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aerial photograph of Drop Redoubt, Dover Western Heights Kent England UK. The Harbour area at Dover is overlooked by high ground and military engineers have used this high ground for defensive purposes for centuries. The first fortifications on the Western Heights were built in 1779 in response to a threatened Franco-Spanish naval Armada of 1779. These defenses were rebuilt in 1804 in response to the threat of invasion from Napoleon. The main defenses are the Citadel at the western end built in 1780 and Drop Redoubt at the eastern end built 1804-8 and 1859-64. The defenses were further improved at various times during the 19th century and then again during both the first and second world wars . During the later searchlights were positioned here, manned by the Dover Anti-Aircraft Corps. Drop Redoubt was used by the military up until 1945. Since then much of the Western Heights has become a nature reserve with Drop Redoubt preserved as a museum which is open to the public.