Field wanted

This might seem like a strange request, but I'm looking for a secure small field or paddock where I can train my dog in a couple of times per day for half an hour. Ideally not too far from Margate. I need to be able to park nearby and the field or area should be secure and without other dogs or distractions like game or horses. I've found a field with a gate in Marshside, but that's quite a trek from Margate. Happy to pay for the use if it's private land. But if there is somewhere with public access I could use, that would be fantastic. If anyone has an idea please can you pop me an email to margatearchitecture@gmail.com

Thanks

Dreamland Plans Event

Just in from the lovely folks at the Save Dreamland Campaign:

Join us for the unveiling of our plans for the world's first heritage amusement park in Margate. With bar, DJs, funfair food and film. Choose your Dreamland soundtrack for the night and email your requests to sarah@savedreamland.co.uk.

Climb on board, fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride!

The event is at 7.30pm on Sunday 15th March. West Coast Bar, King Street, Margate.

More information at www.savedreamland.co.uk

The London Pie'n'Mash shop coming soon

Very pleased to see a specialist food shop coming to the Old Town that really fits with Margate's heritage. It's due to open next week on March 11th in the shop that was previously the barber's that closed before Christmas. The shop will be baking their own pies at a friend's shop in London. I look forward to sampling some tasty pies and hope we will see more of this type of shop opening in Old Town.

Lovely photos of Margate Harbour from the 1920s

Thank you Tony Beachcomber for letting people use these images from his private collection. Isn't it sad how the front at the Harbour lost some lovely buildings such as the Hotel Metropole. The modern building now next to Royal York Mansions really is an inferior piece of architecture. Hopefully the soon to be proposed hotel coming next to the Turner will be a beacon of quality modern architecture. One lives in hope.

Is this really the end of Eastcliff Richard?

Say it ain't so, folks. I'm a bit behind in writing this up, but I was sad to hear that my favourite blogger and celebrity extraordinaire from the airport runway on the other side has given up blogging. I'm going to miss him. Please don't go, ECR!

Margate Caves proposed as wedding venue

What a brilliant idea! I was really shocked to see recent talk of filling the Margate Caves up and building a car park on top. Can't remember where I saw that. I'd love to see the caves opened and maintained. It's one of those original Margate attractions that would have universal appeal along with the wonderful Shell Grotto, a heritage funfair at Dreamland etc.

The Thanet Times says Kevin Crace, who is also trying to save and revive the Westgate Pavilion, has put in a bid to save the caves and get it licensed as a wedding venue. Looking at the shape of the tunnels, it does look churchlike. I hope Kevin is successful. We need more ideas like that in town.

What does everyone else think?

The destruction at Reeves Yard

Sadly, another tale of unauthorised destruction of a piece of Margate's heritage has taken place. In recent days the historical group of buildings nestled between King Street and Hawley Street, that are known as Reeves yard have been demolished. In additional all of the trees have been felled. The land immediately fronting King Street, opposite the Tudor House, is owned by TDC. The developers appear to have entered this council land and felled a large, and rather fine, sycamore tree without the consent of the Council. They were the oldest industrial buildings in Margate and - baring farm buildings - in the district. Consent was granted (06/0300) for their conversion to dwellings where Members over ruled a strong objection from the Environment Agency, (on the grounds of flood risk, this being the lowest point in the Old Town), because the conversion was saving buildings of great historic interest. The entirety of the site is within the conservation area.

Reeves Yard is owned by Roger Crittenden, the estate agent.

Local historians Mick Twyman and Alf Beeching did some research on the buildings. Here's an exstract:

" In 1849 this yard became the home to the mineral water manufactory of the Reeve family, and that business diversified and propspered as the years passed, becoming bottlers and purveyors of not only fizz water but beers and wines to the trade and an important and successful part of Margate's commercial life right up until 1964, when it sadly closed. The uildings which Reeve errected in Swinford's Yard were largely of timber construction, huddled around a few pre-existing brick structures, and would have made a perfect setting for a dramatisation of one of Dickens' wonderful stories, but a few years ago, whilst lying abandoned after several decades of intermittent use by small businesses engaged in motor vehicle maintenance, they were gutted in a serious fire which also threatened adjacent properties, so fierce was the blaze. The old off-licence shop at the bottom of Hawley Street fronting the yard of what was the George Inn, but which is now the inevitable indian restaurant, is still there, and although now an antique shop is still proudly displaying Reeves business interests of the liquid form (they were brick makers architects and estate agents) on its fascia."

Photographs of the site taken today below. If anyone has photographs from way back, I'd love to see them. Please make some noise over this and contact Brian White at TDC on 01843 577007 brian.white@thanet.gov.uk to complain. There will be little left of Margate's heritage if people are allowed to flout the rules of development in this manner.

Google map to the location of Reeves Yard. Incidentally, I registered a google map for items of historical interest in Margate. I'll try adding stuff on there, but would be great if others could join in, too.