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Brilliant reconstruction of 12th Century Court at Dover Castle
As well as being such a convenient ferry port and cruise terminal Dover is pivotal to our history, writes Penny Visman
The magnificent and brooding Dover Castle, aptly-named 'The Key to England', opened a fabulous new exhibition in August 2009.
Henry II's lavish palace has been recreated in the castle's Norman keep, also known as The Great Tower, which was originally built for the king to entertain, and re-assert his powers with dignitaries on pilgrimages to Saint Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury.
Being within such easy reach of Canterbury and its cathedral, as well as to the later castles built by Henry VIIIth at Deal and Walmer, the famous White Cliffs and stunning coast and countryside makes Dover a destination in itself. It is an ideal place to introduce children, grandchildren and visitors to links with living history. And with its cruise terminal - used frequently by Saga's cruise ships - the reintroduction of the direct fast-ferry between Dover and Boulogne and services to Calais and Dunkirk, plus the nearby Channel Tunnel, the Dover area makes a fascinating pre-cruise stop-over for cruise passengers, with northern France right on its doorstep too.
The new exhibition at Dover Castle's Great Tower should be a great draw for history fans of all ages, including cruise passengers awaiting the start of their cruises. The ultimate hospitality suite of its day, it includes The King's Hall and bedchamber; The Guest and Banqueting Hall; Kitchens and Armoury. The experience is intended to be immersive in a way never before seen in the UK. With costumed characters and 'Pepper's Ghosts' (astonishing light projections of moving figures) visitors get a startling insight into 12th century life, power and politics in a place where much of it was played out.
Armed with research by Steven Brindle, who masterminded the post-fire restoration of Windsor Castle, craftsmen and women from all over Britain have produced metalwork, glass, pottery, jewellery and textiles as they would have been made in the 12th century. The Royal School of Needlework was commissioned to create exquisite backcloths and banners using techniques including appliqué, couching and Bayeux stitches with wool, silk, gold thread, pearls and jewel-like stones. And with the furniture painted in the vivid colours of the period it is all absolutely stunning.
Future projects at Dover Castle include upgrading its fascinating Secret Wartime Tunnels to make them the ultimate showcase for Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk evacuation, which was planned here. And how about combining a visit to the tunnels with a trip across the Channel to the Memorial du Souvenir Museum in Dunkerque itself (www.dynamo-dunkerque.com), which has extensive artefacts to illustrate the grim reality of this epic period of modern history? WW2 buffs should also pop over to St Omer and visit the incredible La Coupole museum (www.lacoupole-france.com), one of the great relics of the conflict. La Coupole is a gigantic underground bunker, designed by the Nazis in 1943-1944 to store, prepare and launch the V2 rockets, the secret weapon that Hitler was counting on to destroy London and reverse the course of the war.
