Graffiti from English soldiers 200 years ago mocking Napoleon discovered on castle door
The fascinating etchings, including what could be an image of Napoleon being hanged, have found carved into an ancient door.
An antique door discovered in a castle tower features more than 50 pieces of graffiti from English soldiers mocking the French when the two countries were at war.
The intriguing find was made by English Heritage during work on Dover Castle, the closest mainland fortification to France sitting just a stone's throw from the famous white cliffs.
The door was found in St John's Tower and is etched with drawings spanning around 60 years from the late 1780s, the time of the French Revolution, to the mid 1850s.
Artwork includes several images of people being hanged, and what experts think might be a depiction of the famous French leader Napoleon, complete with recognisable hat, being sent to the gallows.
Surnames such as Downam and Hooper, or Hopper, can also be made out amongst the carvings, as well as pictures of ships and relgious iconography.
After its discovery, English Heritage said the door was removed from St John’s Tower to protect and preserve it for future generations.
It was also conserved by the careful removal of paint layers from the decorative surface of the door, and then the wood was then cleaned, toned and treated.
It will now go on display at Dover Castle in July as part of a 'Dover Under Siege' exhibition.
Paul Pattison, English Heritage’s Senior Properties Historian, said: “Scaling a ladder to the upper floor of St John’s Tower and seeing these remarkable carvings on the door was an astonishing discovery for us.
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"This graffiti gives a unique glimpse into the minds of these soldiers, especially during such a charged period of time.
"As a result of the impending threat of war from across the Channel, Dover was a hive of activity with ships filling the harbour and coloured military uniforms a constant presence in the castle and town.
"What makes this door such an extraordinary object is that it is a rare and precious example of the ordinary person making their mark; whether that be simply for the purpose of killing time or wanting to be remembered.”
