Rare view of the 1st Century Roman Pharos, Dover Castle, Kent, UK

The East Roman Pharos in the grounds of Dover Castle stands on a huge horseshoe-shaped rampart known as Harold's Earthwork:


(Click this East Roman Pharos text link to see the largest size)

The East Roman Pharos was built 46 AD during the reign of Emperor Claudius while Aulus Plautius was governor.

On the right-hand side of the photo is part of a low perimeter wall that runs all the way around the edge of the earthwork.

The reason the above view of the Pharos (a watchtower or lighthouse) is rare - if not unique, at least as far as the internet is concerned - is because it was taken from the west and from outside of the perimeter wall.

Behind the Pharos is the Saxon church of St Mary-in-Castro.

A replica remnant of the West Roman Pharos, known as the Bredenstone, is located on the other side of the River Dour valley on the Drop Redoubt (part of a vast Napoleonic and Victorian hidden fortress embedded into the Western Heights).

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

Rare view of the 1st Century Roman Pharos, Dover Castle

Also see:

Albert Einstein, Julius Caesar, and the East Roman Pharos of Dover Castle
Saxon Church and Roman Pharos on Harold's Earthwork, Dover Castle
The AD 46 East Roman Pharos in the grounds of Dover Castle
Roman Pharos and Saxon Church from the Great Tower of Dover Castle
Roman Pharos, Saxon Church, and Victorian Garrison School, Dover Castle

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

A Dover Roman history and Dover Architecture photo. The English Heritage "Pastscape" entry for Dover Castle states:

"Medieval castle possibly originating as a pre-1066 motte and bailey castle, remodelled during the reign of Henry II (Curtmantle), to became a castle with concentric defences, one of the first examples of its kind in western Europe."

All Roman photos first appear under the Roman tag.

All Dover Castle photos first appear under the Castle and Dover Castle tags.

The Pharos and the 12th Century Norman Castle are both Grade I Dover Listed Buildings and Dover English Heritage sites.

John Latter / Jorolat

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