Dover Castle, Kent - England Located at the shortest crossing
between the UK and continental Europe, Dover Castle played a
prime role in England's historical fortunes. Invading from
France, William the Conqueror built the first castle in 1066 -
an earthwork structure with a motte. Henry II did most to shape
the building between 1179 and 1188, adding defences radiating
out from the keep to produce Europe's first concentric castle.
Henry II’s work was carried out with the help of Maurice the
Ingeniator, and was completed by King John, resulting in a four-
storey keep, a three-towered forebuilding and impregnable
defensive walls. From 1216-17 the castle was besieged by the
French, standing up to the test, but Henry III strengthened the
defences further. The outer curtain wall was completed,
stretching to the edge of the cliff, and Constable's Gate was
constructed - a cluster of different sized towers designed to
command all angles of attack. In the 18th century, Colonel
William Twiss added extra gun positions, an