Ramsgate

Ramsgate is an English seaside town on the Isle of Thanet in East Kent. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque ports. Population: 2001 census 37,967.

Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main industries are tourism and fishing. The town has one of the largest marinas on the English south coast and Port Ramsgate has provided cross channel ferries for many years.

[edit] History

Main article: History of Ramsgate

Ramsgate began as a fishing and farming hamlet. Ramsgate as a name has its earliest reference as Hraefn's ate, or cliff gap, later to be rendered 'Ramisgate' or 'Remmesgate' around 1225 and 'Ramesgate' from 1357. The Viking leaders Hengest and Horsa landed in the 5th century. The christian missionary St. Augustine landed in Ramsgate in 597 which marks the beginning of Christianity in England.

Ramsgate's harbour is a defining characteristic of the town. The construction of Ramsgate Harbour began in 1749 and was completed in about 1850. The Harbour has the unique distinction of being the only Royal Harbour in the United Kingdom. Because of its proximity to mainland Europe, Ramsgate was a chief embarkation point both during the Napoleonic Wars and for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Aerial photo showing two out of three harbour compartments

A map of Ramsgate from 1945

In 1901, the Isle of Thanet saw the introduction of an electric tram service which was one of the few inter-urban tramways in Britain. The towns of Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs were linked by 11 miles of track.

In 1915-1916 early aircraft began to use the open farmlands at Manston as a site for emergency landings. The location near the Kent coast gave Manston some advantages over the other previously established aerodromes. By 1917 the Royal Flying Corps was well established and taking an active part in the defence of England. The aerodrome played an important role in the second World War and is now known as Kent International Airport.

[edit] Geography

Ramsgate is located 78 miles from central London in an East South Easterly direction at one of the most Easterly points of the country (the furthest point east is Lowestoft in Suffolk). In fact, Ramsgate even has its own meridian line and Mean Time which is 5 mins 41 secs ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

The town is now the amalgamation of two settlements. One being the fishing community based on the coast in the shallow valley between two chalk cliffs and the other a farming community inland that is now the Parish of St. Lawrence. The cliffs are now known as the East Cliff and the West Cliff and are predominantly residential areas. There are promenades along both cliff tops with parks at either end and sand beaches on the coast.

[edit] Politics

Ramsgate falls in the South Thanet constituency. The main political associations representing Ramsgate citizens are South Thanet Conservative Association [2], South Thanet Labour Party [3] and South Thanet Liberal Democrats [4].

The South Thanet seat is currently held by Labour Member of Parliament Dr Stephen Ladyman. The seat was won after digraced Conservative MP for Thanet South, Jonathan Aitken, was convicted of perjury and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The town is currently an unparished area, and does not have a town council, but a movement called 'Ramsgate First' is campaigning to form one. The town mayor is Steve Ward [5].

[edit] Political History

Ramsgate has a history of industrial militancy. In August 1920, a decision by the Ramsgate corporation to sell 1000 tons of locally produced coke to Denmark set off what became known as the coke riot. It was unfortunate perhaps that these shipments were to be transported by two German ships, the first world war still fresh in local minds. Massive police protection of the harbour was required, but this did not prevent local people from venting their displeasure upon the local authorities.

During the 1984 National Union of Mineworkers Strike, several blockades of Ramsgate Harbour were staged by coalmen of the nearby colleries, which had until then supported a sizable workforce throughout Thanet. Ramsgate was also the original location of the pressure group Critical Mass.

[edit] Economy

Ramsgate marina, location of many popular bars and pubs

Ramsgate's main industries are tourism and fishing. The town has a thriving marina with over 800 moorings and a range of marine-related businesses that operate in premises in the renovated arches under Royal Parade. The town caters extensively for students of EFL (English as a foreign language) at its colleges.

Port Ramsgate has provided cross channel ferries for many years. Previously Sally Ferries provided a service of passenger and car ferries to Dunkirk. Currently a service of prodominantly freight is provided to Oostende.

Unemployment for Thanet is higher (4.1%) than the national average (2.5%)^[1].

There is some light industry in the town. A possible future industry is power generation, with a potential 800 jobs being created by the projected London Array, a wind farm just off the coast.

[edit] Demographics

Population: 1989 census estimate 38,200.
Population: 2001 census 37,967

[edit] Culture

[edit] Tourism

Ramsgate Main Sands

Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline, particularly Ramsgate Main Sands, which has been awarded a 2006 Blue Flag, assuring high standards of cleanliness and general beach management.

There is an annual Powerboat Grand Prix event based out of the harbour of Ramsgate during the summer. Ramsgate carnival [6] is a popular annual parade also during the summer.

[edit] Sports

Ramsgate's main football club Ramsgate Football Club plays in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The main local rivals of the club are Margate F.C. who are situated 3 miles away. When the two teams meet, it is known as the Isle of Thanet derby. However, competitive games between the two teams in recent years have been few and far between due to Margate's success. Other football clubs include Minster [7] and the Hugin Vikings club [8].

Ramsgate's sports facilities include a public swimming pool^[2] [9], a fitness centre [10] with gym and sports hall. Tennis clubs can be found at Spencer square and St. Laurence. Ramsgate has three golf clubs: St. Augustines [11], Stonelees [12], and Manston [13]. Being a harbour town, there is also a sailing club [14].

For other local sports activities see the list of clubs and societies in Thanet.

[edit] Arts & Media

The Gallery IOTA (Isle Of Thanet Arts) is based on the towns westcliff[15].

Ramsgate's sole cinema is the Granville Cinema, situated on Victoria Parade, in the town's Eastcliff area.

A Jive Bunny music video was recorded in Ramsgate and featured town landmarks such as Jacobs Ladder.

[edit] Notable Residents

Townley House in the 1950s

Gary Pallister, a Footballer who played for Manchester United F.C. and Middlesbrough F.C. was born in Ramsgate.
During a period of increased religious emotion, Vincent Van Gogh taught french amongst other things as a supply teacher at a school at 6 Royal Road and boarded at 11 Spencer Square for a period in 1876. He made some sketches of the view from his lodgings overlooking the harbour. The proprietor of the school relocated to Isleworth, Middlesex. Vincent decided to walk to the new location, which took 3 days via Canterbury and Chatham. This new position did not work out, and Vincent became a nearby Methodist minister's assistant in wanting to "preach the gospel everywhere".
Karl Marx is known to have stayed in the town around 9 times, as did his commrade Friedrich Engels. One known spot is on Hardres Street.
Whilst still a princess, Queen Victoria spent holidays in Ramsgate and stayed at Townley House, near what is now Farleys Furniture Store.
Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath was schooled at Chatham House Grammar School.
Comedian Frank Muir was born in Ramsgate and also schooled at Chatham House.
Olympic gold medalist for hockey, Sean Kerly, was another attendee of Chatham House.
Architect, Moses Montefiore was heavily involved in the affairs of Ramsgate and owned East Cliff Lodge. His tomb is adjacent to the synagogue in Ramsgate.
Mathematician Alfred North Whitehead was born in Ramsgate

[edit] Architecture

The town has three notable churches. The first building used for worship in the Thanet parish of 'St Lawrence' was at St Laurence-in-Thanet, built in 1062 and rebuilt during the following centuries with the most significant changes being in the 16th century. Note the difference in spelling between that of the Village of St Lawrence and the church, which is dedicated to the Roman Martyr, Laurence.

The second notable church is St Augustines, which is situated on the towns westcliff. Considered one of the most august and distinct surviving St Augustine's, it was designed by Augustus Pugin in 1847 in the neo-Gothic style. Its dedication commemorates Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, who landed at Ramsgate in AD 596 and brought Christianity to Britain.

Thirdly, the town's Parish Church of St George is situated just off the towns highstreet. Its lantern tower was added at the request of Trinity House as a navigational aid to passing ships and looks over the town. The ground was concecrated on 23 October 1827.

St Augustine' serves its own abbey and the town's Catholic community, whilst St Laurence and St George are both Church of England, and serve the anglican community as part of the Diocese of Canterbury.

Ramsgate library was originally built and paid for by Andrew Carnegie in 1904. On the evening of Friday 13th August 2004 a fire destroyed Ramsgate library just two months short of its 100th anniversary. Though suspicions were raised as to what started the fire due to a similarily timed fire at the towns registry office, an inquest concluded that the blaze was too intense to pinpoint where and how the fire started. Planning permission has been granted for a new library and construction work has begun.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] By Sea

The harbour provides shelter from the effect of storms and is close to the Goodwin Sands. It is now the site of one of the largest and most thriving marinas on the English south coast (there were 12,000 visiting boats in 2005) with 800 moorings.

The town has had a long and chequered relationship with cross channel ferries. Passenger ferries to Dunkirk were operated for many years by Sally Ferries who eventually were forced to close due to stiff competition from Dover-Calais ferries and the Channel Tunnel. Trans Europa Ferries passenger and freight ferries now frequently sail to Ostend in Belgium.

[edit] By Road

Ramsgate is connected to the national road network primarily through the A299 which continues onto the M2/A2 for the M25 and London. The A256 provides a link to Dover and onwards onto the A20 for the Channel Tunnel.

[edit] By Rail

Ramsgate railway station is operated by Southeastern (train operating company) and is situated at the top of the town near the parish of St Lawrence.

Trains from the station run to London Charing Cross and London Victoria via Margate, Chatham and Bromley South, or via Canterbury West or Dover Priory and Ashford International.

[edit] By Air

The town is situated directly under the flight path of Kent International Airport at Manston. From September 2004 to August 2005 a low-cost airline EUjet operated frequent flights to many European destinations, replacing a large freight operator. However, flights were suspended after the collapse of its parent company, PlaneStation Group plc.

The sale of Manston to Infratil (owner of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport) was completed on 26 August 2005. Charter operator Kent Escapes will use the Manston site to run weekly passenger flights to Barcelona, Spain and Faro, Portugal from summer 2006. Infratil are in negotiations with other airlines to add further destinations.

[edit] Education

St Lawrence College private school in Ramsgate

Infant Schools

Dame Janet Infant School
Ellington Infants School
Newington Infants School
Priory Infants School

Junior Schools

Christ Church C Of E Junior School
Dame Janet Junior School
St Ethelbert's R C Junior Mixed & Infants School
Newington Junior School
St Laurence-in-thanet CE Junior School

Primary Schools

Newlands County Primary School
Chilton County Primary School

Secondary Schools

Chatham House Grammar School
Clarendon House Grammar School
Ellington High School
St Lawrence College

Colleges and further education

Ramsgate's nearest college is Thanet College. This is situated in the nearby town of Broadstairs. There is also a new campus for Canterbury Christ Church University which is situated in Broadstairs which is within very easy reach of Ramsgate.

[edit] Affiliations

'Twin cities/towns

[edit] Trivia

Ramsgate Market is held in High Street, King Street and Queen Street every Friday and Saturday between 8a.m. until 2p.m. [16]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ Unemployment figures for February 2006, Thanet District Council. Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
^ Ramsgate swimming pool is around 30 years old and is being considered for replacement by the council [1]

[edit] External links

view • talk • edit The district of Thanet in Kent, South East England with its suburbs, villages, towns and parishes:
Acol • Birchington-on-Sea • Broadstairs • Cliffsend • Cliftonville • Isle of Thanet • Manston • Margate • Minster • Monkton • Newington • Palm Bay • Ramsgate • Sarre • St Nicholas at Wade • St Peter's • Westbrook • Westgate-on-Sea
List of places in Kent

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/a/m/Ramsgate.html"

Categories: Seaside resorts in England | Towns in Kent | Ports and harbours of the English Channel | Cinque ports