The Grand Shaft

In the wooded hills above Dover on its western flank are major and what were once, virtually impregnable military structures. The "Redoubts" were used to house troops to defend the port against French invaders.

Nestling amongst the Redoubts is the extraordinary "Grand Shaft". The shaft extends down to the port below and is surrounded by 3 spiral staircases to facilitate the swift dispatch of the British troops from the Redoubts on the hill, to port where they could then harrass the French invaders.

We discovered these fascinating structures on a rain drenched walk to the "Western Heights" earlier today.

The marina where Bonny is parked is just to the right of centre in the photo above.

Our walk took place after a very good and very late all day breakfast and a visit to the Dover Museum where we marveled at their principle exhibit - a Bronze Age boat recovered from a building site in Dover town centre in the 1990s. Apparently, at around 3000 years old it's the oldest boat in the world - even older than Bonny :)!

That's the boat in the museum. Below is a half scale 'replica' of what it is thought to have looked like (minus the red life jackets) when in use.

On our return the weather had improved and it was time to take some photos of Bonny and the crew...

Andy's missing from the above photos because he has to be home by Thursday.

We have an OKish weather window over the next few days and so we depart for Eastbourne early tomorrow morning and then intend to leave there for Plymouth on Friday and hope to get there by Sunday.