Margate, Hotel Metropole 1892
Photo ref: 31443
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Photo ref: 31443
Photo of Margate, Hotel Metropole 1892

More about this scene

The impressive facade of the Hotel Metropole, with the Ship Hotel next door, faced the end of the Jetty to greet the thousands of holidaymakers who travelled down on the paddle steamers. In the foreground is a 'guess your weight' machine, where you only paid if the proprietor guessed your weight correctly. He could do this by cleverly adjusting the weights to his advantage. Six houses to the left was the lodging house of Mrs Sophia Booth, where J M W Turner stayed between 1827 and 1851. From here he painted watercolours of golden sunsets over the sea to the west and the misty dawns to the east. Between 1939 and 1945 the Hotel Metropole and surrounding properties were demolished as part of the town's Fort Road Improvement Scheme. The area as it was before demolition can be seen in the aerial photograph on pages 8-9. Three acres of rundown cafes, souvenir shops and a wooden arcade were cleared, and a new dual-carriageway swept down the hill offering a clear panoramic view of the sands and bay.

An extract from Margate Town and City Memories.

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Margate Town and City Memories

Margate Town and City Memories

The photo 'Margate, Hotel Metropole 1892' appears in this book.

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A Selection of Memories from Margate

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Margate

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

Does anyone remember the Pavillion View Guest House on Fort Crescent in the mid to late 1950's. The guesthouse was run by Mr. & Mrs. Walter & Kitty Chart at the time. I would like to make contact with any descendants of Mr & Mrs Chart as I am also trying to see if anyone remembers Violet McKinnell whom I think was living and working at The Pavillion View as a chambermaid at that ...see more
I also went to salmestone school in the late fifties, from 56 to1960 then to st Johns C of E, I remember the teachers, Mr Bird, Mrs dumpford, Mrs Ashby and the headmaster Mr Walker. Also a circus that came to town and saw a procession of animals along the seafront. Does anyone remember the character "holy Joe " who cut hair in cranbourne ally and and preached the end of the world etc wearing a sandwich board.
I have lived in Margate since 1953 having moved from Ilford in Essex, I was 3 years old. My nan and granddad owned a small guest house in Vicarage Crescent, Margate. My life was a little upheaved as my father left my mother, myself and my half brother in about 1955. I went to Salmestone School until I was 11, I passed the 11 plus and went to Danecourt Technical High School for Boys in Broadstairs. Margate was ...see more
lived in margate from approx. 1945 to 1952. There was a pier with a life boat station halfway up.Took a trip on the lifeboat, public once year, and was really seasick. There was also the Pavilion, close by was a 'pillbox' a wartime concrete structure meant to provide defence against invaders. As kids we would get into it and explore all kinds of things. First time I ever saw someone naked. would love to hear if anyone else ...see more