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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"MARGATE, a parish, seaport, market town, municipal borough and watering-place, in the parish of St. John's, hundred of Ringslow and Isle of Thanet, lathe of St. Augustine, county Kent, 15 miles N.E. by E. of Canterbury, and 72 S.E. of London. It has stations on the South-Eastern, and London, Chatham, and Dover railways; also, a branch line to Ramsgate. Steamboats run to London, Gravesend, Herne-Bay, Ramsgate, and Tilbury. Its name was originally Hergate, or Meregate, signifying an opening or gate into the sea, the town being built in a hollow or break in the cliffs.

In Leland's time it had a pier, and was the landing-place of William III., George I., George II., Marlborough, and Duncan after the battle of Camperdown. It was, however, an inconsiderable fishing town, till towards the close of the last century, when it came into vogue as a favourite watering-place. The first steamer ran from here to London in 1815, from which date the town rapidly increased, till 1841, when its population was above 11,000, or 40,000 at the height of the season. In 1861 it had declined to 10,152. After the formation of railways to the watering-places on the south coast, the popularity of Margate somewhat declined, but it is now gradually recovering its position, and many houses have recently been erected at Westbrook, known as the Royal Crescent. The shore is well adapted to sea-bathing, and the air remarkably salubrious, as the motto of the borough arms implies, "Porta marls parties salutis. "

The town is situated on the N. coast of Kent, in 51° 24' N. lat. and 1° 22' E. long, about 3 miles W. of the North Foreland, and opposite the Margate Sands, which extend 4 miles in length by 2 broad, and are dry at low water, dividing Margate Roads from the Queen's Channel. It is a member of Dover Cinque Port, and a subport to Ramsgate, and has a harbour between the Nayland and Fulsam chalk reefs. The pier, constructed in 1815 by Messrs. Rennie and Jessup, at the cost of £100,000, is of Whitby stone, 900 feet long, and 60 feet wide, having at the head the Jarvis pillar, Droit Office, &c., with a lighthouse on it, from which a fine view, is obtained. At the foot of the pier is a new landing-place, constructed in 1854, and supported by iron pillars, to enable passengers to land at all times of the tide. The Marine Parade fronting the terrace has recently been widened, and is protected from the action of the sea by a stone wall. It extends about 2,500 feet in length, including the new-made portion in front of the Royal Crescent. The Esplanade, which is parallel to the Parade, is a quarter of a mile in length. The town is irregularly laid out, but many of the streets are wide and well paved. That portion of it to the W. of the harbour is called Buenos Ayres. It is abundantly supplied with good water by the Margate and Broadstairs Waterworks, situated at Tivoli, and completed in 1859.

The principal buildings are-the townhall, containing several portraits, where the town commissioners hold their meetings, and petty sessions are held weekly; the market, enclosed by Tuscan porticoes and iron railings; the Droit Office at the end of the pier, with an illuminated clock and waiting-room; the theatre, built in 1787; the custom-house in Fort-place; the post-office in Cecil-square; the Royal National Hospital, or Sea-Bathing Infirmary, at Westbrook, founded in 1796 for 250 patients, but since considerably enlarged; the literary and scientific institution in Hawley-square, to which are attached a library of near 3,000 volumes, and a museum, containing specimens of many rare British birds and plants, and news-rooms; a sailors' room and observatory on the Fort; the assembly rooms, with a colonnade of coupled Doric columns, the principal room of which is 87 feet long by 43 wide, and is open daily during the season for concerts and balls. There are, besides, a bank, savings-bank, circulating libraries, bazaars, and several bathing establishments, of which the principal are the Clifton Baths, excavated out of the chalk cliff, with billiard and news-rooms attached; bathing-rooms in the High-street, and at the Lower Marine-terrace. In the vicinity are the Tivoli, Shallows, and Chapel Hill public gardens.

Near the pier is a patent slip for the repair of ships there are also a brewery for Cobb's ale, a ropery, and several flour-mills, one called Hooper's Mill, famed for its horizontal sails. The chief trade consists in corn; timber, and coal, and some little trade with the Netherlands. There is still a rather considerable fishery for skate, haddock, soles, and flat fish, and the fishermen add to their earnings by assisting vessels in distress. For municipal purposes, the borough, which was constituted in 1857, is divided into four wards, and is governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors. It is the seat of a county court, which is held once a month.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury, value about £500, in the patronage of the archbishop. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a very ancient structure, having been begun in 1050, but has suffered greatly from the many alterations made in it. It is built of rough flint and rubble, and has a square tower containing a peal of eight bells. It contains several interesting monuments and six brasses, two of priests, the earliest bearing date 1431. There is also the district church of the Holy Trinity, the living of which is a perpetual curacy, value £221. It is a modern edifice, with a lofty tower 135 feet high, which serves as a sea-mark, and for this purpose the Trinity House contributed largely towards its erection. The Wesleyans, Independents, Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, and Roman Catholics have places of worship. There are National, British, and denominational schools; also, a dispensary for the poor.

The charities produce about £800 per annum, including £591, the income from endowment of Yoakley's Drapers' almshouses, built in 1709. These originally consisted of 8 almshouses and a house for the overseer; but they have since been increased to 22, and are under the superintendence of the Society of Friends. In 1791, several Roman coins and an-urn were found imbedded in the cliff; and at Dentdelion, or Dent-de-Lion, are the remains of an ancient -mansion, with a well-prison and castellated gateway. In the vicinity are many drives and walks, and the whole coast abounds with objects of geological and antiquarian interest. The markets are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and are well supplied with meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruit, &c."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]