Photo Gallery – Margate, Herne Bay & Swalecliffe

Margate

Margate

Margate

Margate

Margate

Margate
This fairground was behind one of the amusement arcades in town and not visible from the street (2007).

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Herne Bay gets its name from the village of Herne inland. In 1100 it was spelt Hyrnan, meaning "place at the angle/corner of land", probably referring to a turn in the Roman road.

August brings the Herne Bay Festival of family-friendly fun, according to their website www.hernebayfestival.co.uk

Herne Bay
Only very short piece of usable pier remains, with a rather unattractive sports hall.

  Herne Bay
The remains of Herne Bay pier, engineered by Thomas Telford and opened in 1832. It was the second longest (behind Southend), this being made necessary by the shallow waters, bearing in mind that piers were built to enable pleasure boat passengers to disembark. There is a campaign to rebuild and so attract visitors to the town, benefiting everyone. This pier does present a very forlorn sight. Restoration would provide a great asset for the local economy, being attractive to all ages and encouraging family fun. The website has pictures past and present, including the beautiful decorative ironwork, rusting away, and gives an indication of the possible income to be derived, set against cost www.hernebaypier.co.uk. It needs some of that Never Give In spirit, as mentioned below!

Herne Bay
I can imagine well togged-up swimmers emerging in bathing costumes identical to the huts – blue, green, red and stripy.

  Herne Bay
Having arrived at the chosen seaside, no Brit would dream of being put off by the weather, preferring to sit it out regardless. Part of the Never Give In spirit, and also a bit of Getting Our Money's Worth Now We're Here. Every shelter should really have a plaque saying "I do believe it's brightening up a bit."

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Swalecliffe – the name derives from either "swallows' riverbank" or "bank of the Swale watercourse", swale meaning "rushing water"

Swalecliffe
Looking west towards Whitstable, at the end of the afternoon

Swalecliffe
Swalecliffe seafront (2 photos joined). The headland in the distance is Margate, with Herne Bay out of sight inbetween.

Walk eastwards past the huts and on to a shingly grassy promontory

  Swalecliffe
Marsh/grassland between Swalecliffe and Herne Bay. An ideal place to enjoy big skies and breezes. Swalecliffe's long empty seafront is totally quiet and peaceful, with the grassy areas and backs of residential and caravan parks coming down to the coast pathway. The only sound was that of the breeze in the grass and occasional seagull.

Maybe not a place for hayfever sufferers

Swalecliffe
I would add to this, beware anger of any sort

Swalecliffe

Back of caravan park right by the seafront. I  remember a caravan holiday here when very young. The caravans were about a third the size of these, with gas mantles and communal wash/toilet block. The kitchen sink emptied into a bucket under the van, and you had to keep an eye on its level. One day, I had hurriedly pulled in my kite without winding up the string, as the kite was threatening to come down on a mudflat. The inevitable impossible tangle was noticed by a passerby who commiserated "That's what's called a crow's nest."

My parents gained a very soft and cuddly teddy bear from the Bingo hall and kept him secret until my birthday some weeks later, having seen me gazing longingly at him. That Ted wore little handmade dresses until I realised it was more fun to make dresses that fitted me instead. I never allowed them to be called "frocks", probably because dress sounded more grown-up.

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