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Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
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Dreamland Margate
An abandoned amusement park on the south east coast of England
(Photos ©urban75, 29th November 2009)


Located on the breezy coast of Margate, Kent, there's been amusements in the town since Victorian times, when showman George Sanger built the 'Hall By The Sea' indoor attraction and gardens on the site of the current Dreamland. One of the more notable attractions was a bear that was taken to the beach every day for a walk.

In 1880 small amusement rides were installed on the site, with a large skating rink following in 1893, and in 1919, John Henry Iles bought up the site, renaming it 'Dreamland,' after a theme park in Coney Island, New York.

In the 1920s, Iles built the Scenic Railway, a mile-long construction of Canadian pine and Douglas, as well as a smaller roller coaster, the Joy Wheel, Miniature Railway, The Whip and the River Caves.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009

The skating rink was replaced by a ballroom in 1920, with the Variety Cinema following three years later. In 1934, Iles built a replacement cinema near to the entrance to Dreamland, and the 'Dreamland Cinema' still sands.

The 1970s saw the park expanding, and in 1981 the site was purchased by the Bembom Brothers, who rather immodestly renamed it the 'Bembom Brothers White Knuckle Theme Park'.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Photo of the 'Rotor' ride in action from around 1980. [pic: handyman]

Thankfully, the park reverted to the name Dreamland in 1990 after it was sold to the notorious 'amusement park king' and entrepreneur, Mr Jimmy Godden.

The amusemement park was finally closed down in 2005, three years after the Scenic Railway had been granted Grade II listed status.

Mr Godden seems a singularly unfortunate chap, with many of his funfair acquisitions suffering mysterious arson attacks, and the same fate was to befall him on April 7, 2008 when a fire destroyed much of the Scenic Railway.

However, there is a happy end to this story, with Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company now working with The Dreamland Trust to redevelop the site as the world's first amusement park of historic rides, with the centrepiece being a fully restored Scenic Railway.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Neon sign advertising the pleasure park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Entrance to the old Pleasure Park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Detail of the entrance sign, which looks to be slowly falling apart.


Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
The amusement arcade at the front of the funfair remains open.

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Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009The striking architecture facing the sea front, with 'Dreamland' written in neon along the side of the tower.

The cinema opened in 1935 and closed in 2007.


Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
The shops surrounding Dreamland are almost all closed.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Boarded up ice cream parlour.

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Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
One of the few shops left open is the Joke Shop.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Painted on the side of the Dreamland building is the evocative phrase, "Dreamland welcomes you."

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Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
A huge multi-story car park was built to accommodate visitors to Dreamland, and is a short walk from the pleasure park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Dreamland seen from the top floor of the multi storey car park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Sign seen from the empty car park adjacent to the old Pleasure Park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Sign and caravan.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Entrance to the run down car park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Huge empty spaces at the Dreamland car park. In the distance you can see the remains of the Scenic Railway ride.

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Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Old entrance to the Pleasure Park from the car park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Looking at the Scenic Railway through the railings of the multi storey car park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Overall view of the Scenic Railway. You can see the missing 'chunk' of the ride to the right (behind the tree).

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Close up revealing the space where the middle section of the Scenic Railway was.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Detail of the ride.


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Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
Empty car park. Not a place to tarry!

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
The horrendously ugly tower block adjacent to the equally grim car park.

Dreamland, Margate, photos of the world's first amusement park of historic rides and surrounding cinema and shops, November, 2009
It's not a looker, is it?

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Videos about Dreamland







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More reading:
external link Death of a seaside dream (Times 2003)

The Official 'Jimmy Godden has gone too far' Facebook Group
Save Dreamland

More funfair views

» Coney Island Thunderbolt
» Abandoned roller coaster, Coney Island
» Parachute Jump, Coney Island
» Coney Island Boardwalk, night
» Folkestone funfair, England
» Barry Island funfair, Wales
» Coney beach funfair, Penarth, Wales
» Littlehampton funfair, England
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