Pegwell Bay

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Pegwell Bay, Kent – a Recollection of October 5th 1858, by William Dyce

Pegwell Bay is a shallow inlet in the English Channel coast at the estuary of the River Stour between Ramsgate and Sandwich in Kent. Situated in the bay is a large nature reserve, known for its migrating waders and wildfowl, with a complete series of seashore habitats including extensive mudflats and salt marsh. The public can access this nature reserve via Pegwell Bay Country Park, which is located off the A256 Ramsgate to Dover road.

The country park is acreddited with a Green Flag Award by Natural England.[1]

Pegwell Bay in 1858 is recorded in a much-reproduced landscape painting by William Dyce, now in the Tate Gallery: Pegwell Bay, Kent – a Recollection of October 5th 1858.[2]

In the 19th Century a pleasure pier was built in an effort to establish a seaside resort to rival nearby Ramsgate. This was not a success however, and was dismantled before the end of the century.

A full-size replica Viking longboat complete with shields is situated by the main road on the low clifftops above Pegwell Bay to commemorate the first Viking landings in England hereabouts. The Viking ship replica, named Hugin, sailed from Denmark to Thanet in 1949 to celebrate the 1,500th anniversary of the invasion of Britain, the traditional landing of Hengist and Horsa and the bethrothal of Hengist's daughter, Rowena, to King Vortigern of Kent. Out of 53 crewmen only the navigator, Peter Jensen, was a professional seaman. Viking conditions were faithfully observed and the only instrument carried was a sextant. The Hugin was offered as a gift to Ramsgate and Broadstairs by the Daily Mail in order to be preserved for centuries. The ship underwent extensive restoration in 2004–5.[3][4]

Additionally at nearby Ebbsfleet are the sites of the first landings in England of the Saxons in 449 AD and of the first Christian missionary, St. Augustine, in 597 AD, commemorated by St Augustine's Cross nearby.

At the north east corner of the bay are the remains of Hoverlloyd's cross-channel hoverport. Vehicle and passenger carrying hovercraft were operated here from 1969 until 1982.

  • July 1986. Pegwell Bay Hoverport, Ramsgate. Hoverlloyd hovercraft 'The Prince of Wales' prior to boarding of vehicles and passengers for the flight to Calais, France.

  • Pegwell Bay looking towards Pegwell village

  • This boat is in the Country Park,it is supposed to be a replica of the "Hugin".

  • Cliff Tops and Foreshore at Pegwell. Views of Pegwell Bay and the now decommissioned Richborough Power Station

  • A view of the Pegwell Bay hotel from the beach

  • Cliffs at Pegwell Bay

  • Digging for lugworms in Pegwell Bay. Pegwell Village can be seen on the clifftop, the large white building is The Pegwell Hotel

  • Off-road cycle track at Pegwell Bay. Part of Regional Cycle Route 15 or Viking Coastal Trail, about half way between Sandwich and Ramsgate.

References

  1. ↑ "Country Parks in the South East". www.naturalengland.org.uk. Natural England. 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013. 
  2. ↑ Tate Gallery
  3. ↑ BBC News: "Viking Ship Undergoes Repairs"
  4. ↑ T Nielsen & Co

External links

Coordinates: 51°18′N 1°23′E / 51.300°N 1.383°E / 51.300; 1.383

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