I visited Dover Castle last year while passing through Kent. The history of the place is impressive, especially the wartime tunnels. It was a quiet day, and I joined one of the regular tours that take you through the underground sections.
At one point, while the group paused near an old comms room, I wandered just a little way down a short side passage. It wasn’t blocked off, but it also didn’t seem like part of the tour. There was a faint draft and a chalky smell, like old stone.
Near the end of the corridor, I noticed something scribbled on the wall in what looked like chalk. It was mostly smudged, but I could make out a few letters — maybe a date, maybe a name. Beneath it, there was a small metal plaque that simply said: “Closed to public – 1979.”
I asked the guide later, and he just said, “That section isn’t usually open.” I didn’t press it, but something about it stuck with me. Not spooky — just one of those small moments you file away and later wonder about.