Westgate On Sea, Hotels And Beach 1890

Photo ref: 27463

Photo ref: 27463

Photo of Westgate On Sea, Hotels And Beach 1890

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While the neighbouring resort of Margate had been attracting hordes of trippers from London from 1753 onwards, Westgate remained a more sedate and favoured place for families throughout the late Victorian and Edwardian era, with its broad sandy beaches and red-brick hotels. Its atmosphere is exemplified in this photograph showing families genteelly disporting themselves on the beach in front of St Mildred's Hotel and Bathing Establishment; one can only speculate at the discomfort these ladies and children must have endured in the summer heat in their voluminous clothing, even with a cooling onshore breeze.

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A Selection of Memories from Westgate on Sea

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 Westgate on Sea

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The Smell

I remember each time we went into the shop we got the smell of the paraffin , even now if I smell it it reminds me of his shop. ps you can keep the big DIY stores only things in packets staff who have no knowledge . take care

Westgate Colour Centre and Domestic Stores 1963-1970

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Added 24 August 2021

Pavs Tea Garden

Pavs started as a large wooden hut made by Ray Henikier, a carpenter. I used to help him take down the hut in the late Autumn and put it back up the following spring. Then Pavs was rebuilt in block work. My father used to work for him after Dad retired from his job. My son, Steve, used to work for him as he was a chef. So my family has a lot of good memories of Pavs.

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Added 18 July 2021

Wonderful Days

We spent all our warm summer holidays at Westgate. We lived in South London. My Grandmother lived in Quex Road and we had a caravan on St Crispens caravan site. I loved getting fish heads from the fish monger to go crabbing. I loved the level crossing gates, I also loved to stand on the footbridge next to the road bridge at the far end of the station to stand in the smoke from the steam trains. Very H & S. ...see more