HISTORY OF MARGATE

Once a humble fishing village, Margate grew to become a strategic mediaeval port and, in the eighteenth century, a popular resort town - benefitting from the increasing passion of Londoners for sandy beaches, sea-bathing and fresh air!

With the growing stream of holiday-makers came a range of recreational facilities and Margate’s visitors enjoyed browsing its fashionable shops, taking afternoon tea in its elegant hotels and attending the splendid Theatre Royal, which opened in 1787 and now boasts the oldest stage in Britain. Much of the grand architecture from this period, including the Walpole Bay Hotel & Museum and Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, can still be seen today.

In the twentieth century pleasure-seekers continued to flock to the town for its various attractions and unrivalled sea views and, in 1920, Dreamland opened: an amusement park complete with a scenic rollercoaster, a cinema and even a zoo. The park has attracted millions of visitors over the years and, while it has been closed recently, there are plans for a grand re-development of the site and local campaigners hope it will play a key role in Margate’s future.

The town’s creative quarter is now undergoing significant renewal, led by the building of the Turner Contemporary Gallery in the harbour. Margate was a great inspiration to JM Turner and its unique skies played host to many of his great seascapes. In more recent years the town has also seen an installation from its home-grown and Turner Prize-winning artist, Tracey Emin and the Old Town now showcases the work of many local artists in its shops and cafés.