Tudor & Stuart

 The kings and queens of the Tudor and Stuart dynasties took a particular interest in Dover. Both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I recognised the value of the harbour, at this time threatened with blockage by shingle, and chose to finance expensive repairs and enlargements.

Henry also made improvements to Dover's defences and famously built castles at Deal, Sandown and Walmer to protect the Downs anchorage.

During the English Civil War (1642-51) Dover was on the side of Parliament, declaring themselves against King Charles I.

In 1660, however, the town enthusiastically welcomed the return of his son Charles II to England via Dover beach, following the Restoration of the Monarchy.

Throughout the period that followed the Restoration, Dover relied heavily on its then-small and unreliable harbour. It only began to prosper following the building of the great harbour in the 19th century.