Fan Bay Deep Shelter

Fan Bay Deep Shelter is an underground military bunker carved beneath the white chalk cliffs of Dover, featuring five main tunnels with steel-lined corridors. These passages extend roughly 23 meters below the surface and once housed military personnel who operated the gun battery positioned above.

Royal Engineers constructed these defensive tunnels between November 1940 and February 1941 in response to the German air threat during wartime. The shelter served as a critical facility to protect British forces and support the gun battery operating on the surface above.

The shelter displays original graffiti and personal markings left by soldiers stationed here during World War II. These wall carvings offer insight into the daily thoughts and experiences of the men who endured life in these confined spaces.

Visitors must descend 125 steep steps and wear protective helmets with headlamps, as the tunnels remain unlit in their original state. The conditions below are cool and damp, so warm clothing and slip-resistant footwear are advisable for a safe and comfortable visit.

Two World War I sound mirrors stand near the shelter and represent early detection technology that identified approaching aircraft by focusing sound waves. These acoustic structures show how defense innovations developed before radar came into use.

Inception: 1941

Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/the-white-cliffs-of-dover/the-fan-bay-deep-shelter-project-at-the-white-cliffs-of-dover

GPS coordinates: 51.13616,1.36106

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:06