Drop Redoubt

Construction of Drop Redoubt started between 1804-1809 and had the simple form of a pentagon. Trenches were cut into the hillside and were then revetted with brickwork to form a defensible island. The “island” then had barracks, magazine and artillery situated on top of it. Due to the threat of Napoleon III a Royal Commission was set up in 1859 to assess Britain’s defences. Improvements to Drop Redoubt were deemed necessary and Caponiers were added to four of the corners of the existing fortification, two gun rooms were added adjacent to the Caponiers allowing them to fire along the North and South East lines of the Redoubt.

By World War One the Redoubts guns had been removed, it then housed searchlights which were operated by the Dover Anti Aircraft Corps. Following the end of the war Drop Redoubt was left abandoned.

The Redoubt then found new life in World War Two as a lookout post, plotting the long range shelling of Dover from France. During April 1942 the Redoubt became home to 100 Commandos and 60 Canadian infantry who commenced a raid to the shore of Hardelot, France under the command of Lord Lovat. At the end of the War the Redoubt was permanently left abandoned but thanks to the Western Heights Preservation Society the Redoubt is seeing a new lease of life.