DOVER (the ancient Dubris), a municipal and parliamentary borough, and one of the Cinque Ports of England, in the county of Kent, 71 miles E.S.E. of London. It is situated on the N.W. coast of the Straits of Dover, in a deep valley formed by an opening in the chalk hills which surround it in the form of an amphitheatre. On one of these hills, to the eastward of the town, and rising abruptly to the height of 320 feet above the sea, stands the ancient castle. The walls of this castle inclose an area of nearly 35 acres; containing towers and other buildings of various ages from the time of the Romans to recent times, and having accommodation for a garrison of from 3000 to 4000 men. Other portions of the heights around the town are also fortified. The town has been greatly extended of late years. A continuous line of buildings now unite it with the villages of Charlton and Buckland, which are included within its boundaries. Between the east end of the town and the castle cliffs is what may be called the new town, where superior houses have been erected for the accommodation of visitors. The old part of the town is irregularly built, and the streets are narrow and dirty. Dover has two ancient parish churches, St Mary's and St James's, the former having a Norman tower; two recently built churches; a Roman Catholic, and several Dissenting chapels; national, free, and infant schools; reading-rooms, and libraries; theatre; assembly rooms; and public baths. Many attempts have been made to improve the harbour, but with comparatively little success, from the constant accumulation of sand and shingle at its mouth. The entrance is narrow, and is between two piers. The vessels registered at the port on 31st December 1853 were 70, of the aggregate burden of 3926 tons: of these 48 vessels of 1369 tons were under 50 tons each, and 1 was a steamer of 54 tons. The vessels entered and cleared at the port during 1853 were
Dover as follows: Coasting trade, inwards, 443, tonnage 34,310; outwards 104, tonnage 5348; colonial trade, inwards 3, tonnage 252; outwards 1, tonnage 260; foreign trade, sailing vessels, inwards 69, tonnage 5870; outwards 45, tonnage 2097; steamers, inwards 90, tonnage 11,960; outwards 1, tonnage 140. Dover is the principal station and the seat of government of the Cinque Ports. It is governed by a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 18 councillors; and returns 2 members to parliament. Pop. (1851) 22,244.