The Citadel

The Citadel forms the northern core of Dover's Western Heights, a sprawling 33-acre fortification spanning 54 buildings and covering 1779 origins through completion in the 1850s. Also known as the North Centre Bastion, this Napoleonic-era fortress was redesigned between 1804 and 1815 and remains among the country's most impressive military structures from that period. With scheduled monument and multiple listed building designations, the Citadel transitioned from military barracks after 1890 to serve as a military prison, youth institute, and immigration facility since the 1950s. Recent development visions propose transforming the complex into 'The Little City', featuring hotels, galleries, cultural spaces, and sustainable residential components.