Ramsgate has gained nine new Grade II listings for properties in the town – including a tiny newspaper kiosk – as well as one upgrade and several relistings.
The listings include the Festival of Britain Fountain in Victoria Parade; Aberdeen House -now the Registry Office- and the Victoria Gardens kiosk.
The‘relistings’ include the former fire station in Effingham Street and the pulhamite rocks on Madeira walk.
The status has been granted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England, in recognition of their historic, architectural and cultural importance.
Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, said: “Ramsgate, once a small fishing village, has a wonderfully rich and interesting maritime and seaside resort history that is woven into its buildings, streets and squares. We’re delighted to have been able to uncover and shine a light on these places through the work with our Heritage Action Zone partners.”
Cllr Ash Ashbee, Deputy Leader Thanet District Council, said: “Historic England research, as part of the Ramsgate Heritage Action Zone has really helped us to highlight the significance of Ramsgate’s rich heritage. This, alongside the training of local volunteers is beginning to make a real positive impact on the local community.
“The listing of these wonderful heritage assets provides a further boost. These places have all played a significant part in the history of Ramsgate and listing ensures that they will be protected and preserved.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of this area, our heritage assets and the stories around them are a vital ingredient in our appeal. It is great news not only for Ramsgate, but Thanet as a whole.”
Historic England has also upgraded a grand Edwardian villa to Grade II* – in 1932 the home was inherited by Dame Janet Stancomb-Wills, the first female mayor of Ramsgate. She was the patron of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who was a frequent visitor to the house.
The listings are part of Ramsgate’s Heritage Action Zone. The project aims to bring together Ramsgate’s rich maritime heritage and architecture with new investment and development to boost the economy for the local community and support the town’s regeneration.
New listings
Festival of Britain Fountain, Victoria parade, Grade II
The fountain on Victoria Parade, near the former Granville hotel, is the sole survivor of three fountains built as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations in Ramsgate in 1951. The Festival of Britain inspired activities and events around the country, including a ‘Festival of Light’ in Ramsgate. A central fountain in the inner harbour threw a jet of water 70ft into the air, illuminated by hanging coloured spotlights and floodlights, and two smaller fountains stood either side. The fountain is made from concrete and its dramatic outline was designed to reflect the spirit of the festival and to look to a brighter future.
Victoria Gardens Kiosk, Grade II
This octagonal seafront kiosk in Victoria Gardens, close to the former Granville Hotel, was built c.1876 in a picturesque Gothic style. Originally it was used as a ticket booth for visitors to the formal gardens and entertainments within the then enclosed Victoria Gardens – there was a small fee to enter. The private gardens concept was relatively short-lived and by 1900 the perimeter railings had been removed. By 1920 the kiosk was used to sell postcards and newspapers, a use that continued into the 21st century. Its change of use reflects the creation of today’s impressive seaside promenade from a series of formerly private spaces along the cliff tops.
Gateway to Barber’s Almhouses, Elms Avenue, Grade II
The stone gateway to the Barber’s Almshouses is now Grade II listed. Built in 1899, the Barber’s Almshouses were endowed and dedicated to the poor by the will of Frances Barber, who had lived in Ramsgate for many years. Mrs Barber died aged 82, and was respected for her philanthropic endeavours towards the poor and her generosity towards charitable institutions. The building – constructed in the memory of her husband, Francis Charles Barber and her son, William Charles Barber – accommodated 12 elderly people (ten women and two men) who received 7 shillings alms weekly.
Almshouses were powerful emblems of corporate status and private philanthropy in the 19th and 20th centuries. They were created to support those in need of welfare.
Clarendon House upper school Grade II
Clarendon House was purpose-built as a school in 1908-1909 at a cost of £11,222. It was one of more than 700 secondary schools built nationally following the 1902 Education Act, which transferred the responsibility for schools to local councils. It was established as a ‘dual school’, combining the Ramsgate County School for Girls and the newly formed Boys equivalent. The school grew rapidly after the First World War to become the largest public secondary school in Kent by 1921.
Clarendon House is a neo-Georgian red brick building with many original features surviving inside. There is a network of chalk-hewn tunnels beneath the school which were extended in the lead up to the Second World War to provide air raid shelter.
NatWest, 53 High Street, Grade II
The NatWest Bank on the High Street was built in 1910-1911. Twentieth-century banks such as this were designed to be prominent on the high street, embodying solidity and respectability. Inside, the main entrance opens into the double-height banking hall. The ceiling retains two original, octagonal decorative plasterwork mouldings with fruit and foliage designs. A memorial plaque commemorates the members of staff who lost their lives during the First World War.
Former Gwyn and Co wine merchants, 51 Queen Street, Grade II
51 Queen Street, on the corner of Effingham Street, was built for wine and spirit merchants Gwyn and Co in 1898. It has high quality stone detailing across the façade and has decorative grapes and vines around the ground-floor windows. A stone shield can be found above the side door with ‘1778 JC 1898′, referring to the establishment of a wine business in Ramsgate by John Curling in 1778, helped by Ramsgate’s large ‘Royal’ harbour and nearness to France. The building has a prominent clock supported by a carved medieval-style figure.
Aberdeen House Ellington Road, Grade II
This former purpose-built boarding school has an unusual design because it integrated accommodation for the staff and students to make it feel more like a home. Aberdeen House was built for the Reverend George Simmers, a licensed preacher. He continued to be its headmaster until his death in 1918. Records show that ‘The instructions given to the architect were to provide a school house so thoroughly domesticated in its arrangements that the dominant ideas to the boys should be that of a comfortable home with all its accessories.’ The building was converted to a Registry Office in 1936 and is still in use.
Augusta Villa, Bellvue Road, Grade II
Augusta Villa on Bellevue Road is a Neo-Classical style house thought to have been designed around 1840 by George Gutch. Listed at Grade II, much of the original design and materials remain today.
Augusta Villa was an early part of the Mount Albion Estate development. The land was bought at auction by John M Gutch in 1838 and it is believed that he entrusted the design of this and two other villas to his brother George. Augusta Villa was formerly flanked by houses of a similar size and the three houses formed an impressive grouping along the eastern side of Arklow Square.
Castle Cottage, Upper Dumpton Park Road, Grade II
Castle Cottage dates from the 17th or 18th century. It is a rare surviving example of the agricultural nature of the land surrounding the port of Ramsgate. The cottage is largely made from flint with brick. The tile roof would once have been thatched. The name appears to have come from a large house called Townley Castle, which stood on a site nearby. Sadly, Townley Castle was bombed in the First World War and demolished as a result.
Upgraded
East Court, Brockenhurst Road, from Grade II to Grade II*
East Court in Brockenhurst Road is a grand Edwardian villa, built in 1889-1890 for wealthy international businessman, Sir William Henry Wills and his wife. It has been upgraded to Grade II* because of its striking and original appearance, and a number of the original features of the building survive. The house was carefully designed as a holiday home, and its original layout as well as fixtures and fittings remain.
The house was inherited by Dame Janet Stancomb-Wills – the first female mayor of Ramsgate – in 1911. She was the patron of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who was a frequent visitor to the house.
Relisted
The following places in Ramsgate have been ‘relisted’ to fully understand and record their significance. Extended descriptions and histories have been added to their entries on the National Heritage List for England.
Ramsgate Fire Station, Effingham Street
The former Granville Hotel on Victoria Parade
The Royal Victoria Pavilion
1-12 West Cliff Arcade
The five Pulhamite ‘rocks’ spaced along the seafront at Ramsgate – built between 1893 and 1936
Great News lets hope our council and tourist information use it to great effect for the promotion of the area.
Great news but a slight correction. Dame Janet inherited East Court in 1911 when Lord Winterstoke died.
Thank you
Very welcome – the elevation of East Court is particularly deserved as it is the finest building of this period in all Thanet. Its designer was the distinguished architectural firm, Ernest George and Peto. George was the subject of a major book by Hilary J Grainger , The architecture of Sir Ernest George, Spire, Reading, 2011. Its original gardens would have been very fine,
Should not the kiosk on the front at Broadstairs also be listed?
Ramsgate is a Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) and is therefore unique in Kent if not the South East.The reason why buildings in Broadstairs are not described here, is because Broadstairs is not in the Ramsgate HAZ. Most HAZ’s are parts of a town or city, Ramsgate is different in that the whole Town is covered.
The quality of buildings in the rest of Thanet is not being examined here, only those within Ramsgate. I am sure there are many buildings in Thanet that could qualify, but that will have to wait for another time.
I am pleased that Thanet District Council have recognised Ramsgate’s heritage, but as always this comes with a price, both for the owners of the buildings, of which Ramsgate Town Council is one, and for the principal Councils when overseeing listed buildings and conservation areas, such as the various Georgian/Regency squares.
This is wonderful news, albeit most, if not all, of those buildings are under or close to the flight path proposed for the cargo hub. I suspect upkeep will be the least of TDCs problems when it comes to safeguarding these gems from a cargo plan overhead at 500 feet every 10 minutes. The risk to our heritage action zone is very real and threatening. Quite how the application is even considered given the risk is bemusing.
Ramsgate deserves so much better.
You anti people do make me laugh. Those buildings survived WW2 and Manston when it was a military airfield plus may high explosive bombs being dropped on the town.
I’m so glad I’m an “anti person”- because I wouldn’t want to be the sort of person who ignores scientific evidence about the environmental and other damage caused by aviation.
The best place for an information centre is in the middle of town. Roughly where the information centre is, perhaps.
What’s the point in opening up, provisioning and staffing the kiosk on a cold wet dark February morning when there’s no passing trade?
And whether or not a building is listed has nothing to do with what it is being used for.
Who is renting the kiosk? It’s rarely open and is a complete waste of opportunity as it would make a great community information hub. With teas and coffees. I hope it’s not like the Harbour Arm in Margate and gifted to a friend of Iris Johnston’s for a pound a year, to be reviewed in 2025.
I do not know what the arrangements are now but when my husband and I reopened the kiosk in 1998 we had to pay proper rent and rates. the kiosk was totally renovated for the millennium with funds from local sources, the millennium fund and ourselves. There’s aloof history in that little kiosk I’m so glad it is now listed.
Born in the late 40’s in Ramsgate, I have many happy memories of my childhood and teenage years in the town. So I’m pleased that at least some of this town’s heritage is being saved for future generations. Sadly the same couldn’t be said for the Model Village or the Marina dance hall (Neros) with its coloured dance floor, or Merrie England which was dually used as an amusement arcade and exhibition hall with a ballroom above, and the West Cliff Hall is an on going saga. Never mind, at least the bank buildings have escaped demolition !
There are other fountains and water features the council should also be looking after they seem more for letting them fall apart rather than maintain them. Councillor Asher take note!!!