Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Ramsgate

Ramsgate is an attractive seaside resort on the Isle of Thanet in Kent. It was an arm of the Cinque Ports

Facing South, it is in a sheltered position, and has extensive chalk cliffs and views across the Channel to France.

Like many other seaside towns, it began a mile inland at St. Lawrence. The resort itself developed from a small fishing settlement.

Ramsgate Harbour is surrounded by Georgian terraces, on both the West Cliff and the East Cliff. Many of the terraces have cast-iron balconies.

An Obelisk on the Esplanade records a visit by George IV in 1821, leading to the harbour becoming known as "Royal". He visited again in 1827.

St. George's Church, with a 137 foot tower, was completed in 1827.

Ramsgate Abbey was built by Augustus Pugin, and completed in 1851. It is widely regarded as his masterpiece. He also built a house for his own family, known as The Grange, where he died.

The lovely 1953 model village, depicting an idealised Merrie England, is alas closed.

Among people born in Ramsgate are the actress Brenda Blethyn and humorist Frank Muir.

The town is one of the settings in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", and the remake of "The Big Sleep" was filmed here.

Vincent Van Gogh taught in a school at Ramgate, and Elizabeth Fry died in the town.

On the outskirts of the town, at Ebbsfleet, was formerly a hoverport with a link to Calais, and later a cross channel ferry port was constructed.

William Frith painted one of his panoramic pictures, "Ramsgate Sands", in 1859, and sold it to Queen Victoria.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby lived in Ramsgate in the late 1970s, when he managed two cinemas.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Ramsgate for groups.