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Dumpton Gap
Dumpton Gap maps
Historic maps of Dumpton Gap and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Dumpton Gap maps
Dumpton Gap area books
Displaying 1 of 24 books about Dumpton Gap and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Dumpton Gap
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Kent memories
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.
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... Read more
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).
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!
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... Read more
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.
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
