Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

I paid another visit to Margate over the weekend, and enjoyed some lovely walks around the town before heading off to see the mighty Dulwich Hamlet beat the home team in an exciting match.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

The Flag & Whistle pub on Station Approach remains closed.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

The opinion-dividing Arlington House. The patterned sides are meant to reference the tides on the beach.

Built in 1964, the distinctive 18 storey building houses 142 apartment buildings. Read more about the building here: arlingtonmargate.com.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Artwork outside the station.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Looking out to sea.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Turner Contemporary gallery across the bay.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

I’ve been a bit fascinated by the plight of Margate’s ‘Pleasure Park’ Dreamland, which has remained closed since 2005.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

After the (perhaps unexpected) success of an eleven year ‘Save Dreamland’ campaign, the site is in the process of being rebuilt and is expected to reopen later this year. Fantastic news!

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Entrance to Dreamland.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Dreamland sign detail.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Faded letters.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, Margate’s fine clocktower has 5 bells which were replaced in 1908 by Gillett & Johnston (from Croydon).

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Looking east across the bay.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Harbour Arms. The ‘pier’ featured in the climax to the Michael Caine 2001 film ‘Last Orders‘ and it looked quite different then.

Margate’s original pier was washed away in a 1978 storm.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

We paid a visit to the Turner Contemporary Gallery.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Once again, our visit seemed to coincide with the main gallery being closed for a new installation, but the downstairs Sunley Gallery was showing Atmosphere, by artist Edmund de Waal.

This new work, commissioned specially for our ground floor gallery space overlooking the North Sea, has been created in response to the changing landscape and clouds viewed from the gallery and the architecture of the space.

“…minimalist displays of coolly beautiful ceramic objects seductively straddle the old gap between art and craft. Modernism and ancient influences elegantly combine in art at once beautiful and thought-provoking.” Jonathan Jones, The Guardian []

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate’s first lighthouse was built in 1828 to mark the town’s newly built breakwater.

Originally constructed as a round Doric column, the tower fell victim to the Great Storm of 1953, with strong seas toppling the structure over.

In 1955, the current octagonal concrete tower was built, topped by a copper lantern housing a fixed red LED light. []

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

The impressive 1812 building of the Margate Pier and Harbour Company.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate beach at low tide.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Shell Lady sculpture on the Margate Harbour Arm.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate is slowly regenerating, although it thankfully has a long way to go before it ends up like the hipster hell of Brixton Village.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Cupcakes: “the footsoldiers of gentrification.”

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Inside the wonderful Lifeboat Inn.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Along Marine Drive.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

A last look at Dreamland before heading home.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Beach huts.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

The listed Old Cottage pub has been quietly rotting away for seven years. Dating back to 1650, the pub is set to be transformed into a micro brewery.

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

The Greedy Cow – we had a lovely cake there last year!

Margate in winter: Dreamland, architecture, pub and beach views

More Margate photo features can be seen here:
Over fifty Margate photos, including beach views, Dreamland, Turner Gallery, Old Town and more
Margate in the snow 2012
Occupy Thanet protest 2012
Margate Dreamland amusement park
Margate town photos
Margate town photos 2
Margate railway station
A return to the magnificent Lifeboat Inn, Market Street, Margate
A pleasant afternoon’s drinking in the Lifeboat Inn, Margate, Kent
Coffee and cake at the Greedy Cow Cafe, Margate

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