The following is an e-mail I received: I have recently moved to Sandgate and love it already. I feel totally drawn to the area which offers beaches of sand and pebbles, countryside stunningly beautiful, interesting architecture and lovely people too and with a great heritage of talented people (Jocelyn Brooke, Hattie Jacques, HG Wells and many more). I agree that there is still much work to do on some parts of Folkestone to regenerate it - but the signs are there that it is beginning to happen. The Leas Coastal Park play area is great for children - and there are many other, slightly less well known, great places to explore. For example who knows about the Cliff Top Cafe or Little Switzerland - where you can buy refreshments and also sit and look at the most awesome panoramic view. If you pass quickly through Folkestone - you may not see too much to impress you - yet - but if you stay awhile I can tell you - there is plenty to see and do. Regards Jan H of Sandgate

As always, there are lots of pictures to load.  If any remain blank after the page has loaded, right click your mouse into the space, and click 'Show Picture', and it should come in for you.

1908

Modern

This picture is also on the Hythe and public transport pages,, because this tram service ran through Sandgate, Seabrook and Hythe - and besides, I love this photograph! :-)  If you would like to read more on these trams, please check out this very good website:  http://www.tramways.freeserve.co.uk/  Just click on the postcard index. I also came across this article - reduced a little to save space: Many Acts had been submitted and rejected, even a suggestion that a steam service might be possible. Finally in October 1874 a horse-drawn service commenced. The route involved many sharp curves and cars were equipped with water tanks on the platforms with taps which could be turned on to lubricate the wheels when such bends were negotiated. In 1893 the South Eastern Railway was authorised by Parliament to take over the tramway at a cost of nearly £27,000. When the transaction had been completed staff were fitted out with railway guard type uniforms. When the war came in 1914 trams were suspended due to the shortage of horses which were needed in France. Trams restarted in 1919 but horses were still difficult to find so ex-army mules were tried instead. The result apparently was catastrophic. The mules were erratic and not only stopped in the wrong places but often tried to walk in the wrong direction or into the wrong street. Horses were reinstated as soon as possible. After the war the tram service was beginning to lose its appeal. Uniforms were no longer provided and there were no winter services. When trams stopped for the season on 30th September 1921 - it was to be for the last time. This article is an edited version from Leslie Oppitz's book 'Lost Railways of Kent'

1918

Here is a very old photo of the High Street in Sandgate.  I wonder if they had as many antique shops down there in those days as they do today?  Coming from Canada, where the roads are wide, I find this street particularly scary to drive through, with cars parked on either side, and two way traffic, and it is no wider than you see here!

This is listed as the Upper Folkestone Road.  Isn't that the same street that we call Sandgate Hill?

Not exactly of the Windsor standard, but Sandgate has it's own Tudor castle, pictured here in 1917

and here on the right is the central chamber of the same castle, also pictured in 1917. I think they need to call Maple & Co of London & Paris (referred to on the Hotels page) don't you?  The furnishings are a little sparse! Mind you, they do have some kind of shield over the fireplace if nothing else!

This one says 'The Keep, or General View of Sandgate Castle, built by King Henry VIII, 1229-40' I think that date referred to Henry's life, not the castle's because a lot of it is still there!

This is a drawing of Sandgate Castle from 1735.  I realise that artists have artistic licence, but do you think the castle ever looked like this?  If so, it was wonderful wasn't it?  This does look more like something that Henry VIII would have built doesn't it?

Entitled Sandgate from the Leas, I am not sure of the date of this one.

On the other hand, this one was postally used in 1908, and depicts Sandgate tramway.

Another view of the tramway, or lift as it was also known. This one was sent to me by Mike Vernol.

This was the Alfred Bevan Memorial Home - formerly the Beach Rocks Convalescent Home built in 1892 by the London Samaritan Society.  If you would like to read more about this building, there is an interesting article on it HERE  I don't have a date for the photo on the left, but the one on the right dates from 1915.

This was taken in December of 1905 by the owner of this house which had been wrecked by the sea.

The Coastguard's station in 1923.  It looks as if it is taking quite a beating doesn't it?

This is a modern photo of the Coastgard's cottages, which were built in 1896.  I am not sure what they are being used for now - maybe private residences?

Farley House, Sandgate.  Right on the seafront.

This fine body of men were the Sandgate Fire Brigade

Here is the same Fire Brigade marching through Sandgate.  I don't know who all the men marching behind were, but probably the one with the chain around his neck was the Mayor. Trying to read the sign of H. Hart & Co Ltd.  It says 'Complete House...and that person is in the way, would it have been Furnishers?'

Another modern photo showing the former post office in Sandgate High Street.

This was a Military Camp, located in Sandgate in 1905.  Is that sheep that they had to share a field with?  Well, I am sure it saved them having to cut the grass.

This card was entitled 'Radnor Cliff, Sandgate'.  That Lord Radnor gets everywhere doesn't he?

Sandgate Riviera in 1908

Now this one is hardly Riviera like is it?  Pretty typical sight though even these days.

In the photo to the left, you can make out the Royal Kent Hotel over on the right and the name on one of the carts is A.C. Dimmock.  Moving up in time, the photo above dates from 1950, and as you can see, the Royal Kent was still there at that time.  The vehicles had changed slightly though!

Another beach scene dating back to 1899.

This interesting picture from 1823 was sent to me by David.  I am assuming that there is a rescue operation going on from that distressed ship.  Also in the picture is Sandgate Castle.

When you look at the castle from the air, it certainly looks bigger doesn't it?  Mind you, this was taken some time ago, I am not so sure that the outer wall is still there is it?

Another view of the castle from the beach

Sandgate Esplanade in 1903

This photo was taken from the castle in 1905 and probably tinted afterwards.  They did a good job with it didn't they?

This panoramic view was taken from the Leas.

Gloster Terrace in 1905.  This is one of the photos that made me think that the one of the High Street further up would have been taken in the same year.  If you compare the light standards in each, they look identical.

I don't have a date for this lovely photo of Sandgate High Street, but it must date from around 1905 because the street light looks identical to some shown in other photos of that year. The little girl on the right is talking to an adult in the doorway of the Royal Kent Hotel.

I do have a date for this one though, it goes right back to 1899.

Just 4 years later, and it looks as if the building on the left has changed hands - at least the sign at the top is different. And look!  They now have street lighting!

These two were both taken in 1906.   I wonder if that was the International Stores on the left?

We are taking a huge leap forward now, because these two were both taken in 1960.   On the right, is clearly seen the Royal Norfolk Hotel.

This modern photo showing one of the lovely antique shops in the High Street shows how they are trying to preserve the look of old Sandgate.  They have obviously replaced the windows above the shop, when closed, they look like the old fashioned push up variety, but when open, as the one on the left is, you can see it opens outwards like the modern ones.  Very cunning! :-)

This was listed as Sandgate Hill, and it definitely looks to me like the one listed above as the Upper Folkestone Road. Is that a Martello Tower in the distance?  I wonder which number that one is, and what it is doing with itself these days?  Anybody know?

Another photo showing Sandgate with the tram going down the hill - or maybe it was coming up, we will never know!  This picture dates from 1904.

This one gives you a closer view of the lift car itself.  I was comparing it to the photo above right  to see if it was the same age, and noticed that the large house with the red roof near the bottom of the hill in the picture above, is missing from this one.  However, I don't know if they had just pulled it down, or it hadn't been built yet!

This is a modern photo of Sandgate, taken on what looks to be a very foggy day.  I don't know what that black thing on the beach is.

Ah now, this was taken on a much nicer day.  This is how Sandgate looks today - at least it does on a sunny day! :-)

OK, back to the dim and distant past.  This time it is 1899, and we are on the Parade. Look at that strange little bow window on the side of that building.  It doesn't look as if anything is supporting it from below.  If it had a window seat inside, I hope nobody too heavy sat in it!

This was Radnor Crescent in 1913.

Still in 1913, this was at Seapoint.

Some things never change do they?  The sea behaved the same in 1904 on the left as it did in 1976 on the right - and is still the same today!

An old one showing The Parade.

And a new one showing Folkestone from Sandgate

In these two views of Wellington Terrace, we get to see how it looked from both directions.  Although one is black & white and one is colour, I would guess they are around the same age.

Another old view, taken from Sandgate Castle. I wonder if the castle was that close to the sea when they first built it?  Not very smart if it was!

Home

Back to Index

And here is that castle from an engraving in 1787, leading me to believe that the drawing above was pretty accurate. Such a shame it has lost its former glory isn't it?

Don't forget, if the photos are reluctant to load, right click your mouse into the space, and click 'show picture'

Anybody recognise their Grandma?  This school, which I would guess dates from around 1915 or so was located in Sandgate.  Still there?  I doubt it somehow, but I really like the design of it.

This page updated August 18, 2007

I do believe the road on the right is the same one again.  However, this time it was entitled Upper Sandgate Road.

Taken considerably later, this is how the castle and beach looked in 1970

Here is the Coastguard Station and the Sir John Moore's Memorial

Funny how they always seem to locate a pub at the bottom of a hill.  On the left we have Brewers Hill, with the Clarendon Inn, and on the right we can see the Military Tavern at the bottom of Military Road.  Also in the right photograph you can see the Sandgate Memorial.

Here we have The Parade, with people making sure they don't expose an inch of skin!  I bet skin cancer was pretty rare in those days!

This 1906 photo of the beach shows what I think is a horse powered tram.

Oh my goodness, that man is wearing white instead of black!  That must have been the thoroughly modern man of 1928!

Another photo of the Esplanade, but I don't have a year for it.  However, the tram lines running down the road tells us that it was taken while the toastrack was running.

An amazingly clear photo of Sandgate Hill, especially as it was taken in 1909!

This one looks older doesn't it?  Except the white line down the centre of the road tells you that it has to be later.  In fact it was taken in 1948.

I had several people write to tell me that the black thing is an umbrella, and hiding behind it is a hardy fisherman.  It does look as if it is raining in the picture doesn't it?

Two photos of the No. 6 Police Training Centre, the left one was dated at 1962.  As you probably know, it was pulled down to make way for the Saga building.

If you have your own memories of Sandgate or Folkestone, please be sure to share them with us by jotting them down in the guestbook below.

This is an 1860 photograph of Fort Sutherland in Sandgate.  Look at all the Martello Towers you can see down the coast.

I just came across this in a 1904 Ward Lock guide book: A romantic love story in connection with Sandgate Castle is given by Mr. W. L. Rutton in his interesting pamphlet on the Castle.  Two years before Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1573, the Captain of the Castle had been one Thomas Keyes, who also bore the title of Queen's Sergeant's Porter, an office for which his extra-ordinary size would seem to have well fitted him.  Though of comparitively humble birth, he had the temerity to fall in love with and secretly wed Lady Mary Grey, the diminutive youngest sister of the unfortunate Lady Jane Grey.

It was certainly, as Cecil wrote, "an unhappy chance and monstrous" that the Sergeant-Porter, "the biggest gentleman in the Court," should marry the Lady Mary, "the least of all in the Court."  When the Queen heard of the match she was furious, and immediately consigned the burly bridegroom to the Fleet, at the same time placing his little wife in the charge of Sir Thomas Gresham, the famous merchant of London. Though so ill-consorted in size, the pair would seem to have been devotedly attached to each other.  After being in durance vile for two years, Keys was liberated, and eventually appointed Captain of Sandgate; but to all his petitions "that according to the laws of God he might be permitted to live with his wife" Elizabeth turned a deaf ear. The Sergeant-Porter died in 1571 probably in Sandgate, and Lady Mary bravely defied the Queen by signing herself henceforth "Mary Keyes," and living as a widow.  She died in London in 1578 at the age of thirty-three.