Dover
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221885605
2008-06-26T15:02:33Z
Aesopos
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{{two other uses|the English town|the larger local government district|Dover (district)|other uses|Dover (disambiguation)}}{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|static_image = [[Image:Dover from air.jpg|200px]]
|static_image_caption=<small>Aerial view of Dover harbour</small>
|official_name= Dover
|latitude= 51.1295
|longitude= 1.3089
|population = 28,156 (town)<br>(2001 census)
|shire_district= [[Dover (district)|Dover]]
| shire_county = [[Kent]]
|region= South East England
|Ambulance= [[South East Coast Ambulance Service|South East Coast]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Dover (UK Parliament constituency)|Dover]]
|post_town= DOVER
|postcode_district = CT15, CT16, CT17
|postcode_area= CT
|dial_code= 01304
|os_grid_reference= TR315415
|london_distance= 77.8mi
}}
'''Dover''' is a town and major ferry port in the county of [[Kent]], [[England]]. It faces [[France]] across the narrowest part of the [[English Channel]]. The town is the administrative centre of the [[Dover (district)|Dover District]].
Its strategic position has always been evident throughout its history: archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and leaving Britain, and this continues to this day.
The port provides a great deal of the town’s employment, although many of the erstwhile ferry services have declined, so that unemployment tends to be higher than other parts of Kent. There was a military barracks in Dover, which was closed in [[2007]]. Dover has a strong tourist base.
==Toponymy==
Dover’s name originated with its river - the [[River Dour, Kent|River Dour]], deriving from the [[Brythonic]] ''Dubrās'' ("the waters"), via its Latinized form of ''[[Dubris]]''. . The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] called it ’’[[Dubris|Porte Dubris]]’’; the modern name came about in the 17th century.
The town gives its name both to the surrounding [[White cliffs of Dover| chalk cliffs]], which a form a gateway to the port; and to the narrow sea passage - the [[Straits of Dover]] - on which it stands.<ref> The French name for the Straits is, however, ‘’Pas de Calais‘’</ref> The cliffs also gave Britain its ancient [[nickname|name]] of ''[[Albion]]'' ("white").
One measure of the importance of Dover's links with France is that only a few English towns/cities have names in [[French language|French]] different from their English names: these are Dover (''Douvres''), [[London]] (''Londres'') and Canterbury (''Cantorbéry'').
==Geography==
Dover is at the extreme south-east corner of Britain, at the nearest point to [[Europe|the continent]], 22 miles (35.2km) away across the Straits of Dover.
The site of its original settlement lies in the valley of the [[River Dour, Kent|River Dour]], making it an ideal place for a port, sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds. This led to the silting up of the river mouth by the action of [[longshore drift]]; the town was then forced into making artificial breakwaters to keep the port in being. These breakwaters have been extended and adapted so that the port lies almost entirely on reclaimed land.
The higher land on either side of the valley - the [[Western Heights]] and the eastern high point on which [[Dover Castle]] stands - have been adapted to perform the function of protection against invaders. The town has gradually extended up the river valley, encompassing several villages in doing so. Little growth is possible along the coast, since the cliffs are on the sea’s edge. The railway, being tunnelled and embanked, skirts the foot of the cliffs.
==History==
{{Main|History of Dover}}
Dover’s history, because of its proximity to [[France]], has always been of great strategic importance to [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. [[Archaeological]] finds have shown that there were [[Stone Age]] people in the area; and that by the [[Bronze Age]] the maritime influence was already strong. Some [[Iron Age]] finds exist also, but the coming of the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] made Dover part of their communications network. Like ''Lemanis'' ([[Lympne]]) and ''Rutupiae'' ([[Richborough]]) Dover was connected by road to [[Canterbury]] and [[Watling Street]]; and it became [[Dubris|Portus Dubris]], a fortified port. Forts were built above the port; lighthouses were constructed to guide ships; and one of the best-preserved Roman villas in Britain is here.
Dover figured largely in the [[Domesday Book]] as an important borough. It also served as a bastion against various attackers: notably the French during the Napoleonic Wars; and against [[Germany]] during [[World War II]].
[[Image:Dover Castle (Castle Street).JPG|thumb|right|[[Dover Castle]] seen from Castle Street.]]
==Demography==
In 1800 [[Edward Hasted]] (1732-1812) reported that the town had a population of almost 10,000 people<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63592 Hasted description of Dover]</ref>
At the 2001 census, the town of Dover had 28,156 inhabitants, while the population of the whole [[urban area]] of Dover, as calculated by the [[Office for National Statistics]], was 39,078 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8271&More=Y | title = KS01 Usual resident population: Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas | accessdate = 2007-06-08 | work = National Statistics | quote = }}</ref>
With the expansion of Dover, many of the outlying ancient villages have been incorporated into the town. Originally the parishes of Dover St. Mary's and Dover St. James, since 1836 Buckland and Charlton have become part Dover, and Maxton (a hamlet to the west), [[River]], [[Kearsney]], [[Temple Ewell]], and [[Whitfield]], all to the north of the town centre, are within its conurbation.
==Governance==
Dover is represented in Parliament by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Gwyn Prosser]].
Dover Town Council is headed by its mayor, whose yearly term of office runs from May. The current mayor (2007-8) is Bob Markham; his predecessors are listed<ref>[http://www.doverlife.co.uk/history/mayors/ A list of Dover's Mayors] </ref>
The councillors represent the six town wards: Buckland; Castle; Maxton and Elms and Priory; St Radigunds; Tower Hamlets; and Town and Pier.
==Shipping==
The Dover Harbour Board<ref>[http://www.doverport.co.uk Dover Harbour Board]</ref> is the responsible authority for the running of the Port of Dover.
[[The English Channel]], here at its narrowest point in the Straits of Dover, is the busiest shipping lane in the world. Ferries crossing between here and the Continent have to negotiate their way through the constant stream of shipping crossing their path. The ''Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme'' allots ships separate lanes when passing through the Strait. The Scheme is controlled by the [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]] of HM Customs, whose headquarters is at Langdon Battery in Dover<ref>[http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-hmcg_rescue/channel_navigation_information_service__cnis_/dops_-_all-sar_cnis_unorthodox_crossings.htm The Dover Strait Traffic Navigation Scheme and rules relating thereto]</ref>
The Port of Dover is also used by cruise ship passengers, and the old [[Dover Marine railway station]] building, together with a newly built one, cater for those passengers<ref>[http://europeforvisitors.com/cruises/reviews/port-of-dover.htm Dover Cruise ship terminal]</ref>
The ferry lines using the port are (number of daily sailings in parentheses):
*to Boulogne: Speed Ferries (5);
*to Calais: [[P&O Ferries]] (25) and Sea France (20);
*to Dunquerque: Norfolk Line (11).
These services have been fairly drastically cut in recent years.
*[[P&O Ferries]] sailings to Boulogne (5 daily) were withdrawn in 1993 and Zeebrugge (4 daily) in 2002.
*[[Rail Ferry|SNCF ]] withdrew their three sailings on the opening of the [[Channel Tunnel]].
*[[RMT]] moved their Oostende service of three sailings daily to Ramsgate in 1994;
*[[Stena Line]] merged their 20 Calais sailings into the current P&O operation in 1998.
The Dover lifeboat is a Severn-class lifeboat based in the Western Docks.<ref>[http://www.dover-lifeboat.org.uk The Dover lifeboat]</ref>
==Communications==
Dover’s main communications artery, the [[A2 road|A2]] '''road''' replicates two former routes, connecting the town with Canterbury. The Roman road was followed for centuries until, in the late 18th century, it became a [[Toll road|turnpike]]. [[Stagecoaches]] were operating: one description stated that the journey took all day to reach London, from 4am to being “in time for supper”.<ref>[http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/hst/biography/TheLifeofThomasTelford/chap5.html From ''The Life of Thomas Telford'']</ref>
The other main roads, travelling west and east, are the [[A20 road|A20]] to [[Folkestone]] and thence to London and the [[A258 road|A258]] through Deal to Sandwich.
The '''railway''' reached Dover from two directions: the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway's]] main line connected with Folkestone in 1844, and the [[London, Chatham and Dover Railway]] opened its line from Canterbury in 1861.
Dover has two [[Long distance footpaths in the United Kingdom|long distance footpaths]]: the [[Saxon Shore Way]] and the [[North Downs Way]]. Two [[National Cycle Network]] routes begin their journey at the town.
==Education==
{{See|List of schools in Kent}}
There are nine secondary level schools, 16 primary schools and two schools for special education.
Several of the state secondary schools now specialise: Astor College for the Arts, for instance, is the first specialist Arts College in Kent.<ref>[http://www.astorcollege.com Astor College for the Arts]</ref>; and Dover Grammar School for Girls is a specialist Humanities College. Also there is St Edmund's Performing Arts School
[[Dover College]], a [[public school]] was founded in 1871 by a group of local business men.<ref>[http://dovercollege.org.uk Dover College]</ref>;
==Health ==
Dover has one hospital, Buckland Hospital<ref>[http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/Hospital.aspx?id=RXYAR Buckland Hospital]</ref> located in a former Victorian [[workhouse]] on Coombe Valley Road. The town once had four hospitals, Buckland, Royal Victoria, Isolation and the Eye Hospitals located at various points across the town. Buckland Hospital is currently (2008) threatened with closure and various local organisations are trying to stop the cuts facing the hospital.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6670107.stm Stopping the hospital cuts]</ref>
==Media==
There are two local '''newspapers''', with their free editions: the ''Dover Express/Dover & Deal Adscene'', both owned by Kent Regional Newspapers; and the ''Dover Mercury|Dover and Deal Extra'' owned by the Kent Messenger Group. The ''Mercury'' was founded in 1998.
Dover has one local commercial '''radio station''': [[Kmfm|kmfm for Shepway & White Cliffs Country]], broadcasting to Dover on 106.8FM. The station was founded in Dover as [[Neptune Radio]] in September 1997 but moved to Folkestone in 2003 and was consequently rebranded after a takeover by the Kent Messenger Group.
The Gateway Hospital Broadcasting Service, in Buckland Hospital radio, closed at the end of 2006. It was the oldest station in East Kent.<ref>[http://blog.nhskent.net/blog/_archives/2006/12/5/2552205.html GHBS closure]</ref>
==Culture==
There are two '''museums''': the main Dover Museum<ref>[http://www.dover.gov.uk/museum/ Dover Museum website]</ref> and the Dover Transport Museum.<ref>[http://dovertransportmuseum.homestead.com/ Dover Transport Museum]</ref>
Dover has three [[Town twinning|twin towns]]:
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Calais, France|Calais]], [[France]]
*{{flagicon|United States}} [[Huber Heights, Ohio|Huber Heights]], [[Ohio]], USA
*{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Split, Croatia|Split]], [[Croatia]]
==Sport==
The Vista Leisure Centre,<ref>[http://www.vistaleisure.com/dover-home.aspx Vista Leisure Centre]</ref> catering for a wide range of sports and activities, is on Townwall Street.
There are sports clubs catering for the usual range of sports, among them football ([[Dover Athletic F.C.]]); rugby ; rowing ; swimming ; and netball (Dover and District Netball League).<ref>[http://doveranddistrictnetballleague.co.uk Netaball league]</ref>
One event which gets media attention is that of swimming the English Channel.<ref>[http://www.channelswimmingassociation.com/ The Channel Swimming Association]</ref>
Sea fishing, from the beach, pier or out at sea, is carried out here.<ref>[http://www.doverpages.co.uk/sea_fishing_dover/sea_fishing_dover.htm Sea Fishing]</ref> The so-called [[Dover sole]] (''solea solea'') is found all over European waters.
==Places of interest==
* [[Connaught Park]]
* [[Cowgate Nature Reserve]]
* [[Kearsney Abbey]]
* [[Russell Gardens]]
* [[Samphire Hoe Country Park]]
* [[Seafront promenade]]
* [[St Edmund's Chapel]]
==People from Dover==
{{main|List of people from Dover}}
==Gallery==
<center>
[[Image:Dover Harbour panorama.jpg|600px]] {{clear}}Dover Harbour, from the cliffs above.
<gallery>
Image:Douvres (1).JPG
Image:Douvres (2).JPG
Image:Douvres (3).JPG
Image:Douvres (4).JPG
Image:Douvres (5).JPG
Image:Douvres (6).JPG
Image:Douvres embarcadaire.JPG
Image:Douvres grues.JPG
</gallery>
</center>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |title=The history of the castle, town, and port of Dover
|last= Statham
|first = S.P.H.
|publisher = Longmans Green & Co.
|location=London
|year=1899
|pages = 462 p.}}
*{{cite book
| last = Foot
| first = William
| title = Beaches, fields, streets, and hills ...: the anti-invasion landscapes of England, 1940
| publisher = Council for British Archaeology
| location = York
| series = CBA research report '''144'''
| year = 2006
| isbn = 1-902771-53-2 }}
==See also==
{{commons|Dover}}
The following websites contain more information about the town of Dover:
* [http://www.dovertown.co.uk/ The Municipal Website of the Town of Dover]
* [http://www.dover-kent.com Dover-Kent.com]
* [http://www.doverlife.co.uk DoverLife.co.uk - Information about the town for residents and visitors.]
* [http://www.doverlocals.co.uk Dover Locals - Community forum for events, history and chat.]
* [http://doversoul.tripod.com Dover Soul, local community website with information on Dover and district]
* [http://www.whitecliffsdover.info Essential local Dover information]
* [http://www.bucklandvoice.890m.com/buckland/ Local website for the Buckland area of Dover]
* [http://www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk/ The Dover War Memorial Project]
[[Category:Towns in Kent]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Kent]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the English Channel]]
[[Category:Town of Dover| ]]
[[Category:Cinque ports]]
[[Category:Dover| ]]
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