On Thursday evening we were invited to Dover Castle to look at the work that English Heritage have started for Phase 2 of the investment strategy to enhance and revitalise the visitor experience in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. After nibbles and vino, where I met the speakers for the evening we went straight into the presentation for Phase 2 'Dover at War' which covers the early build-up to the war through to the evacuation from late May to early June 1940 and the aftermath. Paul Pattison (Chief Historian for English Heritage) said: Why Operation Dynamo? Answer: It was one of the pivotal events of WWII and also the most important thing to happen at Dover Castle.
Looking at the eight month campaign with work starting November 1st and finishing 5th June 2011 costing £2.23 million, this is going to be an experience which will bring the visitor back to the wartime years. The offices of the Admiralty lookout, plotting rooms etc, will be brought back to life with smells, newsreel footage and introducing CGI with a Pathe-style feel will give visitors the feeling that they have lived through the rescue of the BEF from start to finish. Not only will it be great to see the transformation of the Secret Tunnels but hopefully it will bring in much more needed revenue as with the Great Tower which has seen an increase of 20%. I wish English Heritage all the best in the transformation.
