Netherlands 918 Combat Boat 90 Fast Assault Craft Bow, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

A Dutch Combat Boat 90, pennant number 918, berthed against Crosswall Quay in the Tidal Harbour of Dover Marina:


(Click this Combat Boat 90 Bow text link to see the largest size)

Soon after the shot was taken, two Royal Marines (1) arrived and were taken onboard by a member of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (2).

The Dutch boat can carry 18 amphibious troops and has rails fitted on the stern deck to hold a vehicle.

This Dover Harbour photo was taken during a cycle ride (3) at 2.18 pm on Thursday, 3rd of February, 2011, from in front of Dover Lifeboat Station (home to the Dover Lifeboat, RNLB City of London II).

Netherlands CB90 Stern

The caption to the second photo of the vessel, Stern view of Netherlands Combat Boat 90 Assault Craft in Dover Harbour, has a different video and secondary photo to those below.

In 2010, Sweden's Dokstavarvet Shipyard successfully modified 2 Combat Boat 90's to be lifted into davits of LPD's ("landing platform dock") of the Royal Netherlands Navy (4) and the UK's Royal Navy (5).

During trials scheduled to last 6 months, the two boats and a full Swedish boat squadron were embarked on, and deployed from, a Dutch Navy LPD as a fully integrated element of the amphibious forces (6) aboard.

On the 9th of May, 2011, the Royal Navy subsequently announced (7):

MS Emerald Princess Cruise Ship berthed at the Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Emerald Princess berthed at CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2) on the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks, her bow pointing in the direction of the Western Entrance and English Channel beyond:


(Click this MS Emerald Princess Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

Western Docks at Night

The Emerald Princess is in the Inner Harbour (ex-Commercial Harbour) of Dover Harbour, bounded by the out-of-shot Prince of Wales Pier.

To the left of the passenger ship is the Southern Breakwater and the Pride of Calais, a P&O Ferries cross-channel ferry about to enter the Eastern Entrance.

Towards the bow on the right is the Cruise Terminal 1 building; near the stern is part of the Admiralty Pier Turret (alt. Dover Turret), an enclosed Victorian armoured fortification built in 1882.

On highter magnifications a half-moon can be seen towards the top right-hand corner of the photo; partial view of a sky-blue double-decker bus.

The photo was taken at 1.07 pm on Tuesday, 10th of May, 2011, from the upper level of the Admiralty Pier.

The Emerald Princess is part-way through a 16-Day "Northern Europe Passage" cruise From Fort Lauderdale (USA) to Copenhagen. Full itinerary (schedule):

MS Empress Cruise Ship from the Admiralty Pier Turret, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Empress berthed at CT1 (Cruise Terminal 1) on the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks, her bow pointing in the direction of the Western Entrance (night photo) and English Channel beyond:


(Click this MS Empress Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

Western Docks at Night

The photo was taken at 12.57 pm on Tuesday, 10th of May, 2011, from the upper level of the Admiralty Pier near the Admiralty Pier Turret (alt. Dover Turret: an enclosed Victorian armoured fortification built in 1882).

The Empress is in the Inner Harbour (ex-Commercial Harbour) of Dover Harbour, bounded on the far side by the out-of-shot Prince of Wales Pier.

The MS Empress is on a 10-night positional cruise from Lisbon to Copenhagen, taking the ship north for the 2011 summer season around the Baltic Sea. Full itinerary:

Lisbon, Portugal (04 May); Leixoes, Portugal (05 May); La Coruña (La Coruna), Spain (06 May); Bilbao, Spain (07 May); Le Havre (Paris), France (09 May); Dover, England (10 May); Ijmuiden, Holland/Netherlands (11 May); Hamburg, Germany (12 May); Copenhagen, Denmark (14 May).

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The MS Empress (1) (2)

Night Panorama of Dover Castle overlooking the Seafront and Harbour, Kent, UK

A panoramic view of the south-western face of Dover Castle's Keep (or Great Tower) taken at night on New Years Day, Saturday, 1st of January, 2011:


(Click this Dover Castle & Harbour at Night text link to see the largest size)

The Norman Keep was once known as Palace Tower and "...was designed by Henry II’s architect ‘Maurice the Engineer’ (or mason) and built between 1180 and 1185".

Beneath the Keep are the towers of the Inner Bailey wall, or Inner Curtain Wall. There are two entrances to the Keep-yard: on the left of the inner curtain wall is a flanking tower of King's Gate (King's Gateway), and the twin towers of Palace Gate (Palace Gateway) are on the right.

Constable's Gate
St Mary-in-Castro

Below the Inner Curtain Wall are the towers of the Western Outer Curtain Wall, from left to right: Constable's Tower, Queen Mary's Tower, Peverell's Gateway, Gatton's Tower, Say's Tower (not illuminated), Hurst's Tower, and Fulbert's Tower.

On Harold's Earthwork near top left are the Roman lighthouse, or East Pharos, and Saxon church of St Mary-in-Castro (more Dover churches).

In daylight, part of the White Cliffs of Dover would be visible below and to the right of the church.

On the seafront in the lower-half of the photo, the Gateway Flats overlook Marine Parade, the beach and harbour, to the Straits of Dover and English Channel beyond.

Above the Gateway Flats on the left are lights from Victoria Park (with its turreted Lodge, or Gatehouse). To the right of the Gateway Flats is part of the Premier Inn.

The photo was taken at 6.43 pm from the Clock Tower end of the Prince of Wales Pier while on an evening cycle ride (1).

Excerpt from "The Port of Dover" (2):

Night View of the Unique St Edmund's Chapel, Priory Road, Dover, Kent, UK

A view of St Edmund's Chapel taken on Saturday, January 8th, 2011, from above the chapel forecourt on Priory Road:


(Click this text link to see the largest size)

This 13th century building, some 28 feet by 14 feet, may not be the world's smallest church but it is the only one dedicated by one English saint, St. Richard of Chicester, to another English saint, St. Edmund of Abingdon (Edmund Rich, or Eadmund of Canterbury, consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury on 2 April 1234).

The chapel was consecrated by St. Richard of Chicester on March 30th 1253, dissolved in 1544, and was subsequently put to various uses "including a victualling store for the Navy, a store room, and a (blacksmith's) forge".

St. Edmund's Chapel was restored during 1967-1968 and Saturday morning Eucharists are held there.

The pathway on the right is "St Edmund's Walk" which connects Priory Road to the shopping precinct in Biggin Street.

Two Priory Road houses in front of the chapel were hit by shell-fire in 1943 during the Second World War (World War II) and demolished. One of the buildings used to be "Bicknell's" (H. R. Bicknell), a newsagent and tobacconist.

A plaque in the forecourt of St Edmund's Chapel states:

MS Spirit of Britain and the White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

After wandering around in small circles in the North Sea off Deal and Sandwich for a couple of hours, the MS Spirit of Britain super-ferry finally entered the Eastern Entrance of Dover Harbour at 11.05 am on Sunday, 9th of January, 2011:


(Click this MS Spirit of Britain text link to see the largest size)

The above view, with the White Cliffs of Dover as a backdrop, was taken at 11.19 am and shows the brand-new cross-channel ferry in the last stages of maneuvering prior to berthing.

The Eastern Arm pier running behind the Spirit of Britain juts out from the Eastern Docks cross-channel ferry terminal (out-of-shot to the left).

At the other end of the Eastern Arm is the Eastern Entrance to the Straits of Dover and English Channel (the other side of Eastern Entrance is formed by the Southern Breakwater).

The strange-looking object on top of the cliffs right of centre is the South Foreland lighthouse. The top of the darker Old South Foreland lighthouse, built in 1793, can be seen near the right-hand edge of the cliffs. Both lighthouses are over 5000 yards distant.

This zoomed photo of the Spirit of Britain was taken 1900 yards away from near the lighthouse end of the Prince of Wales Pier (see all lighthouse photos).

A similar view of the MS Pride of Calais will be uploaded anon.

Abridged extract from a P&O Ferries blog (1):

The King's Chamber of Henry II in the Great Tower of Dover Castle, Kent, UK

A view of the King's Chamber on the second-floor of the Keep, or Great Tower (night view), of Dover Castle after "a major transformation by English Heritage to re-create the splendour of a royal court in the late 12th century" (1):


(Click this Palace King's Chamber text link to see the largest size)

An explanation for the size of King Henry II's bed was given by Steven Lang (Head Custodian of Dover Castle) at a meeting held in 2010 (2):

The beds seem unusual and are small by today's standards. In Henry's reign people would not lie down to sleep. They were afraid that if they fell asleep and their mouths opened the devil would enter their bodies. With a shorter bed they could sleep in more of a sitting position and this would not happen.

An additional reason given by a Dover Castle English Heritage guide (Keith Ashley-Thomas) is that sleeping sitting up reduced wood smoke inhalation - but only for those who could afford such a luxury at night, of course!

As well as being a bedroom, the King's Chamber is where Henry II could have had private meetings and audiences. It was also known as a "Solar" (3):

The Throne of Henry II in King's Hall, Great Tower of Dover Castle, Kent, UK

A view of the King's Hall on the second-floor of the Keep, or Great Tower (night view), of Dover Castle after "a major transformation by English Heritage to re-create the splendour of a royal court in the late 12th century" (1):


(Click this Palace King's Hall text link to see the largest size)

The middle throne is in blue and gold and stands about 1.5 metres (five feet) tall, while the gold-on-red backcloth is five metres (16 feet) high. Topping the whole thing off is a canopy.

Keith Ashley-Thomas, an English Heritage guide who appears in the original Trebuchet Siege Engine photo (not yet uploaded), said the canopy contains stars of gilded leather and had been made by the Royal School of Needlework. A little research found this entry (2):

2009 for the re-presentation of The Great Hall, Dover Castle. Six large pieces were produced in an extremely short timescale including the King’s Hall backcloth; a canopy and tester; the Guest Hall backcloth and a standard and altar frontal. These were completed with the help of volunteers from the RSN Certificate Course.

On the left of Henry II's throne is a smaller one whose original would have been used principally by Prince John (later King John (Lackland): see the Knights Templar Ruins photo when uploaded) as another son, Prince Richard (later Richard I, Coeur de Lion, or Richard the Lionheart), spent much of his time abroad.

The seat to the right of King Henry II's throne was for Princess Alice of France (or Alys, Countess of the Vexin) who appears to have been more than just the ward of Henry II.

MS Disney Magic Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Western Entrance 2, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

A post-sunrise view of the MS Disney Magic as it manouevres into position to berth alongside CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2) of the Admiralty Pier in the Western Docks of Dover Harbour:


(Click this MS Disney Magic Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

The bow of the MS Disney Magic is pointing towards the open waters of the Straits of Dover and the English Channel through the Western Entrance (bounded by the Admiralty Pier behind the ship and the out-of-shot Southern Breakwater further to the left).

The photo was taken at 5.55 am on Sunday, 18th of July, 2010, from the lighthouse and cafe end of the Prince of Wales Pier.

The view is similar to that shown in the "MS Disney Magic Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Western Entrance 1" photo (linked to below), except this one shows more of the side of the ship and less of the stern (a better picture all round, I think).

The MS Disney Magic has just finished a 11-Night Northern European Capitals Cruise which called at Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Warnemünde/Rostock (Germany), St Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland), and Stockholm (Sweden).

Later in the day, the ship began a cruise with a similar itinerary, except it called at Tallinn (Estonia) instead of Helsinki.

Ship information:

Dover Police Station CT16 1DJ in Ladywell from The Park Inn, Dover, Kent, UK

Dover Police Station is situated on the south-eastern side of Ladywell between the houses of Park Street on the left and Ladywell Carpark at the rear of the Town Hall to the right:



In the foreground, the River Dour runs from left to right under the road and emerges on the other side of the bridge parapet before making its way to the Bowling Green, Pencester Gardens, and the sea at Wellington Dock.

The photo was taken on Sunday, September 26th, 2010, from in front of The Park Inn (my local pub!) in Park Place.

The Kent Police Museum, based at The Chatham Historic Dockyard, has a small Second World War photo showing the damaged front right-hand corner of Dover Police Station. The caption reads:

Dover Police Station, Ladywell, after cross channel bombardment. The station had only been open a few months.

It was surprising to read it was shell rather than bomb damage because the front of the police station faces away from the Cape Gris Nez area of France where the German long-range guns were located - perhaps the shell entered through the back of the building and blast damage exploded out of the front.

The Kent Police Museum also has some interesting notes on the early history of policing in Dover:

Seven Seas Voyager Cruise Ship, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

A post-sunrise view of the MS Seven Seas Voyager soon after the ship had berthed alongside CT1 (Cruise Terminal 1) of the Admiralty Pier in the Western Docks of Dover Harbour:



The red-bricked structure on the right is the Cruise Terminal 1 building, previously Dover Marine Railway Station (and ex-Dover Western Docks Station).

The photo was taken at 5.57 am on Thursday, 9th of September, 2010, from a point between the Porthole Shelters (to the right) and the Lighthouse (to the left) on the Prince of Wales Pier (western side).

The Seven Seas Voyager passenger ship had just finished a 12-night Stockholm to Dover cruise; later in the day, the ship began a 14-night Dover to Monte Carlo cruise (Monte Carlo is a Monaco administrative area).

The Seven Seas Voyager is a cruise ship for Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) and entered service in 2003. Every cabin on board is a suite with a balcony. In 2006, a Forbes.com article listed the Asia leg of the Voyager's world cruise as the most expensive cruise in the Asia region.

West Tower and Upper Floor of Dover's Lost Castle, The Court's Folly, Kent, UK

The Georgian Court's Folly, styled in the shape of the Keep, or Great Tower (night view), of Dover Castle, was built in the early 1800s on the Western Heights cliffs above Snargate Stree by two Wine Merchants, Stephen and Rogers Court:


(Click this Court's Folly West Tower text link to see the largest size)

For much of its history, however, the 19th century miniature "lost castle" has been neglected and the ruins are now hidden under the trees and other undergrowth that cover this part of the White Cliffs of Dover.

Most Dovorians do not know the Court's Folly exists.

A Dover Museum webpage states (1):

...As well as leasing the shop (140 Snargate Street) and premises from Dover Harbour Board, the Courts' leased 2 plots of land behind, from Thomas Rutley and Thomas Papillon. On this land Stephen and Rogers built terracing for vines, tea gardens, 2 summerhouses, and dug an extensive network of vaults into the cliffs behind, with plastered and painted walls and chalk carvings.

Dover Castle Keep

The terracing up the cliffs was laid out as gardens, growing the different varieties of grapes that the wines they sold were made from, and also other exotic fruit such as figs and dates.

A summerhouse was built at the top of the terracing and further along the cliff-face they built a folly in the shape of Dover Castle silhouetted against the sky.

These became tourist attractions and customers could taste-test products sitting on the terracing and have tours of the vaults...

The internal dimensions of the Court's Folly are approximately 10.5 feet deep by 20 feet wide. The external length of the East Wall is actually about 13 - 14 feet deep, with the last 3 feet or so containing a horizontal oval recess (this extension is probably for cosmetic or structural purposes only). The front wall is 16 inches thick and is over 20 feet high. This view shows only part of the lower storey.

Apparently, the oval windows were quite a popular design feature that had originated in an earlier period (2):

MV Fram Cruise Ship on a Foggy Morning in Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Fram cruise ship entered Dover Harbour - closely followed by fog! - via the Eastern Entrance and is shown in front of the White Cliffs of Dover and Eastern Arm pier:



The passenger ship is heading towards the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks where it will berth at CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2).

This zoomed photo taken at 8.33 am on Friday, 15th of April, 2011, from near the lighthouse and cafe end of the Prince of Wales Pier (eastern side).

To the left of the passenger ship, the Eastern Arm pier juts out from the Eastern Docks (the cross-channel ferry terminal, not in view). The English Channel is on the right.

The MS Fram has just finished a "Spring in Western Europe" cruise which began on the 7th of April with the following itinerary:

Lisbon (Portugal), Porto (Oporto, Portugal), La Coruna (Spain), Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux (France), Sark (Channel Islands, UK), Guernsey (Channel Islands, UK), Honfleur (France), Dover (for London, UK).

At 5 pm, the MS Fram left the Port of Dover at the start of an 11-day, "Norwegian Highlights" cruise calling at:

Charles Lightoller of the Titanic and the Spanish Prince blockship of Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The Georgian 8 East Cliff, also known as Elizabeth House and a Grade II Dover Listed Building, is the left-hand four-storey house of the block with "1834" on the parapet:


(Click this Georgian 8 East Cliff Listed Building text link to see the largest size)

In 1899, Charles "Lights" Lightoller went to Liverpool and thought he had signed on as third mate to the Knight Bachelor only to find himself "shanghaied" into serving in the far less desirable Knight Companion instead (1):

I still had malarial fever in my veins, and well I knew it on the train journey down and across London. I arrived at Tilbury Dock feeling like the complete West African dishcloth. All I wanted was to get my head down, and forget I was alive. I had, in my subconscious mind, all the comforts that one associates with the Royal Mail. A nice airy cabin, a bunk with clean white sheets, a boy to attend you, and practically every wish anticipated. Doctor, stewards and all the rest of it.

Arriving at Tilbury Dock, I asked a porter wearily where the Knight boat was lying. He replied, "Oh, just near by, sir. Over the bridge," and suggested he should put my baggage on a truck and run it over. "Right," said I, my one anxiety being to get to my cabin, and try to forget this damnable fever. We trudged along, I simply following the porter, conscious of little but a terrific temperature.

Suddenly the porter stopped. "Well," I said, "why have you stopped?" "Here is your ship, sir." I looked up. What a horror! About the dirtiest thing I'd ever clapped eyes on. Her rusty iron sides streaked with the horrible overflow from the cattle she had evidently been carrying. Smelling like nothing on earth. "But this isn't the Knight Bachelor, surely?" I exclaimed. "Oh, no sir, the Knight Bachelor sailed last week; this is the Knight Companion." Had I had the strength she would certainly have been no companion of mine. However, I was just about at the end of my tether, and thought, "Come, let's get on board, and between some blankets."

...I have often grinned over the way I got shanghaied into that wretched ship.

MV Minerva Cruise Ship and 12th Century Dover Castle, Inner Harbour, Kent, UK

The MV Minerva photographed from the Turret on the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks at 4.02 pm on Wednesday, 28th July, 2010:


(Click this MS Minerva cruise ship text link to see the largest size)

MV Minerva and Castle (2)

The MS Minerva had previously been berthed at Cruise Terminal 1 on the Admiralty Pier (out-of-shot to the left) and is shown in the processs of completing an 180 degree turn (see thumbnail) whereupon she will head for the Western Entrance of Dover Harbour and the English Channel beyond.

The Minerva arrived from Copenhagen (Denmark) at the end of a 15-night, "Treasures of the Baltic" cruise. The passenger ship is now leaving port at the start of a 15-night, "Sagas of Fire & Ice" cruise with the following itinerary (schedule):

Kirkwall (Orkney Islands, Scotland), Lerwick (Shetland Islands, Scotland), Helmaey (Vestmannaeyjar Islands, Iceland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Grundarfjordur (Grundarfjörður, Iceland), Isafjordur (Ísafjörður, Iceland), Akureyri (Iceland), Thorshavn (Torshavn, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark), and Edinburgh (Scotland).

A video from Swan Hellenic featuring the MV Minerva:

MS Eurodam Cruise Ship just after Sunrise, Eastern Entrance, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

A post-sunrise view of the MS Eurodam after she had entered Dover Harbour from the English Channel via the Eastern Entrance:


(Click this MS Eurodam Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

Eastern Docks at Night

On the left of the photo the Eastern Arm pier juts out from the Eastern Docks (the cross-channel ferry terminal, not in view) with the Eastern Entrance to the right of the ship bracketed by the out-of-shot Southern Breakwater.

The photo was taken at 5.44 am on Tuesday, 29th of June, 2010 (1) from a point mid-way between the Porthole Shelters and the lighthouse and Harbour View Cafe on the Prince of Wales Pier (eastern side). A zoomed shot: the ship is 700-800 yards away.

Unusually, the Eurodam is shown pivoting on her bow prior to continuing the rest of the journey across the Outer Harbour in reverse. Every other large cruise ship I've seen enter Dover Harbour hasn't reversed until they have reached the Western Entrance - see the MS Disney Magic and MV Braemar photos for examples.

This manoeuvre may be due to the presence of the Waasland Sea Barge and the Gaverland Sea Barge who are in port to remove the wreck of the Spanish Prince. The Spanish Prince (ex-Knight Bachelor) was a blockship scuttled in early 1915 during the First World War (World War I).

MS Disney Magic Cruise Ship at Cruise Terminal 2, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Disney Magic berthed at CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2) on the Admiralty Pier of Dover Harbour's Western Docks, her bow pointing in the direction of the Western Entrance and English Channel beyond:



This Dover Harbour photo was taken at 5.52 am on Saturday, 12th of June, 2010, from a point between the Porthole Shelters (to the right) and the lighthouse and cafe (to the left) on the Prince of Wales Pier (western side).

The MS Disney Magic has just finished a "7-Night Barcelona to Dover Cruise" whose itinerary comprised: Barcelona (Spain), Gibraltar (UK), Cádiz (Cadiz, Spain), and Lisbon (Portugal).

At 5.12 pm the Disney Magic left Dover on a 12-Night Northern European Capitals Cruise calling at Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Warnemünde/Rostock (Warnemunde, Germany), St Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland), and Stockholm (Sweden).

The foreground memorial left-of-centre in the above photo has an inscribed plaque on top dedicated to Sir Clifford Jarrett, K.B.E. (1905-1995), an ex-pupil at Dover Grammar School for Boys (DGSB, which I also attended from 1962-1967).

Extract from "The Dover County School 1905-1931" (2):

C. G. J. Jarrett had been winning merit awards and prizes all the way up the school (DGSB) and he now departed with a state scholarship and a major scholarship to Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge. In 1930 Mr. Whitehouse was able to visit Cambridge and be entertained to dinner by Old Pharosians Sanders, Garland, Stanway, Dilnot, Carpenter, Trist and Jarrett. Jarrett rose through the Civil Service to become Sir Clifford Jarrett, K.B.E., permanent secretary or under-secretary to several ministries until he retired in 1970 and then for nine years often visited Dover and the school when he was Chairman of Dover Harbour Board (from 1971 to 1980).

MS Disney Magic information:

F235 HMS Monmouth, 70th Anniversary of Dunkirk, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The Royal Navy Type 23 Duke-class frigate, HMS Monmouth (F235) berthed at the Admiralty Pier's CT1 (Cruise Terminal 1) in the Western Docks of Dover Harbour:


(Click this Royal Navy frigate, HMS Monmouth text link to see the largest size)

The photo was taken on a cycle ride (1) at 7.17 pm on Wednesday, 26th of May, 2010, from a point between the Porthole Shelters (to the right) and the Lighthouse and Harbour View Cafe (to the left) on the Prince of Wales Pier.

HMS Monmouth is shown en route to Ramsgate on the eve of taking part in a re-enactment of the World War II Dunkerque/Dunkirk evacuation. A BBC News article for the 26th said (2):

A fleet of 'Little Ships' that took part in the Dunkirk evacuations has gathered in Ramsgate ahead of the 70th anniversary of the event.

Up to 60 small vessels that assisted in Operation Dynamo (3), which started on 26 May 1940, will re-enact their journey.

A fleet of fishing boats and pleasure craft assisted naval vessels in the evacuation of about 300,000 Allied troops from the French coast.

Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Marina was the reception centre for returning troops.

On the 27th of May, the UK Daily Telegraph newspaper wrote (4):

Second World War veterans will make an emotional journey across the English Channel to Dunkirk today to mark the 70th anniversary of the celebrated evacuation.

The former troops, accompanied by their families, will attend a ceremony at the French port to commemorate the historic rescue mission.

They will set sail from Dover following a departure ceremony attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent's office, senior military, government officials, police and others.

The Parachute Regimental Band will perform on the dockside, together with a 200-voice choir from the Royal Choral Society, who will also accompany the veterans on the journey to Dunkirk.

Fifty of the original "little ships" involved in the evacuation - many of which were private fishing or pleasure boats drafted in to help - will also set sail for Dunkirk.

They began leaving Ramsgate in Kent this morning and will be escorted by HMS Monmouth.

Video - "Dunkirk veterans mark 70th anniversary", a British Television report from ITN News:

Funeral Locomotive of King George VI, Dover Priory Railway Station, Kent, UK

A view of the BR Britannia Class 7MT 4-6-2 no 70000 Britannia Steam Locomotive hauling the 12-coach Cathedrals Express as she passed through Dover Priory Railway Station at 5.47 pm on Thursday 7 April 2011:


(Click this BR Britannia Steam Locomotivetext link to see the largest size)

For many years, Britannia had her cab roof painted white. This was to commemorate her pulling the funeral train of King George VI - of "The King's Speech" film fame - from Norfolk to London following his death on the 6th of February 1952 at Sandringham House, Norfolk.

This visit to Dover was part of the Britannia's debut Main Line railtour after two test runs - and she was right on time! The route was from Oxford - Canterbury - Oxford, calling at the following stations:

Outward Journey (Headcode 1Z71 )

Oxford depart 09:22
Reading 10:08
London Kensington Olympia: 11:26
Maidstone East 12:53
Ashford Int 13:24
Canterbury West arrive 13:45

Return Journey (Headcode 1Z73 )

Canterbury West depart 16:51
Minster 17:14
Deal 17:28
Dover Priory 17:47
Folkestone Central 18:01
Ashford Int 18:17
Headcorn 18:28
Paddock Wood arrive 18:39 (water)
Paddock Wood depart 18:54
Tonbridge 19.13
Seven Oaks 19.23
Orpington 19.35
Bromley South 19.53
London Kensington, Olympia 20.42
Slough 21.19
Reading 21.47
Didcot Parkway 22.10
Oxford 22.45

Panorama of Dover Priory Railway Station from the Western Heights, Kent, UK

A view of the Victorian Dover Priory Train Station taken from the Western Heights:


(Click this Dover Priory Rail Station text link to see the largest size)

Also referred to as Dover Priory Rail Station and Dover Priory Station.

The Booking Hall is on the right-hand side of the covered walkway crossing the railway tracks.

To the right of the Booking Hall is Priory Station Approach Road on the other side of which is the Priory Hotel pub.

Western Docks at Night

Dover Priory, originally Dover Town, opened on 22 July 1861 as the temporary terminus of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR). It became a through station on 1 November 1861 with the completion of a tunnel though the Western Heights to gain access to the Western Docks area, where LCDR created Dover Harbour station.

"Priory Steps" are to the right of the rail tunnel entrance, above the carpark. To the right of Priory Steps are the grounds of Dover College (a co-educational independent boarding school).

Folkestone Road can be seen through the trees where it crosses over the railway tracks at the bottom of the photo.

Charles Dickens and the Victorian Camden Crescent, Dover Seafront, Kent, UK

Numbering from left to right, a post-sunrise view (the buildings are actually white) of 1 to 4 Camden Crescent at 6.34 am on Monday, 29th of August, 2011 (1):


(Click this Charles Dickens at Camden Crescent text link to see the largest size)

The photo was taken from Marine Parade on the seafront promenade above the beach of Dover Harbour.

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Camden Crescent Architecture (2) (3)

Camden Crescent is now a Listed Building and runs from the Indian Mutiny War Memorial in New Bridge (the buildings behind the tree on the left) to Wellesley Road (by the Gateway Flats, out-of-shot to the right).

The following extract is © Crown Copyright. Reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence (PSI licence number C2010002016) (4):

Waterloo Crescent

Originally a complete crescent similar to Waterloo Crescent, but the other houses have been demolished.

Built in 1840. 4 storeys and basement with area. Yellow brick, the ground floor stuccoed and rusticated.

Parapet above 3rd floor, cornice above 2nd floor, stuccoed stringcourse above lst floor. Continuous iron balcony with hood on the 1st floor.

No 1 has a curved front. 3 windows to each house with restored glazing bars.

The full "Listed Building" entry for Victorian - or Georgian - Camden Crescent is appended below.

MS Disney Magic Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Western Entrance 1, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

A post-sunrise view of the MS Disney Magic as it manouevres into position to berth alongside CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2) of the Admiralty Pier in the Western Docks of Dover Harbour:



The bow of the Disney Magic is pointing towards the open waters of the Straits of Dover and the English Channel through Dover Harbour's Western Entrance (bounded by the Admiralty Pier behind the ship and the out-of-shot Southern Breakwater further to the left).

The photo was taken at 5.18 am on Saturday, 12th of June, 2010, from the lighthouse and cafe end of the Prince of Wales Pier.

The MS Disney Magic has just finished a "7-Night Barcelona to Dover Cruise" whose itinerary comprised: Barcelona (Spain), Gibraltar (UK), Cádiz (Cadiz, Spain), and Lisbon (Portugal).

At 5.12 pm the Disney Magic left Dover to begin 12-Night Northern European Capitals Cruise calling at Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Warnemünde/Rostock (Warnemunde, Germany), St Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland), and Stockholm (Sweden).

Ship information:

MS Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship at Daybreak, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

An early morning view of the MS Crystal Symphony as it manouevres into position prior to berthing at CT1 (Cruise Terminal 1) on the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks:


(Click this MS Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

The bow of the Crystal Symphony is pointing towards the open waters of the Straits of Dover and the English Channel through Dover Harbour's Western Entrance (bounded by the Admiralty Pier behind the ship and the out-of-shot Southern Breakwater further to the left).

The DHB Dauntless tug (Call Sign MZGC8, IMO 9190456, MMSI 232004784) belongs to Dover Harbour Board.

This Dover Harbour photo was taken at 5.01 am on Monday, 14th of June, 2010, from the lighthouse end of the Prince of Wales Pier.

Also in the Port of Dover this day were the MV Minerva and MSC Opera passenger ships (photos not yet uploaded).

The Crystal Symphony is at the end of a 12-night Europe Cruise which began in Civitavecchia (Rome, Italy) on the 2nd of June and called at:

Porto Venere (Italy), Monte Carlo (Monaco), Barcelona (Spain), Tangier (Morocco), Lisbon (Portugal), Bilbao (Spain), Le Verdon (France), and Bordeaux (France).

The ship left Dover later in the day on a 7-night Ballads of Britain cruise with the following itinerary:

MS Disney Magic Cruise Ship and Waasland Sea Barge at Sunrise, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Disney Magic berthed at CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2) on the Admiralty Pier of Dover Harbour's Western Docks, her bow pointing in the direction of the Western Entrance and English Channel beyond:


(Click this text link to see the largest size)

The Dover Harbour Board tug DHB Dauntless is visible directly below the passenger ship's rear funnel.

To the left of the Disney Magic is the Waasland Sea Barge, in port to remove the wreck of the First World War (World War I) blockship, the 450-feet long Spanish Prince (ex-Knight Batchelor).

This Dover Harbour photo was taken at 5.47 am on Thursday, 24th of June, 2010, from a point between the Porthole Shelters (out-of-shot behind the viewer) and the Cafe and Lighthouse (in front) on the Prince of Wales Pier.

The MS Disney Magic has just finished a 12-Night Northern European Capitals Cruise which called at Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Warnemünde/Rostock (Germany), St Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland), and Stockholm (Sweden).

Later in the day, the ship began a cruise with a similar itinerary, except it lasted for 11 nights and called at Tallinn (Estonia) instead of Helsinki.

Ship information: