Margate | Curious Coast

perfect panorama
contemplation
paddling pool
Harbour Arm
Manning's
diners only
Bromptons at rest
modern art
shelter
get 'em off
deep blue sea
waste water plant
lunch
social drinking
room at the top
going down
i thought it was today
plenty of seating
nicely put
crabbing
deus ex lido
waiting
terrific tower
yellow boat
Cafe
Ruby Tuesday
simply red
listing to port
La La Land
Journey's End

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CuriousCoast
Tim Baynes
Trevor Clapp
#CuriousCoast
info@curiouscoast

The offbeat, kiss-me-quick atmosphere of the East Anglian and Kent seaside and coast fascinates photographer, Trevor Clapp and watercolorist, Tim Baynes. This website records some of their trips to these extraordinary places.

Dreamland

We walked out of the station and a panorama of Margate opened up before us. Broad sands cars and buses and people were parading down Marine Terrace. Further away was the Harbour Arm with colourful boats nestling against its wall.

We soon passed Dreamland Amusement Park ‘with Cinema, Ballroom, Restaurant, Licenced café and bars’. Further along Marine Terrace becomes Marine Drive. In the sun the whole place takes on the feel of Venice Beach CA. A feeling amplified by a strong blue sky, and against this is the sharp white shape of the Turner Contemporary building.

With our Brompton Bikes so distance was no object. We were soon upon the elegant Clock Tower, Buoy and Oyster Café and onwards-past Peter Fish Factory to which returned later (Haddock and Chips £3.75).

Some of Margate is dishevelled and desolate. Once honoured pagodas and shelters, spaces that once offered refuge from rain wind or sun are now falling apart. Although in one of these shelters, on Nayland Rock promenade, TS Eliot had sat while writing Part III of The Waste Land. So it now enjoys listed status from English Heritage.

It is an easy two-mile peddle from the Harbour Arm across the headland to the Water Waste Pumping Station. This is itself an architectural fancy, set against a cobalt noon sky and clear turquoise sea.

We passed the Winter Gardens; Abba’s music drifted up to greet us. I discovered later an Abba Tribute Band was appearing soon.

Back in the town centre Trevor proposed a stop at Manning’s Sea Food Stand.
He enjoyed his usual half-dozen oysters and I feasted on a prawn cocktail.

Margate is so thoughtful vis-à-vis the day-tripper. If you do not want to get sand between your toes there is a shallow concrete amphitheatre of steps to walk you down to the water’s edge. It was here we enjoyed our haddock and chips to which Trevor thoughtful asked Peter’s Fish Factory to add a very large gherkin to each portion.

The sun was now high and I removed my sandals and went for a paddle, my first in this series of ten jaunts to explore our Curious Coast.