Memories of Broadstairs

The Post in the Centre of the Bay

I am not sure which grandfather it was (how many greats do you want?) but the old part of my family, the Strevens, have lived in Broadstairs for the last five hundred years, and have the honour of having erected the post in the middle of the bay. This was one of five snubbing posts that allowed the barges to warp right up to the pier where they loaded tar and coke from the gas works at the top of Harbour Street (now a car park). The tar pipe is still visible in the side of the pier where it used to run down the hill still hot from the coke ovens, and into the barges.

Broadstairs and St Mary's Home 1957

I was 6 years old and had had bronchitis and asthma and so I was sent away from smoggy London to St Mary's Home in Broadstairs. I was taken with other young children on a train by a nurse in a brown uniform. We all slept in dormitories and every Wednesday we had early morning exercises. Sometimes we were taken down the steps to the beach which was lovely. A friendly nurse sewed me a smocked dress, it was very pretty. All parents arrived every Sunday and took us out... it was so exciting to hear your mum calling you as the gates were opened. I remember feeling very lonely and I was moved from my dorm to another as unkind children called me 'ten ton Tessy!' My best memory was the sweets. We had to put the sweets given by parents to the staff, but they were never seen again, so my parents told me to hide my sweets in my coat pocket and every day I would have a few. My Auntie Tess and cousin Margaret came down to stay in Broadstairs for a week and took me out every day, it was brilliant. I have mainly good memories. I seem to remember getting better. I was there for 6 weeks in June/ July 1957. One girl came with severe burns all ova her, a result of a house fire.

WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent for delicate girls DURING 1950''''S

I was at Port Regis between 1954 and 1956. I was 8 when I got there and left just before my 10th birthday. Was anyone else at Port Regis, Broadstairs when it was a convent for delicate girls?
I did read one input here, but it was from 1946 I think. The nuns, thinking about it now, resembled Roman Catholic ladies who were probably forced in many cases to be nuns. This was a great honour during that time for a Catholic daughter to be come a Roman Catholic nun.
I was NOT a Roman Catholic at all. Neither was my family, but as we children were forced to pray to the Rosary several times a day I assume it was Roman Catholic, also the Virgin Mary was the main issue in the chapel.
The treatment there was out of this world CRUEL. Some of the punishments we children had to stand was plain abuse. It was a horrible place. It gives me small goose pimples just thinking about it.
I remember Cathrine Waring as the girl in the next bed in the dormitary where we all were sent to bed at 5.30 pm!
I also remember Sister Mary Bonventure and Sister Mary Audrey. It would be good therapy at a late date to be in touch with women who were there and also experienced this wicked treatment that as a child as I received.
I tried to contact these nuns at a later date but heard they were either passed or in The Holy Cross nursing home and rather confused.
The child abuse there has of course left a nasty scar but I've managed to stay on the straight and narrow and have a wonderful daughter, her partner and two small grandgirls! Nan's diamonds!
It would be lovely to hear from you,
Rita Pilbrow
positiveenergy@live.se

Was anyone else convalescent here?

I think this was where I was sent at age about 4. I lived in London and was packed off with some other children on a train. I remember the nuns that looked after us and the stone steps cut in the cliff where we would access the beach. It was winter and freezing cold. I was there for a month and remember the church services on a Sunday and also being visited by a soldier who they told me was my dad. He and my mum had separated so I didn't really know him.

I never thought about going home, just remember being surprised when they came and said I was going home that day.

I tried to find it again some time ago but I think it's been pulled down. If anyone has any more information I'd be interested to hear from them.

It's still there after all these years...

This photograph from 1887 shows a post in the middle of the picture, standing upright in the sea - to this day it is still there. As a child it was always a point at which I arranged to meet with my brother, or my mum if I wandered off whilst on the beach. Growing up in Broadstairs was just the best place for a child to start life - we had great freedom, a great place to play and a beautiful, historic town - a privilege.

Jo Laight

I got married here.....

I got married in this church in 1994 and my daughter was christened here in 1995. What a beautiful church and great memories to hold forever. Jo Laight

Port Regis

I remember Port Regis very well, I stayed there as a child. It was a convalescent home then for girls. The nuns used to take us down to the beach every Wednesday afternoon - Kingsgate beach that is. Though it is 40-some odd years ago I still remember it as if it was yesterday. I remember my very best friend there, her name was Frances. There also were the sisters Diane and Sheila, and I also remember all the nuns' names. It was a special time in my life. Until 1966 we went to Broadstairs every year for our holidays, parking on the jetty and going to Viking Bay, the arcade that was there, and the coffee shop that one of your readers said now is a pizza parlour. I wish I could revisit those days but I can't, plus I now live in Florida, but I have my memories.  Ann Venters.

The Grand at Broadstairs

Laurie used to play at the Grand every Saturday night. In the afternoon he would play the piano at Booby's, an upmarket sort of Debenhams in Cliftonville. My mother and I would go and have tea in the restaurant, which served a three tier tray of cakes, my favourites were Kunzle cakes. They were a case, either round square or oblong, filled with sponge and a creamy topping and a sugared fruit top - very fattening! During tea in the afternoon, mannequins would parade through the restaurant showing off the latest clothes.  Because Laurie knew us from the Grand Ballroom, as I walked in he would play 'Sweet Sue' and as I left he would play 'I'll See You Again'. I never knew how he lost his leg, probably during the war, but he was a lovely chap and a great pianist.

I met my husband during the Barn Dance, which was always held in the middle of the evening and my mother passed him on to me. During the interval the better dancers would get up and show us how a waltz or quickstep should really be done. There was one chap who seemed elderly to us but was probably only in his sixties, who always had a beautiful girl as a partner and danced superbly - a joy to watch. The boys would stand around at the back of the hall with a drink and try to pluck up enough alcoholic courange to invite a girl to dance, which was more complicated than in these days.

Sue Robinson

Cafe

I remember coming here as a child. My Mum used to go to Broadstairs every year when she was young & we used to have day-trips for my Mum & Nan as a nostalgic visit. We always used to go into this cafe (can just see windows on left of pic) for breakfast & even after 40 odd years it was still being run by the same family and they always recognised my Nan's (really not that Cockney) voice! Bearing in mind that they only visited once a year I always used to think that was amazing! Unfortunately, it has now been sold and is now a pizza place. Have never been in there, and to be honest, don't think I will if my Mum & Nan have anything to do with it!

Port Regis

I had a couple of holidays at Broadstairs, staying at the Convent at Port Regis. I attended St Philomena's in Carshalton Surrey and I think they owned the Convent at Port Regis. I can remember Broadstairs and going to Margate. I now live in Sydney, Australia but will be in England in September and I hope to get down to Kent (amid a very busy itinerary) and relive those memories. Bette Schoots (nee Miller).

Ancestral Ties

My 4th Gt grandfather was Michael Breckinridge--he died in a storm at sea c 1808.  He and his son, Michael (married to Elizabeth Shrewsbury---her father and husband both shipwrights), were both Chief, Cinque Ports.

Some of the (then) cousins, surname Hiller, were born IN the North Foreland Light.  My 3rd Gt. grandfather, Edward William Breckinridge, who married Mary Ann Adkins of Ramsgate, Kent, sailed to America in c1833, my 2nd Gt. grandfather Henry Breckinridge, in their arms.  

Later, Mary Ann's sister, Martha, left there--joined them in the US---living with Henry and Mary Ann until she died.

Henry's sisters (born in the US) and his nieces, made trips back---hopefully I will make the trip one day soon myself.  Some of the Hiller descendants are here in the US, some of them live in Australia.  They HAVE been back.  

North Foreland Light is something the two Michaels saw every day---and the last thing of home Edward and Mary Ann saw as they left for the US.