The History of Dover

The town of Dover has played a vital role throughout English history. The town is the gateway to the continent, controlling the English Channel and known as the 'Lock and Key of England'.

Due to this key strategic position, Dover has been the subject of several attempts at invasion: Julius Caesar tried to land at Dover during the Roman Invasion of 55 BC. Dover was also the prime objective of the invasion plans of William the Conqueror, Napoleon and Hitler.

As a result of its decisive position, Dover has always been a military and garrison town: the iconic Dover Castle has guarded the town for centuries. In Dover one can also find extensive remains of Roman forts, Napoleonic forts and defences from both the World Wars when Dover was Britain's Frontline Town.

Today, Dover Port is the busiest passenger ferry terminal in the world, the busiest cruise liner terminal in Britain and a major port for freight, particularly for fruit and other perishables imported via the large reefer cargo ships.

This brief history of Dover has been divided into historical periods :

• Dover in Prehistoric Times : Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age
• Roman Dover : Home of the Roman fleet, the Classis Britannica
• Saxon Dover : From the fifth century onwards, when Dover, then known as DOFRAS, became a major settlement in the new Kingdom of Kent.
• Norman Invasion : The Norman conquest and 1066
• Medieval Dover : Growth of Dover castle and the Cinque Ports
• Tudor and Stuart Dover :Elizabeth 1 and Henry Vlll and Dover's links with the Monarchy 
• 19th Century Dover : Development of the defences; Dover as a seaside resort
• 20th Century Dover : Dover in the First World War, Second World War and the Cold War.