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Following the cessation of service of Hoverspeed in 2005 and its short-term use by high-speed ferry company SpeedFerries (now no longer trading), the Dover West Hoverport building, opened in 1978 is finally being demolished to make way for future developments on the land it currently occupies.
I took a few trips to the site in June/July 2009 to capture some final memories of the site before it was completely destroyed.
The Dover Hoverport site is being prepared for a major development programme of the Dover seafront area, and is apparently scheduled to become a large truck-stop-type facility for lorries (Walker, 2009). If this is incorrect, please enlighten me!
Looking out across Dover Harbour toward the famous Castle and White Cliffs |
I spent hours as a kid looking through these windows as the N4s roared into life. Now the same windows lie un-looked through, and salt-spray-free. |
The hoverport at the end of the hoverpad, a JCB tearing its guts out, as viewed from the Prince of Wales Pier. |
Looking toward the Hoverspeed (and later SpeedFerries) catamaran berth on the Prince of Wales Pier. |
The observation shelter. |
Inside the shelter. |
The Dover Harbour Board installed these windows (and later, steps for the vertically challenged) into the concrete walls to let people watch the hovercraft as they came and went. Good on DHB! |
Looking down the Prince of Wales pier toward Dover's western docks |
The ramp leading to the sea, seen by hundreds of SRN4 journeys over 22 years of operation. |
Panorama of the hoverpad at Dover. Imagine 6 SRN4s sitting on there once upon a time!
Click here for very large version. |
Looking at the SeaCat (catamaran) berth. |
As it's been left, empty, for nearly 5 years, except the brief usage by the now bust SpeedFerries; The old red SNR4 propeller still standing, awaiting transfer to The Hovercraft Museum. |
Old road markings still present |
The Western Docks' clock tower |
Through the wire fence... |
The Hoverspeed engineering bays, now silent after nearly 9 years. |
Demolition site, keep out! |
Now shut off, the old vehicle entry/exit ramp. |
Vehicle entry/exit lanes. |
Looking toward the promenade from the Hoverport roundabout. |
Looking toward the hoverport from the Promenade |
A seagull over the White Cliffs: An iconic representation of Dover |
The site as seen on June 30th 2009 |
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The site as seen on July 6th 2009
"Front" of the (now non-existant) hoverport from the old car park |
What remained of the engineering sheds |
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Engineering sheds again |
Hoverport "front" showing the SRN4 propeller still in situ |
Looking down toward the pile of rubble from the top of the vehicle approach ramps |
Close up of the red propeller with its new surroundings |
The site as seen, completely demolished, on July 29th 2009
From under the gantry, looking toward the SeaCat berth over the old location of the engineering sheds. |
Looking toward the ramp. |
Where the front of the terminal buildings once stood proud. |
Page updated
08/22/2010
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