There were formerly seven churches in this town, which were all in the deanery of Dover, and diocese of Canterbury; but five of them, dedicated to Saint John, Saint Nicholas, Saint Peter, Saint Martin le Grand,* and Saint Mar

over it, the king's dues were anciently received. After this gate was taken down, a platform was made for three guns, and it was called the Three Gun Battery. It continued in this state until the year 1800, when the corporation granted the ground and materials to the inhabitants, and a bridge was built, by subscription, over to the rope walk. Snar-gate stood near the foot of the cliff, and crossed the street now leading to the pier.

Adrian's-gate, afterwards called Upwall, on the side of the hill towards the west, which led to the common, and to the hill, on which there was anciently a light-house, and a building belonging to the Knights Templars.

Cow-gate, called also the common-gate, it being the road leading to the common.

Saint Martin's or Monk's-gate, was a private gate in the wall, which bounded the precincts of the collegiate church. Biggin-gate, anciently called North-gate, at the end of Biggin-street.

Snargate was taken down in 1683; Biggin-gate in 1762; and Cow-gate in 1776. The others either fell to decay, or were taken down, at a more early period.

*The ancient church of Saint Martin le Grand was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and was the mother church of Dover. It had such a superiority over the other churches and chapels in the town, that none of the priests were permitted to sing mass, until Saint Martin's priest had begun, which was notified by tolling the great bell; and all annual pensions were paid, and almost all offerings made, at this famous church. It was taken down in 1546, the 29th year of king Henry the Eighth, and the bells given to the chamber of Dover.

tin the Less, have been long since demolished. The two remaining, are those dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin, and Saint James the Apostle, otherwise Saint James of Wardendown, which we shall notice under their proper heads.

The ancient religious houses of this town

were

Saint Martin le Grand, built and endowed by Wrightred, king of Kent, for twenty-two canons, which he removed out of the college within the Castle, erected by Eadbaldus, son of Ethelbert. On their removal, and to reconcile them to their new situation, he secured to them by charter, all the franchises and possessions which they had enjoyed on the Castle hill, with the further privilege of exempting them from the jurisdiction of any ordinary or judge, except himself and the pope, and his successors, kings of England. As their sovereign was their patron, they were endowed, at an early period, with large grants of lands in the neighbourhood, and several of their members were chaplains to the king. They continued four hundred years undisturbed; but the licentious abuse they made of their privileges, called for the exertion of royal

authority. To the crime of gallantry, they are said to have added worldly cares, temporal pursuits, dissipations, and the wasting of their revenues in extravagant luxuries. They were suppressed by Henry the First, and their lands given to the monks of Christ Church, in Canterbury, with all their appendages by sea and land. William Corboil, who, at that time, occupied the metropolitan see, not willing to destroy, but to reform this college, built a new minster.* His design was to have converted it into an abbey of regular canons of Saint Augustine; but dying before he could accomplish it, Theobald his successor, in the reign of Henry the Second, filled this monastery with Benedictine monks; and the king not only subjected them to the see of Canterbury, but decreed, that no other order but that of

*The following account is given by Archdeacon Harpsfield of this new foundation :

"There were in this college of Saint Martin anciently canons called Secular. Their church was in the middle of the town, small, but populous; and the canons being neglectful in the observation of the sacred rites of the church, and wasting their estates in worldly entertainments, libertinism, and luxury, the Archbishop thought of the means of remedying this evil. He built a new church out of the walls of the town, and a monastery, with other offices, for the accommodation of monks."

Saint Bennett should ever be admitted into this house. Edward the Third added to this injunction, that it should be annexed for ever to the priory of Christ Church, in Canterbury, and that none but a monk of that house should be prior of it. The sending a prior from Canterbury, laid the foundation of a continual discord between the two houses; and the revenue of the new priory was wasted in continual litigations; which in a course of time, reduced the society to poverty. This monastery was entirely suppressed on the 17th of November, in the 27th year of Henry the Eighth, three days after West Langdon abbey. The revenues were valued at 1701. 14s. 11 d. according to Dugdale; Speed says that they amounted to 2321. 1s. 54d.*

The Knights Templars had a princely mansion near this town, which Mr. Lambard supposes to have been built after the conquest;

*This monastery was situated near the entrance of the town from the London road, a short distance from the Maison Dieu. It still retains the name of Dover Priory, and many remains of the ancient buildings are, at this time, to be seen worthy of observation. It is now converted into a farm house, and has been occupied many years by a respectable family of the name of Coleman. The manor of Dover Priory is part of the lands belonging to the see of Canterbury; and W. Coleman, Esq. is the present lessee.

alleging, in support of his opinion, that the order of Knights Templars was instituted after Godfrey of Boleine had won Jerusalem, which was subsequent to the coming of the conqueror. Here the Knights Hospitalers lodged coming into and going out of the kingdom; and in this house* (says Stow, A. D. 1213) was signed that infamous agreement between king John and the pope's legate, whereby that unhappy prince yielded his crown tributary, and himself a vassal to the pope. It was suppressed in the reign of Edward the Second.

The Hospital of the Maison Dieu-Built and endowed by Hubert de Burgh, earl of Kent, and was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. He gave to this charitable institution the manor of River, and manor of Kingsdown, in the hundred of Milton, for the relief and maintenance of such poor travellers and pilgrims who should visit this place; † and ordained,

*The situation of this mansion is not exactly ascertained; but the most probable conjecture is, that it was situated in or near the small village of Ewell, about three miles from Dover, on the London road. It is now a farm house, and bears the appellation of Temple Ewell.

+ An ancient MSS. relating to Dover harbour, mentions this hospital to have been built for the relief of poor soldiers from beyond the sea, and that each soldier was allowed a subsistence for fourteen days, gratis.