Cowgate Cemetery, Western Heights, Dover UK (Video)

[1minigrem]

What a lovely, tranquil place. Perfect for a cold November night.

[Decent439]

Hi John,

Enjoyed your pictorial history of Cowgate. My gggrandparents are buried there in 1865 & 1889- Ann & Peter Decent. My Ancestors, the Decent's & Fox's came from Brixham & Hull & were Mariners & fishermen. I'm having a ball researching their history & your pictorial has just added that little bit extra. Thank You

[jorolat]

@Decent439

You're very welcome, Decent439 :)

I haven't visited Cowgate Cemetery this year, but I'll keep an eye out for your relatives when I do.

John

[69cae]

I wonder if the vault had anything to do with smuggling or contraband? Another interesting vid, thanks for posting :0)

[jorolat]

I've heard talk of a tunnel from Cowgate Cemetery going to the Court's Folly, and of the once-nearby Cause is Altered pub's association with smuggling, but that's about all - maybe the secrets will come to light one day!

[COALMONK5]

Hi John, just had a look at your photo of the open coffin behind the sealed vault, very intriguing. Maybe something fell from the roofspace and dislodged everything but wheres the skeleton? Anyone else got any theories on this one????

[jorolat]

Hiya CoalMonk,

Someone told me a couple of months ago that there had been some break-ins at Cowgate Cemetery, but they didn't know when.

There's no obvious sign of any disturbance anywhere, even on the roof - besides, I don't think the vault would have been left in such a such a state.

I'm baffled, but I'll have to check out the break-in theory sometime.

John

[jonb0002]

Ok thanks for that will try them and see  if any answers gome up..

[jonb0002]

and usually get quite lost. was Born in Grandmothers house in Lascelles Road so had the run of most of Dover in my youth. Now live in Wiltshire but visit Dover when I can - liked your vids about the western heights spent a lot of time there also. one of Dovers less known places..!

[jorolat]

My friends and I lived in the Westbury area and were kicked out to play from the age of about 3 onwards.

We sort of 'grew' into discovering the Western Heights by going a little further each day (so to speak) and so didn't get lost or anything.

I think we've been very lucky in having such places to explore :)

John

[tacticalbattledroid]

very interesting';-)

[billyropeaccess]

Hi!

I found your video very interesting. Im looking forward to more. I could watch this sort of thing for hours & hours. Love the history behind these kinds of places especially the storeys of people who may rest there!! So many interesting storeys to tell...Im sure!!

Thanks!!!

[jorolat]

Thank you, Billy :)

I hope to post more videos of the "Western Heights" area of Dover soon.

In the meantime, I recommend putting:

Dover's 'Lost Castle'

into the YouTube search engine,

[jonb0002]

Thanks for this - I was born in Dover 1947 and my Grandmother lived in the sheltered accomodation just off this cemetary,, have been there many times and I know Dover better than the back of my hand (or so I thought...) but there is always something that is new about where I was born and grew up. Got lost in the underground tunnels just off the danes football grounds when I was about 8 - did you know about them (out of the back of a pillbox) used to live on Buckland estate and would go a lot..

[jorolat]

Thank you, Jon :)

I certainly know Gorley Homes where your Grandmother lived, not least because it was on my paper-round as a kid.

I can't remember any details, but I know I've been told about tunnels near the Danes by several people over the years, I just haven't got around to going therre (yet).

Mind you, a lot of these places aren't as accessible as they once were!

John Latter / Jorolat

[jonb0002]

I know that when I used to go there (that must have been in the mid to late 50`s) they were falling into disrepair even then and some of the tunnels had fallen in. We went in with candles and a ball of string - to find our way out again !! So I doubt if they are still accessible today but it`s worth a try...never did find out what they were built for and am still trying...!

[jorolat]

I can't put web addesses in YouTube comments, Jon, but you might like to have a look at "Kent History Forum".

They're very good at answering the kind of thing you're interested in.

John