In 1216, as a civil war raged in England, with French soldiers and English rebels joining forces to overthrow King John, Dover Castle became a fortress for the monarch and helped decide the fate of the kingdom.
But an epic and bloody struggle for control of the castle left it badly damaged, including destroying multiple towers and its defensive walls.
Now, for the first time in more than 800 years, the Kent fortress is being digitally restored to what it would have looked like before it was besieged.
In an exhibition, Dover Castle Under Siege, visitors can explore the model as well as the town’s medieval and Georgian underground tunnels and casemates – making it possible to stand palpably close to the spot where the invaders broke through the original entrance.
New access through the tunnels and out on to the great earthwork defence – known as the Spur – also provides a panoramic view of the castle to visitors for the first time.
The model was created in more than 800 hours by a team of English Heritage experts, including historians, curators and one of the country’s leading historical 3D artists.
French soldiers were led by Prince Louis “the Lion”, the son of King Philip II of France, when they fought alongside English rebel barons against King John.
Dover’s layered defences offered only one practical route for an attack, at the northern tip where the main gate of the castle stood. French and rebel forces broke through into the outer bailey and a battle ensued.
Hundreds of knights and soldiers in chainmail swung swords, axes and maces, and dug tunnels to undermine the gate and gain entry, but the castle’s defenders, led by the great warrior Hubert de Burgh, would not be conquered.
The digital model shows where the entrance originally stood, defended by King John’s twin-towered gatehouse, from which a wooden bridge crossed the deep outer ditch on to a barbican, a fortified strongpoint defending the approach to the gate.
Bob Marshall, an architectural illustrator at English Heritage, said creating the model was an intimidating prospect given the sheer scale of the castle.
“It’s the country’s largest in terms of square acreage. But by combining all of the archaeology and archival research with detailed surveys, I was able to painstakingly create this model to high standards of accuracy, which has helped to inform the entire new experience,” he said.
“I think this use of technology will continue to change the way so many people think of Dover Castle – it hasn’t stayed the same over hundreds of years. Each era, from medieval to Georgian to the second world war, has left its mark.”
Paul Pattison, the senior properties historian at English Heritage, said: “When you see the model, Dover Castle almost rises from the ashes of the siege in 1216. The level of detail is astonishing.”
Dover Castle Under Siege opens to the public on Monday 22 July.
