Dover Castle Spiral Staircase

Well worth the effort though.

Dover castle spiral staircase. The volunteers are very knowledgeable and friendly. The 140ft deep shaft provided pedestrian access to the western heights fortress in particular the grand shaft barracks from snargate street at the foot of the cliffs. We also offer additional opening days on occasions to support local events. Although the grand shaft is unique in being the only triple spiral staircase in the country there are still two double spiral staircases in existence at the citadel.

We visited this along with the nearby fort which makes a great day out. As a security precaution both have been capped in concrete. It s possible to climb the spiral staircases and ascend to the roof of the castle where you can enjoy a brilliant view across the entire grounds. These lead down to the well room and to the sally port respectively at the level of the bottom of the lines.

Go there try it. Great triple spiral staircase in the cliffs. Access to the rest of the castle is via two spiral staircases in the north and south corners of the building 6. It takes the form of a triple helix staircase providing three sets of steps in the same shaft with a central light well.

Descending the stairs was much easier than coming back up them. The grand shaft was designed by military engineer general twiss and built in the first decade of the 19th century. The grand shaft barracks dover. Rooms on the rest of this floor can only be reached via the spiral staircases in the corners of the building.

The grand shaft is a unique triple helix staircase built between 1806 and 1809 descending ascending 140 feet through the white cliffs of dover. You ll see the green hills of dover the white cliffs the choppy sea and perhaps even france on a clear day. It is open on the third sunday of each month between march and november please check calendar for exact dates. In the outer would be built a triple staircase the inner acting as a light well with windows cut in its outer wall to illuminate the staircases.

Apparently by march 1805 only 40 feet 12 m of the connecting gallery was left to dig and it is probable that the project was completed by 1807. Here s a quick look at the grand shaft in dover to film this i ran down i ran back up i ran down again then ran back up again.