River Dour Festival: 3000 Years Along the Dour

Event Date: 16/08/2023 15:30 - 17:00

Interested in the history of Dover? This talk might be for you!

This informal talk will consider the story of human settlement and activity throughout the Dour valley from the beginning of the Bronze Age (over 4000 years ago), down to the Anglo-Saxon period. This is a period that includes some of the most significant archaeological sites and finds in Britain, including the Dover Bronze Age Boat, Roman Painted House, and Buckland Anglo-Saxon cemetery. 

Event Location - River Dour

The River Dour is a chalk stream which flows from Kearsney to Dover docks. The chalk stream habitat of the Dour is globally rare and the crystal-clear waters support an abundance of wildlife.

The river is easily accessible from Dover town centre and is a ten-minute walk from Dover Priory train station. The four mile signposted ‘River Dour Greenway’ trail follows the river from sea to source as it passes through the town of Dover and ends at the village of Temple Ewell. The river can also be easily accessed while visiting Pencester Gardens in Dover and Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens in Kearsney.

Find out more about our Heritage Lottery funded project Our Finest Dour, which set out to raise awareness of the importance of the River Dour. An overview of the project is here.

The Kent Downs National Landscape funded Dour to Downs project is now underway, continuing on the work from Our Finest Dour but adding new elements. To find out more please email riverdour@dover.gov.uk