The Church of St Martin-le-Grand, Dover

The Church of Saint Martin-le-Grand in Dover has a history dating back to the 7th century. Initially founded as part of a Kentish monastery within the Roman Saxon-Shore Fort, it was destroyed by Viking raids in the 9th century. The Canons of Saint Martin relocated to Castle Hill, where a new church, later known as Saint Mary-in-Castro, was built. By the Norman Conquest, this site became central to the canons' operations, but the construction of Dover Castle prompted their relocation to a site in the town below.

Construction of the new church began around 1070 on the western side of the present Market Square. Work was halted in the early 12th century due to disputes over control, as the Canons of Saint Martin were subject only to the King and the Pope. Archbishop of Canterbury Corboil ultimately persuaded King Henry I to transfer the church's estates to Canterbury. By 1139, a new priory for the canons was established outside Dover, and the partially completed structure evolved into the parish church of Saint Martin-le-Grand.

During the late Middle Ages, the church housed three combined parishes-Saint Martin, Saint Nicholas, and Saint John the Baptist-under one roof. The interior featured numerous altars and chapels, as described in wills from the 15th and 16th centuries. However, the church fell into decline by the Reformation. By 1546, its altars were removed, parts were converted into shops and residences, and the graveyard remained in use until the 19th century.

Severely damaged during World War II, the church remains in ruins today. Small sections of its walls survive near Dover’s Market Square, adjacent to the Dover Discovery Centre and the Roman Painted House. These remnants serve as a testament to the church’s centuries of significance, from its founding in the 7th century to its decline and eventual destruction.