Discover Britain: Dover Castle

This is the exterior of the Great Tower, which was built by King Henry II in the 12th century, and has recently been restored to its 12th century furnishings and decorations by English Heritage. Additionally, there are costumed historical interpreters in this area of the castle, affording visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the medieval world of King Henry II’s court. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Alysia Harvey)

Discover Britain: Dover Castle

A trip to Dover Castle affords visitors an opportunity to not only see the beautiful white cliffs of Dover that Vera Lynn sang about during World War II, but also a chance to see the busy Port of Dover. From this port, one can catch a ferry to France, take a cruise, moor a leisure craft or use the extensive port facilities for business. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Alysia Harvey)

Discover Britain: Dover Castle

Taken from the Great Tower, this is the Roman Pharos and St. Mary-in-Castro Church. The Pharos is one of two lighthouses built in 70 A.D. to guide the Roman fleet into the harbor. Standing at approximately 42 feet, it is the tallest surviving Roman building in Britain; originally, it stood at about 78 feet. According to legend, the church was originally a Roman shrine to the gods of war, Minerva and Mars. The present church was built in Saxon times and has the earliest door arch of any church in England. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Alysia Harvey)

Discover Britain - Dover Castle

Entrance to the Secret Wartime Tunnels at Dover Castle. Deep inside the white cliffs of Dover are more than four miles of secret tunnels where wartime personnel worked, slept and planned some of the most vital work of World War II. Dover Castle has been named Kent’s “most haunted castle”, and is said to have at least nine ghosts. One of the most frequently reported is a young soldier in the tunnels who stops visitors to ask for help to find “Helen”. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Alysia Harvey)

Discover Britain: Dover Castle

Published Aug. 14, 2009
By Capt. Alysia R. Harvey
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- I recently visited Dover Castle, a spectacular castle that was built by King Henry II in 1180 to protect the English coast.

Dover Castle sits atop the beautiful white cliffs of Dover that Vera Lynn sang about in the song "The White Cliffs of Dover" during World War II. Deep inside the cliffs are more than four miles of secret tunnels where wartime personnel worked, slept and planned some of the most vital work of World War II. I have visited several castles during my time in England, but I must admit the Secret Wartime Tunnels were what made this particular trip so unique.

Visitors can't tour all portions of the tunnels or take photos inside them, but we followed the story of an injured pilot fighting for his life in the parts that are open. Standing in the operating room, I felt the intensity of the medical personnel who worked to save the pilot's life. The sound and lighting effects, along with the original pieces of military, office, medical equipment, furniture and knick-knacks really made this an awesome experience! Would you believe that you can even smell the beef stew that was cooking in the cafeteria area of the tunnel? I'm not sure how they do that, and it was quite unexpected, but it was very, very cool!

According to brochures there, Dover Castle has been named Kent's "most haunted castle", and is said to have at least nine ghosts. One of the most frequently reported is the young soldier in the tunnels who stops visitors to ask for help to find "Helen". While I didn't encounter this fella, I did see a ghost. I think I scared him, though, because he just ran away!

The guided portion of the tunnel tour took about an hour, then, it was off to the Great Tower. There were costumed historical interpreters in this area of the castle, so visitors had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the medieval world of King Henry II's court. The Great Tower has been restored to its 12th Century furnishings and decorations, and I found the vibrant colors to be quite a contrast to everything else there. The actors really make it seem more real, but all the camera flashes reminded me it was indeed 2009 and I was in no danger of becoming one of the king's wenches.

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone. The views from the top of the Great Tower and the Admiralty Look-out were absolutely breathtaking - great places for photos! We had a bit of a wait before my group entered the tunnels, but I had no complaints. It was a beautiful day, the sun felt wonderful beating down on my skin and sitting on the benches overlooking the ocean and watching the seagulls in the distance was quite relaxing. For those taking this trip, though, be advised there is a lot of walking around. There is a free train, but it was full every time it passed me, so if you have children, you should consider bringing a stroller. Also, while there are some restaurants on the castle grounds, they primarily only serve pastries, cold sandwiches, beverages and ice cream. I found myself wishing I had packed a lunch for the trip, as there were picnic benches in several places on the castle grounds and there's the - well, the castle ground!