I enjoyed a splendid trip to the seaside town of Margate in Kent recently, and spent the day wandering around the beachfront and old town before heading off to the town’s football stadium to see the mighty Dulwich Hamlet triumph 4-2.
Here’s some photos from my ambles.
The Lifeboat Memorial Statue was erected in memory of 9 lifeboat men men who lost their lives while attempting to assist a vessel in distress on the 2nd Dec. 1897.
Looking out to sea on a perfect January afternoon. You can see the outline of the tidal swimming pool to the right.
Margate harbour.
Noticeboard.
Entrance to Nayland Rock Hotel.
I initially thought that’s this was part of the London Array, world’s largest offshore wind farm with 175 wind turbines [More info] – but a reader corrected me (see comment below) to say that it was in fact the smaller Thanet Offshore, which numbers 100 turbines [See: Thanet Offshore Wind Farm].
Beach huts, locked for the winter.
Walking along a groyne.
Half timbered beach huts!
Graffiti.
Looking out to sea.
An array of poles.
Sunset Rock shop in al its gaudy glory.
Margate postcard.
Scene on Marine Drive.
Stained glass lettering for the Ruby Lounge at Duke Street, Margate.
Town Hall in the Old Town.
Old Town view.
All was quiet at the candy floss store.
Pop corn to clear.
Harbour view at sunset.
Beach front buildings reflecting the golden rays of the late sun.
The old Arlington Square shopping centre.
A huge Tesco superstore has been given planning permission to be built on this site, despite considerable local opposition.
The disused Dreamland building next to the opinion-dividing Arlington House. The patterned sides are meant to reference the tides on the beach.
Built in 1964, the distinctive 18 storey building houses 142 apartment buildings. Read more about the building here: arlingtonmargate.com.
The sad sight of the abandoned Dreamland amusement park, which has deteriorated even further since I posted up a photo feature in November 2009
Escape night club, situated next to Dreamland.
A view of the New Kings Stairs.
Looking across the bay with Arlington House in the distance.
Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate.
Some views of a winter sunset across Margate harbour.
Shell Lady sculpture on the Margate Harbour Arm.
Discarded pint glass.
A house with an awful lot of windows.
Margate Lido sign.
Shop front.
Another view of the Turner Gallery.
Gray morning, Margate.
Alone on the beach, 9,30am.
Looking back at the town from the tidal swimming pool .
Empty pool and deserted beach.
One of Margate’s oldest buildings, The Tudor House dates back to the first half of the sixteenth century.
A view of the well preserved station at Margate, which still has its water tower in situ. Such things please me.
More Margate photos can be seen here:
Margate snow 2012
Occupy Thanet protest 2012
Margate Dreamland amusement park
Margate town photos
Margate town photos 2
Margate railway station
Related posts:
Margate – walking by the sea, sand and snow
Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views
Lost rabbits, fat balls and hideous headwinds – a walk from Westgate On Sea to Margate
Whitstable photos: beach scenes, singing fisherman and an oyster eating competition
A rainy day in Margate. Photos from a wet and windy May afternoon
Cheltenham town centre, England: twenty photos, including a newsagent full of plastic guns
Margate Dreamland, abandoned funfair
Photos of Weikersheim, Germany: the castle, street scenes and town views
Thanks for the photos, Mike. I was brought up in Margate, left in 1992, but visited regularly until 2010. Still looks much the same mixture of tired streets and occasional beauty.
The wind farm is, I think, Thanet Offshore rather than Thames Array – the former is smaller, about 90 turbines. The dreadful cream building used to be the Corner Cafe, which resisted decoration until a few years ago – looks like it had a lick of paint then was left to rot 🙁
Really enjoyed the look back. K
Cheers – I’ve updated the caption!
my grandparents lived here from 1907 – 1969, my father from 1921 – 1940 and I from 1959 – 1962, They ran a hotel in Dalby Square, and when I asked if I should take it over they said no, they were selling up quick as Margate was dying in the early 70’s, which they did. I went to St. John’s school played in the derelict theatre in Cecil Square, and had my first sex just round the corner from the station. I had my ‘Brief Encounter’ moment on that station in 1971, I wished you’d taken the photo looking the other way, on the up line to London.
TRO
Hello, I love your pics. I am an artist, came hear on holiday in 2005, loved it then. I did some drawings but sold them, Please can I draw from some of your photos?
You are welcome to check out my art.
http://www.annmariewhitton.co.uk
Cheers,
Ann Marie.
I was born in Margate in 1940, few days later I was evacuated to Dosthill in the midlands. I came back to Margate in 1944, attended Drapers Mills and St Johns schools, joined the Sea Cadets (TS Admiral Vivian, SCC 253). Took my first job at Northdown Motors, Cliftonville in 1955 then joined the Royal Navy in 1957. I absolutely loved the place during my youth, it was a great place to grow up in. My naval career took me away for years at a time, but I came back to see my family from time to time and got married in St Johns Church in 1961 and took a flat in Eton Road which my wife and I retained for the rest of my RN engagement. Unfortunately, each time we returned on leave from the navy, the place had become more and more run down. We eventually settled in Fareham, Hampshire but returned for family visits from time to time. Each time we visited we became more and more disappointed with with the way the town had been allowed to deteriorate. The worst eyesore being the Arlington Tower right next to the railway station, what a disgrace! When they were first built they were something to be proud of, but not now. The degeneration of the Lido and the loss of Dreamland are unforgivable! At least there are now some signs of improvement around the harbour and old town. Lets hope it continues…………
Dreamland has been reopened, complete with a restored “Scenic Railway” (Britain’s oldest still-operating coaster (1920), as far as I know the only wooden coaster in the south of England, and one of only 8 of this classic LaMarcus Thomson design still existing). If I were still mobile, I would have bought a season ticket to Dreamland.
Folkestone in 1945, and the family moved to Margate after I was born. I, too, went to Drapers Mills school then onto Lausanne School. I had a rough and unloving childhood, but I always had the run of the town, going anywhere and everywhere freely and exploring with my friends. The summers were so much fun, Dreamland was always the place to go, and the sea and sands and cliff were so beautiful. I live in North Florida now, but long to see it just one more time. It saddens me to see that the the town has been allowed to deteriorate.
Please revisit Margate it has had a massive uplift and is looking really good.
Beautiful photos! I am visiting Margate for the first time today, so looking forward to it!
Margate is a really beautiful town The Sunset Rock Shop is the best over 50 flavours of rock to take home and enjoy i should know im the owner Keith Marsh. see you all in the summer and thank you for your custom .