Cliffs, Combat, & Cathedrals

Dover & Canterbury:

• White Cliffs of Dover
• Dover Castle's WW II Secret War Tunnels
• Dover Castle's WW II Underground Hospital
• Canterbury Cathedral

Today the class embarked to Dover. Our first stop was a small hike to the White Cliffs of Dover. The cliffs were formed from chalk, a very fine, soft granite. They are also a result of erosion from the sediment and creatures of the sea floor as the ocean levels have since fallen. These cliffs are still in the process of being shaped and have been for millions of years. A special treat on this clear morning was being able to see the coastline of France! Many people take the short hour and a half boat trip between the two countries, across the English Channel. 

Sign at the White Cliffs of Dover

Our taxi driver/tour guide leads Emily O and Professor Wolfe towards the Cliffs

Dover Castle from the cliffs

The Cliffs

The class with our taxi driver

Hadissah Magonica, a pharmacist from New Jersey who we met on our travels

The group and our travelling buddy walk down a path overlooking the coastline

The Dover coastline

Our next stop was the Dover Castle tunnels. Unfortunately pictures inside the tunnels were not permitted, but the simulation in these tunnels created a very moving experience. The secret war tunnels were built during the Napoleonic Wars, but utilized again during World War II. The hospital tunnels were built in five months, right when signs of WWII were showing themselves. We toured the communication area which displayed, telegraph machines, telephones, and a series of maps. We saw the mess hall, and the recreation areas which included different types of board games. We then continued to the nursing station and learned the different ways soldiers were treated for their injuries.

Outside of the hospital tunnels 

Sadie waiting patiently for our tour of the war tunnels

Gate from Dover Castle

Emily W and Liz in front of Dover Castle

Lastly, we spent the late afternoon taking in the culture of Canterbury. Founded during the Roman period, Canterbury was most likely abandoned during the Saxon era. The Canterbury Cathedral suffered a fire in 1067 and the Normans rebuilt it, and then that one burned as well. From 1175 to the present the Cathedral was finally able to avoid catching fire. In Medieval times, Canterbury was known for their manufacturing of wool and leather. Thomas Beckett, an Archbishop of Canterbury under the reign of King Henry II was killed by king's knights in the cathedral because he disagreed with the king's power hungry nature. King Henry II wanted Beckett to follow his orders over that of the Pope and Beckett disagreed. Later, Thomas Beckett was venerated as a saint and martyr by the Anglican and Catholic Churches.

Canterbury Cathedral

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~