Napoleonic-era graffiti found at Dover Castle – The Past

This image shows a castle door, etched with macabre graffiti by English soldiers during the Napoleonic era. The simple wooden plank door, from atop a remote tower at Dover Castle, was rediscovered years ago, but its secrets were only revealed during recent restoration work.

Over 50 examples of graffiti were discovered, nine of which depict public hangings – a common occurrence in Dover at the time. One illustration shows a hanged man wearing a military uniform and cocked hat, similar to the distinctive headdress favoured by Napoleon.

The medieval fortress on the Kent coast was transformed into a modern military garrison in the 1790s, when the threat of invasion from revolutionary France loomed large. New barracks were built for soldiers, while St John’s Tower, with its commanding view of the castle’s exposed north end, was converted into a watchtower.

It is thought that soldiers, bored by their long periods of keeping watch for enemy activity, carved the graffiti into the tower door with their bayonets and knives. Next to the hanged men is a detailed carving of a single-masted sailing ship, most likely an eight-gun cutter, a ship used by the navy as well as smugglers and privateers.

Many initials and two surnames – Downam and Hopper (or Hooper) – are also carved on the door, along with some religious imagery. ‘This graffiti gives a unique insight into the minds of these soldiers, especially at such a charged time,’ says Paul Pattison, Senior Properties Historian at English Heritage, which owns Dover Castle.

“What makes this door so special is that it is a rare and precious example of the common man making his mark,” he added, “either to pass the time or to be remembered.”

The door is currently on display as part of Dover Castle Under Siege, a new exhibition set in the castle’s northern defences.

Text: Calum Henderson  Image: English Heritage