What ‘incomparable Jewells Havens, and sure harbours are’: the remains of late 16th century Dover harbour and their wider significance

SUMMARY During excavations undertaken for the Dover Western Dock Revival Scheme, Kent, UK, Archaeology South-East (ASE; UCL Institute of Archaeology) encountered substantial remains associated with the development of the port of Dover. Despite natural limitations, especially in the form of silting from the River Dour and longshore drift, Dover has historically been a strategic location in which to maintain a port. The remains presented here comprise a nationally significant waterfront revealed during the revival scheme; that is, the Tudor engineering commonly attributed to Sir Thomas Digges, overseen by the Privy Council and commissioned by Elizabeth I.