See Dover Castle like NEVER before: Incredible digital model reveals original gateway, lost towers and missing defensive walls for the first time in almost 1,000 years

It is one of England’s most treasured monuments and the largest castle in the country in terms of square area.

But Dover Castle in Kent, described as “the key to England”, was badly damaged by the French in an attack just over 800 years ago.

Now, a stunning 3D model recreates the original castle as it was just before the ‘great siege’ of 1216.

English Heritage researchers used historical records, plans, maps and archaeological, topographical and laser surveys to painstakingly create the model over 800 hours.

The towers, defensive walls and the original entrance to the castle, which had to be rebuilt in the years following the French attack, have been restored.

The model has been created as part of ‘Dover Castle Under Siege’, a new experience at Dover Castle which opens to the public on 22 July.

“When you look at the model, Dover Castle practically rises from the ashes of the siege of 1216,” said Paul Pattison, senior property historian at English Heritage.

‘The level of detail is astonishing.

‘It took us months of research, deliberation and difficult decision-making to be able to produce this model.

‘Using historical records, plans and maps, and archaeological, topographic and laser surveys, we have spared no effort to make this model as accurate as possible.’

Dover Castle probably originated as a motte-and-bail castle, an earlier type of fortification, which was built after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

It was transformed by King Henry II between 1179 and 1188, but between 1215 and 1217 a bloody civil war broke out in England.

French soldiers, led by Prince Louis (son of King Philip II of France), fought alongside rebel English barons against King John (son of Henry II).

At this time, the French prince and his baronial allies controlled most of England, and he was proclaimed “King of England” by the rebellious barons of London, although he was never crowned.

However, Dover Castle remained loyal to King John (the monarch who was memorably portrayed by Forbes Collins in the BBC television series ‘Maid Marian and her Merry Men’ in the 1990s).

For the kingdom, Dover Castle was a formidable fortress, which had been greatly expanded and strengthened over the previous 40 years.

The castle garrison, led by the English nobleman Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent, repelled all attempts by French and rebel forces to take the castle.

In the great siege of July 1216, hundreds of knights and mail-clad soldiers wielded swords, axes and maces and dug tunnels to undermine the gate and gain entry, but the castle’s defenders were undefeated.

However, some elements of the castle were badly damaged, including King John’s twin-towered gatehouse at the north end.

This main gate, accessed via a wooden bridge across a moat, was later sealed after the siege, sometime between 1216 and 1227, English Heritage said.

When one of these twin towers collapsed, the French launched a full-scale assault on the breach, only to find that the garrison had erected behind it a barrier of rocks, wooden crossbeams and mighty oak posts.

Shaken by this defence, the French and rebel attackers were driven off with heavy losses, and the garrison held out until a truce was agreed in October 1216 (the same month that King John died of dysentery).

Louis was paid 10,000 marks to pledge never to invade England again, although he did attempt unsuccessfully to take Dover Castle for a second time in May 1217.

The Frenchman died in 1226, also of dysentery.

Ultimately, the resistance at Dover Castle played a crucial role in preventing Prince Louis of France from becoming King Louis I of England.

“After the siege, the castle was massively and expensively refortified in an attempt to ensure it could never be attacked again,” Pattison said.

Dover Castle Under Siege will open to the public on Monday 22nd July.