficulties. This is given its own number on the compu service was commenced in 1972 at the ter and it is possible to home on to a vessel same time as they introduced a separa- within a computer square when the tion traffic scheme in the Channel which identifying number is instantly became compulsory for all UK ships. In revealed. Thus if two ‘blips’ appeared 1979 this was extended to all Channel to be converging they can quickly be identified and contacted by radio should This Control Centre, as with other re­ that be necessary. gional centres, has access to many other Automatic Data Processing ensures that services and facilities w hich it m ust coor­ a continuous record is made of all move­ dinate, including aircraft, Helicopter Res­ ments, thus if there is a maritime incident cue Service, Fire Service and Auxiliary the data can be recalled at any time re­ Coastguard Rescue Service. This last vealing a vessel’s movements before, dur­ named service was brought to our notice ing and after the incident. This was dem­ when we found that one of the computer onstrated by bringing on to the screen a operators was none other than our own day in the previous week when a member Dover Society member Maurice Palmer. of the group made a ferry trip. On fixing In common with other volunteers he puts the time of departure and speeding up the a few hours duty each week and was data we were able to monitor the progress working on this day from 8am to 2pm to of the ferry from departure to arrival. We make up the full-time personnel shift to were spellbound. six. Well done, Maurice o

A DAY ASHORE A day as a Shuttle Bus Co-ordinator- m erril lille y

It is 8.30. am on Monday, 10th June. up with early risers and sets off for the At the Cruise Terminal the SS MAASDAM town. We drop off the couple at the Hertz of the Holland- America Line is disgorging office and wish them a good day, then its passengers. A fleet of coaches awaits to proceed to the Market Square to begin our transport more than 800 of them on pre­ task of aiding, directing, advising and an­ booked tours to London, Canterbury and swering questions. Every bus is busy and other places in Kent. The ship carries 1200 this continues non-stop until midday. passengers so that means that more than Where is the train station? Boots? Marks 300 of them will rem ain in Dover or make and Spencer? The local bus stop? A cam­ their own plans for the day ashore. era shop? An optician? The Post Office? There are to be three shuttle buses Which is the best way to get to the operating all day between the quayside castle? How long will it take to walk there and the Market Square. The shipping line ? Is the way steep? What is the entry fee? has appointed Aragon Tours as its agent How long should one allow for the visit? and they, in turn, have found some local How much to go by taxi? Is there a people ( four of us ) to act as shuttle bus local bus? coordinators. From 8.30 am until 5.30 pm Is there time to go to London and back there will always be one person at the by train? Should one go to Canterbury by dock and one in the Market Square. train, bus or taxi? How much will it cost? (We are operating our own rota system How long will it take? for this.) We can cope with most of this and after 8.40 am and the first shuttle bus is an hour or so the local taxi firms have ready to leave. The first passengers to realised what is happening and there are board are a couple who have booked a always one or two taxis stationed across Hertz hire car in advance and want to the road outside Courts. It becomes know where to pick it up. The first bus fills easier as the morning progresses. > Where is the museum, the White Cliffs It is impossible to find out everyone’s Experience? Gift shops? Antique shops? reactions. The diversity of experiences is A quaint pub? A good tea room ? A cool so vast. One couple took a taxi to London, beer? and many more. saw the changing of the guard and We distribute leaflets for the Museum, Buckingham Palace. Another couple took WCE and Castle. The Town Gaol is closed a taxi to Canterbury, saw the cathedral on Mondays and so is the Roman Painted and then took a trip round the Kent coast, House, but we learn that the latter opens through Margate and Sandwich, then back later in the day in response to demand. to Dover Castle for the afternoon. By 10.30 am a few elderly passengers The majority of people visited the who have difficulty in walking are return­ Castle, getting there by bus, by taxi ing to the ship with souvenirs, postcards and some by walking. They were all and drinks. One lady staggers under the enthusiastic, loved the Keep, the view, weight of a case of Pepsi-Cola from the tunnels , the history!!. They thanked KwikSave. They are in the minority. us,for our directions and advice. At lunchtime the shuttles are busy again The lady who wanted the optician got with passengers returning to the ship for her spectacles mended. The couple who lunch. Some have booked afternoon trips ren ted a H ertz car got a parking ticket in from the quayside at 1pm. One trip is on Canterbury! the railway to Tenterden. * People who stayed in the town The afternoon brings more inward enjoyed walking around or sitting passengers who have been on a morning in the sunshine at various pubs or trip and are now setting out to explore eating places which provided outside Dover. More leaflets, directions and tables. suggestions and more questions to Almost everyone seemed to have bought answer. A few ask about the town and its something to take back with them. Apart history. Most are content to wander from the inevitable postcards, films and through the shopping precinct. souvenirs, I noticed pictures, shoes, From 3,30 to 5.30 the traffic is mainly make-up, shirts, drinks and embroidery from town to port and we take the m aterials. opportunity to chat to some of the All were unanimous in acclaiming returning passengers. the free shuttle buses which were "Dover is a great little town; the people great! They didn’t get that provided are friendly". There is universal approval. at many of their stops. Many praised All have enjoyed themselves. One lady the organisation and some said it expresses the opinion that America is all was the best they had experienced on shopping malls. She could see those at the cruise. home. The Americans liked quaint streets with small shops!!! o

D E A D L I N E f o r contributions for Issue No. 27 - for publication on or about 1st December - is Monday 28th October

The Editor welcomes contributions and interesting drawings or photographs.

Publication in the Newsletter does not imply the Sopciety's agteement with the views expressed nor does the Society accept responsibility for any statements made. All published material remains the copyright of the authors, artists or photographers 36

A REPORT by D O NNA SOWERBY, Arts and Events Manager Dover D istrict Council

l o mark the 5th anniversary of the Festival of Dover the theme chosen was "Spirit of the Sea”, based on the town’s maritime history and heritage. This attracted keen interest from local and regional businesses and some new items were included in the programme at the last minute. Lessons have been learned over the Another choice is the Dover Youth past five years and the programme ad­ Theatre’s performance of the maritime justed accordingly. Old favourites such as dram a “My Love is Drowned in the Far Off the Teddy Bears' Picnic and the fireworks Seas”, written by Michael Thomas of display were scheduled to capture a large Dover Boys’ Grammar School especially proportion of the market. New additions for the sea based festivities.The talent of were not always successful, for instance our local young people is quite astound­ the Comedy Club evening at the Swingate ing. Despite the fact that I regularly see pub, where the allocated budget did not such performances I found this one provide for quality acts. However, in the outstanding. There was a full house town centre the Festival Showcase and and the atmosphere in the basement The Jolly Roger Fun Day proved most of the Keep of Dover Castle added to popular and, no doubt, will become a the effects. regular feature. A sunny evening in St. M ary’s Church Everyone has their own favourite was the setting for my third choice, where events, acts and performers and taste in the Snowdown Male Voice Choir the arts is,of course, individual. So I will performed a programme of old and choose my top five events of this year. new melodies, including some pieces These are in no particular order. recently learned for their performance Firstly, I was most fortunate to attend at the Albert Hall in London. The light the schools' workshop with the children’s through the stained glass windows author, Jeremy Strong, held at Sandwich with the sound of their voices singing " Library. Jeremy, based in Kent, had me You’ll Never Walk Alone” filled my eyes in stitches with his wonderful story with tears. telling of a book called "The Indoor Pi­ Our experiment in using venues in rates". His interpretation of the fright­ Deal and Sandwich proved how little resi­ ened pirates attempting to kidnap the dents move from one town to another to postman for ransom was superb and would enjoy the events.One such evening was have been appreciated as much by adults the performance by the Gower Wind Quar­ as children. tet at the Astor Theatre in Deal. The group comprised tutors from the Kent Music keen to utilise the site next year! School who, with their Director, Steve Much time and effort goes into the Migden, had spent a rather hot and humid planning of each Festival. This year we day working with 22 young people from were fortunate to secure over £26,000 in all over Kent who all had a keen interest sponsorship from the commercial sector. in and played a wind instrument. This Without this assistance the programme, performance had a very select audience, marketing and publicity would be drasti­ a high proportion being the students in­ cally reduced or even withdrawn. This volved in the workshop and their parents, year sponsorship provided for the distri­ the small gathering did not perturb the bution of 80,000 brochures and diaries group who provided a lively programme through Royal Mail door-to-door service including a series of Lettish dances, to and full page advertisements in local news­ which the audience requested an encore. papers. There was coverage on Meridian Finally,I choose the major artistic pro­ Television on the opening weekend and duction of the Festival, the performances dcjily reports on Radio Kent. and workshops of Shakespeare’s "The Over the past years, through market Tempest”, producedby Deal's Kent Shake­ research or from talking to regular festi­ speare Project in association with the Lon­ val attenders, we have learned a lot about don-based SOHO group. Three schools programme planning and increasing were offered the opportunity of being awareness. Shortly, with colleagues from involved with the project. Sandwich and Dover M useum and Kent County Council Walmer Secondary and Archers Court, Arts and Libraries, I will be compiling the Dover, took up the challenge. The excep­ outline package for 1997. The interna­ tionally warm, still evenings on Thursday tional theme will be “CONNECTIONS”. and Friday were an Events Organiser's This theme was chosen as the District dream and the performance at the end of will be hosting the World Shore Angling the Prince of Wales Pier was an absolute Championships and also participating delight. For once! in the Francosonic ‘97 festivities in However our fate was to change. On celebration of French speaking countries Saturday, with the prospect of a full house all over the world. and a number of special guests, the wet I hope that many of you enjoyed weather option was Shed 4 on Esplanade the celebrations of the two weeks of Quay. However, some things work out for Festival 1996. the best. The backdrop of static yachts in Please note the Sea Shanty Festival in for renovation and other natural props on Deal in September to mark the end of the site made the performance even more "Spirit o f the Sea” in White Cliffs Country. magical than it had been on the end of the Just because it's in Deal is no good reason pier! It looks as though this could become not to participate. Pm sure we will a regular venue for theatre productions in provide something you will enjoy. <> Dover. The Kent Shakespeare Project are Great Expectations Professor George Curry from North Carolina, who gave us a Dickens Evening in 1992 in St Mary's Parish Centre, is in England again this year. As part of the Canterbury Festival he is will perform in his interpretation of G r e a t E xpectations at the GulbenkianTl%eatre on Sunday, 20 October, 1996. 38 R e v i e w s Dover Harbour. BRITAIN’S OLDEST PORT A TALK BY MARK FROST ------SHEILA R COPE------

As part of the Dover Festival, Mark Frost, of Dover Museum, gave a broad ‘overview’ of the development of Dover Harbour in a talk at the Silver Screen Cinema on the evening of 4 June. This was followed by an opportunity to view the current exhibition in the Museum. Although the Society has been fortunate in thepast tohave received several illustrated accounts by experts about the harbour development, a number of our members were present, proving that we welcome opportunities to widen our knowledge about the industry which is the lifeblood of the town. Mark showed us copies of maps which we could later study upstairs, glass of wine in hand, and in his talk gave his view of the development of the harbour from the Bronze Age until the present day.

T he discovery of the Bronze A g e b o a t , cause such an area of refuge was some reinforcing that of the Langdon Bay wreck distance from the town a guard tower with its cargo of scrap metal from France, was built in 1495 and then in 1518 a demonstrated that Dover has been a cross­ second tower was attempted by John Channel port for at least 3,000 years. It is Clark, Master of the Maison Dieu, to­ likely th at ships w ere once able to sail far gether with a short pier to protect the up the Dour to find shelter but that tree pool, now known as Paradise Pent, from felling on surrounding hills caused the the sea. The structure initiated the proc­ river to silt up. So traces o f Rom an quays ess of silting up which became such an have been found at Stembrook, Bench irksom e and expensive problem for over Street and near the site of the present bus three centuries. Henceforth shingle garage, but by Saxon and Norman times, which had formerly been swept by cur­ from 400 a d , useful jetties were restricted rents past Dover would be deposited in to the river mouth. whatever harbour was created. In 1295 a French raid levelled the Efforts to solve the problem began town and by 1306 a protective wall had with a pier overseen by John Thompson, been built around it and across the river Clark’s successor, w hich was abandoned which thereby became blocked to ships. in 1551 after four attem pts. T here was Vessels could tie up only to the outside of another ambitious project planned and the wall - precarious in bad weather - carried out by Thomas Digges from 1583­ and to the Wyke, a shingle beach which 86 to build a massive wall with sluices form ed to the w est of the tow n in front of through which the shingle would be a pool fed by underground streams. In forced out. Henry VIII had proposed time this (Archcliffe Pool) was used as a enclosing the whole harbour - too ad­ harbour and Snar Gate was rebuilt to give vanced for Tudor technology - and Eliza­ access through the town wall to the West­ beth I had recognised the need for an ern beach rather than the seashore. Be­ effective port on the south coast. Tolls of 3d per ton on every ship entering English stone blocks into a wooden framework. ports for seven years helped to pay for Though incomplete, within four years it 500 carts of earth and chalk a day to be was long enough to take packet ships brought to Dover and 1000 men to work alongside so that at least the shingle on the wall. This construction, held to­ problem was being overcome. Rail lines gether with faggots and withies, created were laid along the Arm and eventually the n ew P en t and becam e the basis of the ships berthed on either side and trains existing Western Dock. The old Paradise could stop at any berth. By the 1890s, Pent was dug out too. however, paddle steamers could go In 1616, following complaints about straight to London and the Harbour Board maintenance, the Harbour Board was set decided to develop commercially. An­ up and as a result of land being leased to other pier to the east - eventually the provide revenue the Pier district with its Prince of Wales - was begun in 1893. The warehouses, banks and breweries soon Admiralty obtained parliamentary assent rivalled the town in size. Although there t^ develop Dover as a harbour of refuge was always a shortage of money an for the Navy. So the Admiralty Pier was appeal to the Government in 1660 to extended, and the Eastern Arm of nearly improve harbour access led to some 3,000ft and the Breakwater of 4,000ft renovations. The Crosswall was con­ were built. At this stage the cliffs at the structed across Great Paradise creating eastern end were cut back creating a an inner basin and an outer harbour. platform. In the meantime by 1904 trans­ Archcliffe Pool dried up and was built atlantic liners were berthing at the Prince upon. In 1699 £30,000 was allocated to of Wales Pier, but unfortunately also scour the harbour and in 1719 the Pier hitting the harbour entrance and when Heads were rebuilt. A gate was added to the Hamburg-Amerika line moved to the wall of the Great Pent in 1733 and Southampton others followed suit. The the Castle Jetty was constructed in 1752 new harbour was too small to contain the so that ships could use the Eastern side of whole fleet but on outbreak of war in the bay. 1914 it was handed over to the Navy and The outbreak of war with France in became base to the Dover Patrol. 1793 focused attention on the strategic When the Harbour Board resumed importance of Dover and James Moon control in 1923, smallbusinessesbecame and Sir Henry Oxenham began eighteen established at the eastern end and the years of improvements which produced Camber was leased to Captain Townsend wet and dry docks in a tidal harbour, new whose "Artificer’’ could carry fifteen cars clock and compass towers on the Cross­ and twelve drivers from the Eastern Arm wall and stone quays. In 1834, Telford’s from 1928. This was mainly the heyday plan, completed in 1838by James Walker, of rail with the Golden Arrow luxury created a tidal harbour doubled in service operating from 1929 and in 1936 size. Nevertheless, packet ships were the steam powered train ferry dock was obliged to anchor off shore and goods and established at Western Docks. passengers were unloaded by means of After the war sailings resumed in 1948. row ing boats. Those who were in Dover then may The advent of railways (South Eastern remember the Golden Arrow steaming via Folkestone in 1844 and London, behind Shakespeare beach and cars Chatham and Dover in 1861) heralded being loaded by crane in Granville Dock, real changes. In 1847 James Walker but rapid change was imminent. Much of had started the Western Arm, later the the Pier district had already disappeared Admiralty Pier, by lowering massive pre-war and was finally cleared for freight. In 1950 the first drive-on ferries, Halladale in to reclaim land for the arrival of the and Lord Warden were introduced and in hovercraft in 1968 and for the 1953 two ramps at the Camber in the construction of a new hoverport at the Eastern Docks were opened. As Parker Western end by 1978. Dover became the Pens and other businesses including coal world’s busiest passenger port. Innova­ bunkering were cleared in the 1960s, a tions continued. Now we have the new third double berth was erected which cruise liner terminal and Admiralty could load and unload simultaneously. Pier comes into prominence again ... yet Already the first drive-through ferry from time to time the dredger’s services was in use and Eastern docks gained are still essential to the harbour. supremacy. Sand and shingle were brought

The Exhibition comprises many maps, pictures, Many examples of channel craft are models and other memorabilia shown in model form ranging in size from arranged chronologically from the Bronze the ’Fly’, a small naval cutter with light Age boat to the projected Western Docks draft famous from 1763-71 as a passenger, development. There are copies of maps mail packet and customsboat, to the 'Pride showing proposed and actual improve­ of Dover' representing recent ferries. I ments including John Thompson’s of 1538 noticed the 'Lady Brassey’, DHB's tug, and (probably) Digges' of 1595 and im- which in 1940 played an essential part in press-ive plans of Dover and the Harbour the Dunkirk evacuation. A reminder of drawn around 1641 by William Eldred, the first War was the memorial to the men Master Gunner at the Castle. Pictures by of the trawler and minesweeping patrol William Burgess are well represented 1914-19 who, in sinking submarines, were - "Improving the Pent" for example. An­ subject to fierce attack themselves. other picture attracting attention was The display would be incomplete “Dover Harbour . 1856" painted by without the original copy of the Royal Henry Pether and showing Wellington Charter granted to Dover Harbour by Dock by moonlight with the Compass James I in 1606. Itsbulk contrasts with the House and the Clock House designed by video and many photographs of the old James Moon. . Pier district and demonstrates the Moon’s large, detailed, take-apart modernisation of boats and installations model of proposed new work in 1815 throughout this century. Please see this is quite fascinating, so different in excellent Museum exhibition soon. There technique from that showing the Eastern will be time for another visit before it Docks re-development in 1966/67. closes on 15 September.

Helpers Wanted at Crabble Mill Helpers are needed in these areas — to share the work on a rota or “when needed” basis. 1) Cafe, serving teas and snacks in daytime technically minded (Training given). or cooked suppers in evening. (5) Administration, office work, mar­ (2) Shop, serving visitors with souvenirs keting and fund-raising (all year round') and tour tickets. Interested in finding out more? Ring (3) Tour Guides, for tourists, scvhool the Trust Secretary, Ian Killberry,01304 groups or evening grtoups (training given). 362569 or call at the Mill in Lower Road, (4) Milling and Maintenance, for the River when it is open. The Tkmpest SATURDAY 8th JUNE in the BOATSHED on the ESPLANADE QUAY

JOAN LIGGETT

A m a g ic a l PERFORMANCE enhanced by the inclement weather! From the tour de force of the opening scene The Tempest as performed by the Kent Shakespeare Project was a unique sion of Ariel becoming an all too real and magical experience centred around figurehead. five main characters with the supporting Realism was added by Miranda stand­ talents of local young people. We were ing behind Prospero as if on board, with spellbound from start to finish. The the children adding depth by the move­ boatshed, with two large craft under re­ ment of their hands and bodies forming pair, echoing with the rain and the wind, the sides of the boat and the waves. A proved to be a wonderful backcloth for large group of them moving slowly for­ our introduction to the play. w ard as o f they w ere tru ly the storm that Prospero with his billowing cloak be­ overwhelmed Prospero’s ship. coming the sails of his ship held up by the The use of wooden blocks and staging staves of Caliban and Ferdinand with the employed in the repair of boats added white painted face and haunting expres­ further to a truly exciting evening.

FESTIVAL OF DOVER The Leivers Consort at St. Mary’s Church on 6th June

SHEILA R. COPE

It was balm to the soul to withdraw at duced such confident timing that it was lunchtime from summer’s first heat wave possible to relax without apprehension of to the interior of St. Mary’s Church. There, any disharmony. Most of the composers on 6th June, the Leivers Consort - twin represented were English. "If ye love me" brothers from Deal plus two friends - by our own Thom as Tallis was especially gave a forty-five minute selection of sa­ moving and I enjoyed the complex cred songs and madrigals from the six­ rhythms in John Farmer's "Fair Phyllis I teenth and seventeenth centuries. Unac­ saw”. This was a delightful short concert. companied their voices blended without We experienced a spell of calm beauty fault and the rapport between them pro­ before tackling the remainder of the day. Music f or tne Iron Voice TERRY’S TRIUMPH -----JACK W OOLFORD------

Music for the Iron Voice’, the Organ recital sponsored by the Dover Society in aid of the East Kent Hospice in Dover College’s splendid Chapel on Saturday 18 May was well attended (despite competing excellent musical attractions) and raised £150. The occasion was a triumph for the organist programme notes (beautifully printed by Terrence Vardon - long time a member of Budge Adams), were supplemented by his the Dover Society,- of Temple Ewell and friendly, persuasive and humorous asides. Dover Boys’ Grammar School (who also had The masterpieces after the inteval lessons on the College organ), now Head­ were deliberately more mixed, from the master of King Henry VIII School Coventry. exquisite refinements of 19th century Cesar Although starting off majestically with the Frank to the noisy extravagance of Widor’s gigantic challenge of Bach’s Toccata and famous Toccata, and on to the un-organic Fugue in D Minor, he described the ancient ’absurdities' of Scott Joplin’s “The Enter­ origins of the instrument and went on to tainer”, Eric Coates' “Dambusters” March play the earliest extant (14th century) piece and, for encore, a delightfully witty of (English) keyboard music. Then, in strict amalgam of the “Sailor’s Hornpipe”, the chronological sequence, he por-trayed both third “Brandenburg Concerto””, Vivaldi's instrumental and musical developments, "The Four Seasons” and Arne’s “Rule with examples from 15th century Spain and Britannia”. The friendly rapport between 16th century France, to the great 18th cen­ organist and audience was manifest in tury German climax of Buxtehude and Bach. applause more thunderous even than the All were masterpieces, display-ing to perfec­ loudest the organ could do. tion the Iron Voice's unmatched range from Intended as a contribution to the Dover quietest flute to most boisterous bass, and Festival before the change of dates the Soci­ played with joyous and infectious ety can congratulate itself on sponsoring a virtuosity. The organist’s scholarly good cause in a uniquely unforgettable way. Welcome to Calais Accueil CO CO CO CO OO OO OO OO CO COCO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO COCO CO CO OO CO OO CO CO CO COCO CO CO GO CO OO OO CO CO CSOCO OO OO CO CO CO

------JACK WOOLFORD On Monday 23 May there was a very pleasant ceremonial at the Town Hall when about twenty-five members of "Calais Accueil” a voluntary organisation to make visitors welcome to Calais, were hosted by the Mayor, Cllr. Lynn Young. Although he could not be present, it was Mayor of Calais, and it has taken time organised by Society Secretary, Leo Wright, and patience, and the happy co-exist- who had dedicated himself particularly to the ence there of Mme Marion Lefebvre, improvement of relations with our cross-Chan- English born, Calais resident, equally nel twin port and country. A year or two ago eager to promote Anglo-French friend- our members were similarly welcomed by the ship, to bring it about. After initial greetings, Councillor Tant the Norman Conquest, and Terry's and the Town Sergeant guided the Dover jesting reminders of French raids on Society representatives (Chairman, Vice­ Sandwich and English rule in Calais were President Lillian Kay, Sybil Standing and deftly translated (by Mme Lefebvre) and Terry Sutton) and their guests to the greeted with friendly laughter. Mayor's Parlour where the municipal The occasion concluded with a regalia w ere displayed and expounded in brief address by the Mayor of Dover what can best be described as a trialogue. and the service of refreshments, after Councillor and Town Sergeant, with which Cllr. Tant discussed with Mme interruptions from Terry Sutton, (and Lefebvre earlier frustrated attempts interpolations in schoolboy French from this side to promote Dover-Calais from the Chairman) explained some of friendship, with twin promises to do the mysteries of District and Town/ better. The next episode will be the Parish Councils and, even more enter­ meetingand lunch with some of today's tainingly, those of the Cinque Ports. These, guests on our trip later this month (July) of course, owed their existence to Anglo- to the Cote d’Opale. This, too, has been French hostilities, both before and after organised by Leo Wright. <>

Excavations

at the com er of Ibwnwall Street and Woolcomber Street

KEITH PARFITT

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

F ollow ing the dem olition of the petrol filling station off Townwall Street, members of the Canterbury Archeological Trust have spent some eighteen weeks on the site prior to the building of a new filling station. The work is being funded by BP Oil UK Ltd. The site lies within the bounds of the this area. On the hill above the site, former Burlington Hotel, destroyed the great Keep of Dover Castle would during the last war. Centuries earlier the have been under construction at exactly area formed an important region of the this tim e. medieval town. Lying within the ancient The excavations are due to be com­ parish of St. James this site seems to have pleted in early July but many more been situated in the fishermen's quarter of months of work on the very large number the old town. if artefacts recovered will be required. A complex series of mainly timber When that study and all the background buildings with trodden chalk floors has research is completed it will be possible been excavated; their remains are hard to produce a major new volume on the to find. The pottery that is being found history of Medieval Dover. It is already with them is mostly Norman in date, clear that there is a very interesting story c. A.D. 1150 - 1200 and it would seem that to be told concerning a little-known part there was then a thriving community in of this ancient town. Saxon or Norman? JOE H A R M AN

I t is n o t u n u s u a l to find that the resi­ The secular canons re-built their church dents of a town or parish aver that their and it was known as St. Martin-le-Grand. It local church was built in the Saxon period. has been suggested that the Canons built Sometimes there is documentary evidence the building we know as St. Mary-the- to support this and some parts of the Virgin and it may have been a hospice for structure may help to support this theory. travellers and by the Norman style it The rounded arch is common to both the could have been built some time in the Norman and Saxon periods. There are twelfth century. It had links with the some churches which have some very Maison Dieu until it became the parish distinctive Saxon features such as the long church after the Dissolution of the monas­ and short work at the corners of the build­ teries. Prior to this St. Peter’s, which stood ing. The windows are high up and usually in the Market Square on the site of the have splays on the outer and inner sides. present Lloyd’s Bank, hosted civic The doorways are narrower and taller and functions such as the election of the Mayor more solid in construction. Those which and w ere transferred to St. Mary’s. If we have historical evidence can be compared consult a history of St. Martin’s Priory we with those that are doubtful. The Domes­ find a mention of St. Mary’s Hospital and day Survey is helpful in indicating whether the Maison Dieu, which may indicate that or not there was a church on a site before St. Mary’s was there first and later the Conquest. However, it may have been attached in 1203. In the “Perambulation of wooden construction and may have of Kent” by William Lambarde is men­ been destroyed by fire due to strife or tioned the Hospital of St. Mary and the natural disasters. Domus Dei (or Maison Dieu). Claims have ben m ade that St. Mary the To come back to St. M ary’s in the town, Virgin in Dover originated in the Saxon it seems that the originalbuilding included period. This claim was to some extent the first two stages of the tower, which based on the entries in the Domesday may have been a narthex or porch, and the Monachorum which names three first three arcades up to the double pillars churches. They were St. Martin's, with, possibly, an apse. St. Peter's and St. Mary's, with the latter The lists of incumbents are not two being subordinate to the first. The always reliable as often we do not know Victoria County History in Volume III the sources. According to some records, in states that St. Mary’s is the one in the the case of St. Mary-the-Virgin in Castle and not the one in Dover. The Dover, the ones listed are the Masters origins of the church in the Castle are of the Maison Dieu who were expected shrouded in mystery and legend, but there to provide a priest for St. Mary’s w hen seem to be grounds for believing that King required. Eadbald set up a college of six canons with If this stipulation goes back to the connections with Colton’s Tower near the building of the Maison Dieu it might church. King Withred moved these indicate that the Hospital of St. Mary was secular canons down into the present already in existence before 1200. Market Square where he set up for them All this does not prove that there was the church of St. Martin. Most of the town not a Saxon building on the site, but there of Dover was razed to the ground by is no evidence in the present fabric. William’s soldiers after the Battle of Hast­ It may be that a wooden structure was ings. It was re-built soon after, as William built on top of the Roman debris, but realised the strategic importance of the this could have been when the Norman link with the Continent. soldiery exacted retribution in 1066. 45 Letters to the ‘Editor

37 Tower Hamlets Road Sandgate Dover June 1996 17th June 1996 Dear Editor, Dear Editor, Mr Breeze’s letter in the April issue of Reading about, and seeing, the controver­ the Newsletter took me back to a Saturday sial sheep in Maidstone High Street, afternoon soon after I came to Dover in reminds me of an idea I sent to Dover 1950, w hen I was invited to join a group District Council about a year ago which I visiting the Train Ferry Dock. thought might be something useful for the We non-Dovorians were fascinated to see tourist "think tank”. the skilful way in which the captain In view of Dover's connections with the manoeuvred his vessel between the dock famous bluebirds from the popular song, I walls with apparently only inches to spare, suggested that a good boost for tourism how the dock gates were lifted up behind it might be some concrete silhouettes of and the water gradually rose to the level at bluebirds in flight implanted on a few green which unloading could begin. sites on the cliff tops visible in the town and Long before that stage was reached, out at sea. Once in place maintenance however, the ship's crew had jumped would not be costly with possible volunteers ashore with their bicycles and pedalled off sweeping the “birds” and touching-up the into the town to buy coffee and anything paint occasionally. else un-rationed and cheaper than on their My second part to supplement the above own side of the Channel, returned trium­ was for similar "pictures” to be embedded phantly with their carrier bags and re­ in, or made up from, tiles in the Biggin sumed their duties. Street and Cannon Street precincts and the The British Rail engine puffed on board Market Square. Bluebirds in flight with to haul off the two halves of the train, captions: “There'll be bluebirds over . . . .” neatly arranged on either side of the vessel There could be a number of spin-offs from this, souvenir ceramics, ashtrays, key from where the freight was taken to its rings, T-shirts, etc. Dover seems to lack initial destination (refrigerated fruit good souvenirs - why not promote the wagons, for instance, to the Hither Green bluebirds? sidings in South-East London). Howabout a small bluebird festival yearly As a student I had been intrigued by the with competitions for the kids? I believe railway carriage advertisements for the there is already a Bluebird dance troupe in Night Ferry - the business man’s train to the town! Ideas are endless. the Continent - Dinner in London - Unfortunately, my idea was turned down. Breakfast in Paris, but had to content Reasons given were: town and country myself with the daytime passenger service planning,statutes protecting the White Cliffs - a standard and at times uncomfortable and impracticability. alternative in the pre-stabilizer days and This bizarre floral sheep, not to mention one which landed me at Koln about 5 am. the cut-out cows now well established on My last view of the Train Ferry was from the roundabout at Ashford, seem to make the Langdon Cliffs one warm summer my idea sound all the more sane and evening last year when a sleek red vessel probable. crossed the harbour to No. 1 berth after the Through this letter I hope to revive some cruise liner Costa Marina had sailed. I was interest and possibly to make the Council surprised that it was still operating and think again, especially about part two if the would not have known of its demise in cliff-top "birds” are not feasible. December if I had not been a member of I only have the good of Dover at heart - the Dover Society. we really do need more tourism. What do Thank you, Bill, for bringing me up-to- members think? date. Yours sincerely, M ay F . J o n es A. W . W h i t t a m o r e k n o w n a s D ic k W h i t t a m o r e <> WHITE CLIFFS COUNTRYSIDE PROJECT MELANIE WRIGLEY Project Officer

SAMPHIRE HOE GREAT FARTHINGLOE FARM

After a long, cold winter it did rain for Extending westwards from the West­ a couple of weeks. This rain had an ern Heights, this area of mixed farmland immediate effect on the vegetation at had its grasslands brought back into Samphire Hoe. The grasses grew more grazing management this year, with strongly and many flowering plants burst encouraging results. This spring there forth. In areas Bird's-foot Trefoil carpets was a beautiful showing of Cowslips in the ground with yellow blooms. Mixed in several areas, there should be some with this are the yellow, downy heads of colonies of Common Spotted Orchid in Kidney-vetch, and standing above them flower at any time, and most excitingly, a are the pink Sainfoin flower spikes. significant number of Adder’s-Tongue A large number of species has colon­ plants have been found. ised the grassland area. These are all welcome at the moment, but we are watching for any problem plants. The WHINLESS DOWN, ELMS VALE recent hotter weather has brought the Finally, dedicated volunteers have butterflies out - Small Copper, Small completed the long set of steps that link Heath and Common Blue have been the bottom of Whinless Down to the top recorded so far. of the ‘downs’ steepest end. The steps The monthly organised guided walks start on the hillside at the Harbour have continued to be very popular. On School end of the recreation ground, 1 June about 190 people enjoyed the sun within the grazing area, and lead up the and the flowers. steep hillside to the Long Wood end of Whinless Down. SHAKESPEARE CLIFF About 114 steps have been cut and built into the hillside to complete a This site is important as it is one of the circular route around Whinless Down. gateway areas to Dover, crossed by the The steps provide easier access for local A20, North Downs Way and Saxon Shore residents, school and college groups, and Way. The grassland shouldbe grazed again for people participating in Green Gang by cattle by early July. This is great news events. and will be a major step in maintaining Kings Road footpath that leads up onto the downland plants and insects. W hinless Down past Astor School was the focus of attention for Tidy Britain Week. tions for their growth. We toasted the 47 A day was spent clearing age-old litter return of the cowslips with a sip of cowslip from this neglected footpath. About 130 wine, (in these days made from commer­ pupils and teachers from Vale View Pri­ cially grown cowslips) as we sat on the mary School helped by White Cliffs Coun­ cliff top admiring the chalk downland and tryside Volunteers and some Astor sixth the views across the Channel. formers cleared the footpath of litter and Unfortunately, we have had vandalism larger rubbish, collecting about sixty bags to fences on the Western Heights too. of litter and larger rubbish. All the partici­ Some foolish person(s) cut a section of pants were very thorough and not a scrap stock fencing above Clarendon. This led of rubbish was left. Please help to keep to four or five Dexters escaping into the areas litter free. Clarendon area in the middle of the night, In 1995 we had three cattle die in the causing the local residents much concern Dover area as a result of eating rubbish. and disturbance and the police, graziers Please help us to stop more painful deaths and WCCP staff had to be called. If anyone and pick up rubbish especially in any of knows who cut the section of fencing and the grazing areas that you maybe visiting. removed it to the moat of the Drop As you know litter is a constant problem, Redoubt we would very much like to hear and although we try to collect litter on a from you. This is a very serious issue and regularbasis it appears more quickly than the culprits need to have a serious we can get rid of it. warning as to the potential danger caused The fencing has been regularly vandal­ by their stupid actions. Thankfully, this is ised at Whinless Down. This has been a very rare event. Please help us to keep done by young lads, some of whom are it that way by letting us know if you see under age and uninsured to drive motor­ any suspicious behaviour. bikes around the town. Motorbikes are Its not all bad news though! The not allowed on Whinless Down. If you see Volunteers, Volunteer Wardens and staff problems up there please contact Dover continue to care for the countryside Police and the White Cliffs Countryside around Dover and Folkestone. If you are Project. Better still, if you know who these able to spend any time helping us please boys are, please let us know. contact us at the office.

WESTERN HEIGHTS NEW LEAFLET COMING SOON The Volunteers and Wardens continue Look out for the new, full colour West­ to work hard on maintaining the foot­ ern Heights leaflet that will be printed paths, steps, fences and waymarking. very soon (available from mid-July). After the winter improvements around It gives information about the history and St. M artin’s Battery and the Grand Shaft to wildlife of the area. improve views out to sea, it appears that more visitors, both locals and tourists, are GUIDED WALKS, BIKE RIDES enjoying these areas as view points. AND GREEN ADVENTURES The gun battery car park is often full of cars with families using the picnic tables Please look out for our summer pro­ provided by the WCCP. grammes that are available from Tourist The grazed areas had a wonderful dis­ Information Centres, libraries and directly play of cowslips this spring. On the spring from us. Do encourage your friends and bank holiday I led a walk 'In Search of relatives to take part if they come to visit Cowslips’. These flowers are returning to you over the summer. the slopes of the Western Heights once again as the grazing providesbetter condi­ We look forward to seeing you sometime soon. o The TERRY SUTTON Factory Shops Inquiry

T h e oral battle over the future of the planned £50 milion complex of factory shops on the White Cliffs Business Park at Whitfield is set to resume in September when Planning Inspector Nicholas Hammans will continue to take evidence and hear submissions about the venture. The planning inquiry at the Council's who told of the parlours state of the town offices at Whitfield opened in June when centre economy in Dover. Keith LindblomQ.c., for Fairclough Homes Evidence was given on behalf of the and other companies, argued that forty- backers of the scheme that it was likely five factory shops at Whitfield would be the forty-five shops on fifteen acres would advantageous for Kent, for the district and attract something like 1.75 million visi­ for Dover. He is asking the Inspector to tors a year to the area, would provide 350 recommend the Secretary of State to over­ extra jobs and the infrastructure to unlock turn the planning refusal by Dover Dis­ phase two of the business park for other trict Council to allow the factory shop job-creating developments. complex. On the eve of the opening of the The Dover Society, Dover Chamber of planning inquiry it was revealed that Commerce, Kent County Council and oth­ Dover Harbour Board had submitted a ers are backing the Council’s opposition planning application for a smaller range to the project. Keith Lindblom submitted: of factory shops in the existing nest of “This is the right schem e in the right place buildings in Cambridge Road, backing onto at the right time." the Wellington Dock. Dover Council’s But this was countered by a witness, chief planning officer Mike Dawson Dover solicitor Peter Sherred who, in his suggested that, although that scheme evidence, responded: "This is the right had not yet gone before the planning scheme for Dover, at the right time, but in committee, he thought it a far better the wrong place, and the wrong scale for location, as it would be an edge-of-town D over.” development. Dover District Council was represented When the planning inquiry eventually at the inquiry by Mr Richard Rundell who ends, and the Inspector has made his called four expert witnesses. Their evi­ recommendations, the Secretary of State dence wasbeingbacked up by Mr Sherred will have to decide how much impact - for and by Mr Ron Dryden, both former Presi­ good or ill - the Whitfield project would dents of Dover Chamber of Commerce, have on Dover town centre. > But as Mr Sherred told the Inspector: Whitfield, would sell surplus stock from “Despite all the fine arguments being put manufacturers with a limited range of forward at this inquiry, the majority of mainly fashion and out-of-season/ those here today will not have to bear the over-production and/or discontinued consequences of the eventual decision. It lines of household table top goods. It is is we who are leftbehind who will have to claimed that the same products would live with the consequences." not be available at town centre shops *A Factory Outlet Shopping Centre and that they would be sold at 25% to 75% (FOSC), such as that proposed for of normal retail prices. <> Defence of Dover Castle ------AUTUMN 1940 - SPRING 1 9 4 1 ------

Mrs Wendy Atherton, wife of our President, Brigadier Maurice Atherton is engaged in writing a scholarly book on ‘The Defence of Docer Castle' Because this may prove to be indigestible without some lighter anecdotes, Mrs Atherton would welcome any material in the way of factual accounts by any members of the Dover Society who may be able to help with contributions. She has already accepted the following piece.

JT RANCEFELL. "We will never surren der” of grenades (working with one dummy Churchill told Hitler, “We will fight on the grenade) remembering always to remove beaches..." the pin with our teeth whilst keeping the The grapevine had it that w hen (not if) grip most firmly depressed. We were prom­ the Germans landed, the first line of ised real grenades and real rifles at any defence would be at the River Stour at moment — they never arrived. Canterbury with the second major line at The twenty-four hour watches contin­ the River Medway. The civilian popula­ ued and when the winter snows fell tion of Kent would be overrun by the we were instructed to make snowballs Blitzkrieg and would perish in the inva­ and practise lobbing them over the sion or would surrenderbut, although the ramparts as if they were grenades. Castle might be besieged by the Germans For arms we could go to the Keep and (as it had been by the French long ago) it remove from the walls the weapons of would never surrender: the heroic garri­ olden times, battleaxes, lances, swords son would rather die. and shields. I, a young airman from RAF Hawkinge, So Dover Castle was defended by in­ arrived at Dover Castle in the autumn of trepid volunteers with snowballs and an­ 1940, as did a whole motley collection of cient arms against Stuka bombers and the volunteers from the tattered remnants of threatened Blitzkrieg until Spring 1941 the B.E.F. and other units. We mounted a when it became clear that the German twenty-four hour watch along the battle­ invasion was but a myth and we could ments. We had no weapons. Between return to our units. times we attended lectures on military tactics and stripping and cleaning arms F/Lt. A. R. Goodburn (working from diagrams) and on the use (57414) 0 BLAKES 52 CASTLE STREET DOVER 01304 202194 Ale, Wine & Fine Eating House Daily Chef Specials and Full a la Carte DOVERS Fish Specialities always available BODY TONING Real Ale Selection and 52 Malt Whiskys BEAUTY SALON $ BLAKES 17 BIGGIN STREET o f D O V E R DOVER “Caterers to Ladies and Gentlemen, Tel: 211728 their Sons and Daughters”

REGULAR OR TALL - OUTSIZE OR SMALL WE FIT THEM ALL WIDE SELECTION OF SUITS, JACKETS, TROUSERS, SHIRTS LEATHERS AND CASUALS, etc.. OVER 300 SUITS ALWAYS EVENING HIRE - WEDDING HIRE IN STOCK AT LOW, LOW PRICES KING SIZE SMALL SIZE ALL OUTFITS SUPPLIED FROM OUR OWN TALL SIZE STOCKS X X X X ANY SIZE GUARANTEED FIT

PAGE BOYS'OUTFITS/HIGHLAND HIRE

ALTERATIONS TO GARMENTS PURCHASED FROM US ARE FREE OF CHARGE ALLAN HUGHES — QUALITY MENSWEAR 1 CANNON STREET, DOVER TEL: 01304 205715 NEVER LESS THAN 250 SUITS IN STOCK A. Jewellery. Watches, Clocks and Silverware S econdhan d Trust our craftsmen with We buy, sell your repairs, re-mounting and commission work M a n d v a lu e OUR SERVICE IS LEGENDARY

53 Biggin Street, Dover (01304)203326

other branches at Deal, Hythe, Folkestone & Canterbury

Two-Day Courses in (Decorative (Paintjinisfies e.g. Marbling, Ragging, Sponging, Stencilling, etc. EXPERT TUITION IN SMALL FRIENDLY GROUPS £65 for two days including all materials TEL: 01304 242006 or 01303 840874 TUTOR: LYN CLACKETT B — ^ PRIORY RIGDEANEWS FRAMING 14 Worthington Street Dover CT17 9AD A. J. Mole TOBACCO & GROCERY TEL: (0304) 204107 TELEPHONE (01304) 206095 DOVER HARBOUR BOARD

Working for and with the community

DOVER HARBOUR BOARD

Harbour House Dover, Kent CT17 9BU Telephone (01304) 240400 Fax (01304) 241274

1994 Kent Company of the Year v ------J j ANTIQUES WANTED Three Castles Antiques 3a Victoria Road, Deal, Kent CT14 7AS Established antique dealers and valuers wish to purchase antique furniture, silver, objets d' art. In strictest confidence.

Tel: 01304 380732

C-A-B PREFACE Dover & District Citizens Advice Bureau £ PR IN TS Maison Dieu Gardens, Dover 80 London Road 01304 202567 DOVER-KENT CT17 OSH

TEL:(01304)225171 Advice: Free, Quality second-hand Confidential Books and Ephemera; < Bought and Sold > and Prints and Cards Impartial Illustrations; < On Commission > Open on weekdays 10 -12 noon Mondays & Thursdays 2 - 4pm Daniel BROOKS LAURENT 54 ■&*>* Cai/^ THE •WAREHOUSE ■Eiiylinlj 2\r«tauniut PINE AND ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUES (Fully Licensed) Proprietors: Roger & Pauline Marples Beds chairs chests dressers 1 r * J { mirrors tables Traditional & Game Dishes V Uili tki] M L Evening Meals, Tuesdays - Saturdays 3 i i i Baths brackets M doors sinks Vegetarian Dishes H fireplaces etc. Over 100 different wines Wt O l d m e t a l Single vineyard brandies & vintage port III TOYS & MODELS Open at 18.30 with last orders at 22.00 i ' i Painted Furniture 29-30 Queens Gardens, Worthington Street 91 High Street, Dover, Kent CT16 1EB Dov

t(elVmRrtsStuf. , C.C. TaylorARi.cs . Chartered Surveyor 26 Castle Street, Dover, Kent CT161PW 01304206360 □ Planning & Design Scrvice SPECIALISTS in the □ Extensions & Conversions CONSERVATION and RESTORATION □ New Buildings of EINE ART, PRINTS, DRAWINGS and WATERCOLOURS for MUSEUMS, □ Refurbishment GALLERIES, TRADE and □ Structural Surveys PRIVATE CLIENTS

PICTURE FRAMING SERVICE Please Call: TRADITIONAL ENGLISH HANDMADE (01304) 822217 FRAMES TO ORDER HAND DECORATED MOUNTS 91 Lewisham Road, River, Dover, Proprietor: Deborah Colam Kent CT17 0PA ROBIN QUARRELL FBCO FAAO georgeLock OPTOMETRIST P ersonal-E ye-C are T hursday-Evenings Tailors • Uniforms ■ School Outfitters i B y A p p o in t m e n t : 01304 821182 60 & 61 Biggin Street, Dover, Kent CT161DD “caring for your eyes’

Telephone: (01304)206337 a t T he A b b e y P r a c t i c e -T e m p l e E w e ll

Jim & Jean Davies

COASTAL AWARDS F afiirw aiys Glass/Crystal Engraved on the Premises GOLF & SPORTS CEIWRE SPECIALIST SUPPLIERS OF ALL GOLF EQUIPMENT TROPHIES & ENGRAVING 13 London Road, Dover 51 CASTLE STREET, DOVER, TEL: 01304 207282 Phone: 01304 210586

TROSLEY “CENTIQUE” EQUIPMENT Sizes 8-26 Prices £2 - £20 ------4 PLASTIC VACUUM Ladies and Childrens FORMING Dress Agency 01304211411 Sharon Guest House 100 Folkestone Road SUPPORTING THE DOVER SOCIETY D o v e r Tel: 01304 204373 F rvc-fi ‘ Y ', Specialists in High-Class Laundering, Open mornings ir d7 Clcanins 9 -1 o’clock 4r Linen Hire or by appointment THE ELMS VALE Also Hats and Evening Dresses CLEANERS for Hire 20 Pencester Road, Dover Telephone: Dover (01304) 201054 r M atter of T aste Britannia 3 W o r t h in g t o n S treet Cars & D o ver, K ent CT17 9AF T el: 01304 201618 & Coaches 53 Castle Street, Dover Quality Confectionery Pipes • Lighters Taxi: Smokers' Sundries 01304 204420 Minibus: M owll & Mowll 01304 228111 SOLICITORS 24 Hour Service - Contracts DOVER AND CANTERBURY

Airports - Tours - Express (..Ore-'./ . Courier - Meal Pick-Ups JV), 4-16 Seater Vehicles a a available Samples of our competitive rates for Taxis BUYING AND SELLING Dover to: HOUSES FOR CLIENTS FOR Folkestone £6.50 MORE THAN 100 YEARS Elvington £6.00 Free estimates given Ramsgate £18.00 A ll legal services available Canterbury £12.00 34 CASTLE STREET, DOVER St Margarets Bay £4.00 Tel: 01304 240250 68 CASTLE STREET, CANTERBURY Capel £4.50 Tel: 01227 767063 Bridge £10.00 Gatwick £55.00 The Society extends its Heathrow £65.00 Best Wishes and Thanks Luton £83.00 to all the advertisers in the Newsletter. Fares from £1.20 Freephone in Icelands Their support for the Uniformed and Lady Drivers journal is invaluable and members After midnight £1 surcharge in town, are urged to buy their goods or use £1.50 out of town their services as often as possible. No surcharge to and from work Much may still bebought in Dover — seek and ye shall find! PR OGRAMME SEPTEMBER 14 FAVERSIiAM/SWALE BARGE TRIP Fully booked

SEPTEMBER 24 KEW GARDENS AND KEW PALACE Saturday 8.30 Cardinal Coaches Pencester Road £14 to include coach, entrance to usual pick-up points gardens and palace. Members and Guests Application forms with this Newsletter

OCTOBER 21 MEMBERS’ MEETING Monday 7.30 Speakers: Members and Guests KEVIN GUBBINS Dover Town Centre Co-ordinator CHRISTINE WATERMAN, Curator, Dover Museum St. Mary's Parish Centre Parking at Stembrook

NOVEMBER 8 CONUNDRUMS AND CONVIVIALITY Friday 7.30 at DOVER MUSEUM Members and Guests £4, including refreshments. Wine. Prizes for winners. Museum Main Entrance

NOVEMBER 17 TOUR OF TOWN HALL AND MAISON DIEU Sunday 2 pm With CHRISTINE WATERMAN Members and Guests SLIDE SHOW AND GUIDED TOUR £3.50 per person Apply by first week in October. Please ring Joan Liggett

DECEMBER 14 CHRISTMAS FEAST Saturday 7.30 £16.50, includes Buffet, Sherry Reception, Wine and Entertainment

DATES FOR 1997 DETAILS IN DECEMBER NEWSLETTER January 27 Meeting at St. Mary’s Parish Centre February 24 Wine and Wisdom March 24 Members' Meeting April 28 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING May 17 A Castle, a Railway and a Garden June 21 Craft Centre of Silk

ST.Pa .1.6 The Pines Garden & The Bay Museum Beach Road, St. Margaret’t Bay Tel: 01304 852764 chartered architect MUSEUM-Commencing GARDENS Saturday, 29th May Open Daily and Weekends and art services 2.00 pm - 5.30 pm throughout the year. (last entrants 5.00 pm) Closed Mon. & Fri. but Closed on Christinas day 9 Castle Street, Dover, Kent CT16 1PT open on Bank Holidays. tel: 01304 242749 fax: 01304 213072 Closes 5th September 1993 until Easter 1994

P iano i DOVER COUNSELLING CENTRE Tun Ing Offers You & Your Company in Kent General Counselling, Dcc Support Line ROBIN BASFORD Employee Counselling, Relate Marriage 207886 Guidance. Cruse BereavementCare, K.C.A. Alcohol Counselling (evenings) 9 St James’s St., Dover 01304 204123 Charity Number 800988

18l a Castle Street. r\™*Dover f t Telephone: 0304-215761 Fax: 0304 213072 STRICTEST CONFIDENCE GUARANTEED % ------THE COPY SHOP THAT CARES------* SUPERB CANON LASER COLOUR COPYING # AO SIZE PLANS & DRAWINGS UP TO (3.6mm Long) ALL BUSINESS & PERSONAL PRINTING & STATIONERY ARTWORK/DESIGN - POSTERS/LEAFLETS FAX/TELEPHONE ANSWERING/BUSINESS ADDRESS RUBBER STAMPS - WEDDING STATIONERY HOT FOIL PRINTING OF PROMOTIONAL ITEMS & STATIONERY _ EXCELLENT QUALITY AT BUDGET PRICES _ Typing/Word Processing Specialists for: CV s - Theses - Manuscripts Company Reports & Overspill Work

Designed and produced by a member of the Society and printed by A R. Adams & Sons (Printers) Ltd. Dour Street, Dover