We suggest you start your walk along the trail at the underpass that runs under the A20 from Bench Street. It was here that the celebrated 3,600 year old Bronze Age Boat was discovered in 1992 during road contruction work
Introduction
To commemorate the Millennium,
the Dover Society have installed around the town ten plaques that mark historic links with events and people from by-gone days.
As you stroll through the underpass towards the sea front have a look at the murals showing the progress in cross-Channel travel over the centuries.
Once out of the underpass turn left into Camden Crescent and see the second plaque recalling that Charles Dickens and his family used to lodge here and where he was visited by fellow writer Wilkie Collins. The actual house was destroyed by enemy action
in 1939 - 45 war.
Now walk on to the sea front where a prize winning sculpture, entitled Crest of the Wave, depicts two swimmers. Turn right and walk along the promenade, past other monuments recalling Dover's Hell Fire Corner days. At the far end of the promenade there's a momument commemorating the arival on our shores of Charles II on the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. Turn right and cross the swing bridge, noticing the Dover Lifeboat Station on your left and the yachts in both the Wellington and the Granville Docks. On reaching Snargate Street ( the A20 ) turn left, cross a bridge over the railway, then over a viaduct to Lord Warden Square.
Here is the former Lord Warden Hotel, now used for offices. The Hotel once hosted Royalty, nobles, diplomats, and writers including Dickens and Thackery, while they waited to cross the Channel. Here is plaque number three recalling the arrival of Napoleon III Emperor of the French, when he arrived at Dover to go into exile
Now retrace your steps, back over the viaduct and along Snargate Street. Notice the Grand Shaft, a triple staircase through the cliffs to the Western Heights above, constructed in Napoleonic War days to provide speedy access for troops from their barracks above to the shoreline.
Towards the end of Snargate see plaque number four. It was near this spot where the Yorke family lived and whose son went on to become Lord Chancellor
Now cross dual carriageway York Street and walk to the town's Market Square where Dover museum is situated, for the start of walk two. ( click on button below )
