Herne Bay, Kent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Herne Bay | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Population: | Approx. 58,932 | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | TR177681 | |
| Administration | ||
| District: | Canterbury | |
| Shire county: | Kent | |
| Region: | South East England | |
| Constituent country: | England | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Ceremonial county: | Kent | |
| Historic county: | Kent | |
| Services | ||
| Police force: | Kent Police | |
| Fire and rescue: | {{{Fire}}} | |
| Ambulance: | South East Coast | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | Herne Bay | |
| Postal district: | CT6 | |
| Dialling code: | 01227 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | North Thanet | |
| European Parliament: | South East England | |
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Herne Bay is a seaside town in Kent, England between six and seven miles north of Canterbury, and part of the City of Canterbury local government district.
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[edit] History
The name Herne Bay is sometimes said to be derived from the herons that frequented the salt-water shallows between the town and neighbouring Whitstable. However, Herne Bay is etymologically a place on a "corner of land". It comes from the Old English hyrne ("angle, corner") and was first recorded in about 1100 as Hyrnan. This may relate to the sharp turn in the Roman Road from Canterbury to Reculver at Herne. The village, which gave its name to the parish, is two miles inland and in 1831 the parish (including Herne Bay) contained 1876 inhabitants. In the nineteenth century a smugglers' gang operated from Herne Bay, who in 1820 became involved with a series of fights, before finally being overpowered by the preventive service.
Herne Bay's heyday was during the late Victorian era when it came into prominence as a seaside resort and much of the resulting late Victorian seafront architecture is still in existence. Its shingle beach and "easy" tides have always been popular and, until the main iron pier of the town was destroyed on 12 January 1978, Herne Bay was popular with beach-pier fishermen.
From 1747 a passenger service by boat regularly landed on Herne beach from London. From Herne there was easy access across Kent by stagecoach to Dover or Thanet where further passage by boat could then be obtained across the English Channel.
In the 1830s, the Herne Bay Pier Company built the pier and promenade, extending three-quarters of a mile over the sands and sea; where steam packets and other vessels embarked and landed passengers and goods, at all times of the tide. In 1837 , at a cost of about £4,000 donated by Mrs Ann Thwaytes of London, a 75ft clock tower was added to the seafront. It is thought to be the first free standing purpose built clock tower in the world. Sir Henry Oxenden also gave a piece of ground for the site of a new church.
During the 1840s regular transport between Herne Bay and Canterbury left the seafront every morning at nine, summer and winter; coaches and omnibuses ran daily, and on the arrival of the steam packets, these would take passengers as far afield as Deal, Dover, Sandgate and Hythe. Conveyance by water was provided from London, Margate and Ramsgate with several steam vessels calling off Herne Bay daily.
The landward end of the pier and the seaward terminal are now separated by a half-mile stretch of water, two gaps having been cut by the Army as a counter-invasion measure at the beginning of World War II. Bridges to the seaward end were restored after the war, but the centre sectiion was torn down by a powerful storm in 1978,and has not been rebuilt since.
Thanet and Herne Bay both had a type of beach boat unique to the area, known as the Thanet wherry, a narrow pulling boat of about 18ft long much used for fishing and with the advent of tourism for pleasure trips.
Extensive seafront regeneration in the 1990s followed the creation of a sea defence jetty to protect low-lying areas of the town which were subject to flooding. Neptune's Arm, as it is called, lies a short way out to sea in the central area and has created a small harbour used by working and leisure boats. The Victorian gardens on the seafront were then able to be fully restored. Residents and businesses are campaigning for a full restoration of the pier.
The town museum contains many historic photographs on the effects of storms and flooding on the area. The Central Bandstand, built in 1924 and recently refurbished to its former glory after years of disrepair and closure to the public, is now home to the Herne Bay Information Centre.
[edit] Interesting facts
- The first "Brides in the Bath" murder by George Joseph Smith was committed in Herne Bay in 1912.
- Parts of the first series of Little Britain were filmed along the seafront of Herne Bay and inside one of the public houses on the seafront - The Bun Penny.
- In the early 1980s Herne Bay was the film location for the BBC comedy Cocklesea, starring, among others, Joan Sims.
- A wind farm has recently been constructed 8.5km north of the coast. The farm contains thirty 2.75MW wind turbines generating a total of 82.5MW of electricity for the local community. However, the wind farm is reported to be located off the coast of Whitstable instead of Herne Bay.
- Reculver, near Herne Bay was the site of the testing of the bouncing bomb.
- Herne Bay was also the site of the 1960's film "French Dressing", a minor-comedy directed by Ken Russell set principally on the sea front and the inside of the Kent Tavern Pub.
- Part of an episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em was filmed in Herne Bay.
- An episode of DIY SOS was filmed in Herne Bay.
- Herne Bay was used as a location in CBBC's "The Tweenies".
- Herne Bay was a location in "Upstairs Downstairs".
- Herne Bay was the main location for the 1970s French film "Blue Jeans".
- Herne Bay and Reculver were the location for childhood scenes in the 1970s film "The Medusa Touch".
- Herne Bay was the home town of characters Matt and Mandy in the BBC sitcom, Game On.
- In the Jeeves stories by P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves holidays at Herne Bay, spending much of his time there fishing.
[edit] Famous current or former residents
- Bob Holness lived in Herne Bay as a child.
- Popstars' Nicki Chapman was born and raised in Herne Bay.
- Eastenders' John Altman is a former resident. His mother still lives in Herne Bay.
- Ex Caravan band member Dave Sinclair was born and raised in Herne Bay.
- Colin Dixon, the depot manager held hostage during the Securitas robbery of February 2006, the largest cash robbery in British history.
- Celebrated Kent artist Dudley Pout was born and raised in Herne Bay.
[edit] Affiliations
Herne Bay is twinned with the following towns:
[edit] Photos
[edit] Transport links
Herne Bay railway station is on the Chatham Main Line which runs from London Victoria to Ramsgate. Other stations on this line include Bromley South, Rochester, Gillingham, Faversham, Whitstable, Margate and Broadstairs. A selection of trains run to London's Cannon Street station, primarily for business commuting. Herne Bay is around 1hr 30mins from London by fast-service train.
There is a triangular bus route running through Herne Bay, Whitstable and Canterbury and a route running between Herne Bay and Margate.
The A299 road, also known as the Thanet Way, runs from Ramsgate to Faversham via Herne Bay and Whitstable. It merges with the M2 motorway at Faversham.
[edit] Attractions and landmarks
- A seafront with a two mile shingle beach and promenade, a pier, a bandstand, a clocktower, Victorian gardens, amusement arcades, rides for small children, cafes, guest houses, beach huts, a sea defence jetty, sailing and rowing clubs, an off-shore World War II sea fort and an off-shore windfarm.
- Reculver Towers - the remains of a 12th Century church/Roman fort on the edge of the cliffs at Reculver, a village to the east of Herne Bay.
- Herne Mill - a traditional Kentish smock mill in Herne, a village to the south of Herne Bay. It is usually open to visitors on Sunday afternoons between May and September.
- Studds Farm, Whitstable Road - the childhood home of Dudley Pout the celebrated Kent artist whose formative years were spent in Herne Bay during the early 20th century.
- Wildwood - a woodland discovery park featuring over 50 species of native British animals such as deer, badgers, wild boar and wolves. It is located between Herne Bay and Canterbury.
- A 100 foot tall concrete water tower overlooking Herne Bay from the top of Mickleburgh Hill. It is now only used as a base for radio transmitters.
[edit] Social
There are a number of drinking venues in Herne Bay, many of which are located on the seafront, or within a few hundred yards. The majority are pubs - one of which is included in the recent renovation of the seafront Bandstand - with two night clubs close by, and supplemented with social clubs. Herne Bay is not, however, noted for its nightlife and many younger fun-seekers head for Canterbury or Margate for their night's out.
Herne Bay Memorial Park is situated in the centre of the town, incorporating a children's play area with swings etc., a large shallow pond often used for RC boats, basketball and tennis courts and of course large expanses of grass. A travelling fun-fair visits the park for a week or two each year, usually in August.
Herne Bay carnival runs one day per year in the summer and consists among other things a large parade through the town centre, which attracts large crowds and is considered very popular.
As part of the Victorian gardens on the seafront, there is a children's play area near the clock tower.
Herne Bay's only cinema "the Kavanagh" is part of the striking Greco-inspired building that incorporates the council-run Heron's swimming pool.
[edit] Sports facilities
Herne Bay has clubs for sailing, rowing, yachting, tennis, golf, hockey, football, table tennis and bowls.
Canterbury City Council run facilities include an indoor swimming pool, tennis/basketball courts and a leisure centre known as "The Pier" with a roller skating rink, squash courts, a solarium and a gymnasium. A popular, smaller and privately owned gym is also well established near the High street.
Herne Bay has a football club in the Kent League Premier Division. Herne Bay F.C. were Kent League champions in 1992, 1994, 1997 & 1998.
[edit] Schools
- Herne Bay High School - secondary high school specialising in sports education
- Herne Bay County Primary School
- Herne County Primary School
- Herne Church Of England Primary School
- Briary County Primary School (Greenhill)
- Hampton County Primary School
- Reculver Church Of England Primary School
[edit] External links
- Herne Bay Online
- Canterbury City Council
- Herne Bay Museum and Gallery
- Population Report
- Herne Bay High School Website
- Wildwood Discovery Park
- The Pier Sports Centre
- Herons Swimming Pool
- French Dressing fan site
- Bus times for Herne Bay from Stagecoach
- Train times and station information for Herne Bay, Kent from National Rail
- Street map and aerial photo of Herne Bay, Kent from Multimap.com
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with the surrounding suburbs, villages, towns and parishes : |
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Adisham • Barham • Bekesbourne • Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne • Bishopsbourne • Blean • Bridge • Chartham • Chartham Hatch • Chestfield • Chislet • East Stourmouth • Fordwich • Greenhill • Hackington • Harbledown • Herne • Herne and Broomfield • Herne Bay • Hersden • Hoath • Ickham • Ickham and Well • Kingston • Littlebourne • Lower Hardres • Marshside • Patrixbourne • Petham • Plucks Gutter • Reculver • Stourmouth • Sturry • Swalecliffe • Tankerton • Thanington Without • Tyler Hill • Upper Harbledown • Upper Hardres • Waltham • Westbere • Whitstable • Wickhambreaux • Womenswold |
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| The district of the City of Canterbury List of places in Kent |
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