Author Archives: Lorraine

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About Lorraine

I am a local historian, whose love of Dover has lead to decades of research into some of the lesser known tales that this famous and beautiful town has to tell.

Clock Tower

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Lorraine

The Clock Tower, near the entrance to the Prince of Wales Pier, is one of Dover’s landmarks. Originally built in the 1870s during the deepening and reconstruction of what became the Granville Dock. Together with the adjacent lifeboat station  the … Continue reading →

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Archbishop Richard of Dover

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Lorraine

Dover, ecclesiastically, is unique for a small town. There is St Edmunds Chapel that was dedicated by one Saint (St Richard -1197-1253), to another Saint (St Edmund 1175-1240). Pilgrims, including a king, venerated Thomas Hale (d1295) as a saint although … Continue reading →

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Ville de Liege – the shipping accident that was waiting to happen

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Lorraine

On 11 February 1929, the steel screw turbine Belgian State Railways cross-Channel fleet steamer, Ville de Liege, sank in Dover harbour. The origins of the catastrophe were set in motion some 400 years before! Up until the end of the … Continue reading →

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Edward Stephens – the Customs Official who became an MP

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Lorraine

Edward Stephens was elected Dover’s Member of Parliament in 1589, the year after the Spanish Armada, along with Sir Thomas Fane. In those days, Dover boasted of two representatives in Parliament and Edward was the junior of the two. Although … Continue reading →

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Connaught Park – Part II

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Lorraine

Following World War II (1939-1945) the town was little better than a bombsite, however, people were determined to get back to normality as quickly as possible. In May 1947, an application was submitted for a garden fete at Connaught Park  from … Continue reading →

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