New book - Front Line Harbour by Anthony Lane
- 5 February 2011 18:3391586Front Line Harbour - A History of the Port of Dover by Anthony Lane
At just 21 miles from France, Dover is the shortest crossing point between Britain and the Continent. Today, over 16 million passengers, 700,000 lorries and 1.6 million cars and motorbikes pass through the port yearly. The port was founded in 1606 by Royal Charter and has grown and expanded almost on a yearly basis since.
Split into Eastern and Western Docks, with a yacht marina in the Western Docks too, the port also boasts a cruise ship terminal, accommodating three vessels at the same time. In peace and war, the port of Dover has been important and it overlooks one of the busiest seaways in the world. From the early days of sailing packets and wooden walls, to the naval base established here and the port's use as a ferry terminal, Anthony Lane tells the story of the Port of Dover, using a superb selection of images showing all aspects of the port through its 400-year history.
paperback | 208 pages | 276 b&w illustrations | 40 colour illustrations
Been nice knowing you :) - 5 February 2011 19:0391590looks an interesting read, wondering what the damage is, could be rather expensive.
notice that 16 million passsengers pass through the port, when i moved here the figure was 20 million, must be the foot passenger round trippers not going anymore for their booze and fags.
the pic on the bottom half of the cover looks likes it has been taken at st martins battery. - 5 February 2011 19:0791591It is listed on Tesco at £11.89 and yes that is St Martin's Battery (pre Sea Sports Centre)Been nice knowing you :)
- 12 February 2011 10:1592377Just received my copy from Amazon - the last one in stock according to the website, so it must have been popular. Looks an excellent book with plenty of photographs of the development of the port and its shipping. Dover would be a great location for a maritime museum me thinks!
- 12 February 2011 10:1992379not sure on that kevin, there is one at ramsgate.
- 12 February 2011 10:3092381Not quite Howard - lots of political decsions have left it closed for a few years now I believe...Been nice knowing you :)
- 15 February 2011 13:4692725What a shame that the Ramsgate Maritime Museum appears to be closed, visited it once and was particularly enthralled by the cannon raised from the wreck of the 17th century man of war Stirling Castle, lost on the Goodwin Sands in the great storm of 1703 and rediscovered in a remarkable state of preservation in 1979. According to their website, funding for the museum was withdrawn by Thanet District Council a couple of years ago.
There is still Deal Maritime Museum which has a lot of very interesting exhibits. One which particularly interested me is a large print over the stairs showing the Spithead Review before the war with the mighty array of warships which the Royal Navy possessed at that time. I used to see this print in lots of pubs in Portsmouth many years ago and have been trying to get a copy.
Dover Museum does a very creditable job in recording parts of our maritime history, not forgetting the unique Bronze Age Boat gallery. Have always thought that the derelict old Labour Exchange over the road would be a superlative venue for a dedicated maritime museum which would have the space to do justice to the immense sweep of history relating to the Port of Dover. Have to wait until I win the lottery.
The new book which is the subject of this thread is available at the Dover Museum Shop, there are two copies in the window at the time of writing - Smiths, British Bookshop and Hooked on Books are all sold out. Tylers Book Shop on the High Street in Deal, near the Maritime Museum, always has a full range of Dover books. - 15 February 2011 14:3692738I think the ones in the museum may still be signed copiesBeen nice knowing you :)
