From Palace Cinema to India House and Paradise – more than 30 Thanet venues to take part in Heritage Open Days

pugin 5 — The Grange and Pugin & St Augustine Visitor Centre are among the open properties

The annual Heritage Open Days festival takes place from Friday 6 September to Sunday 15 September and Thanet has more than 30 venues taking part.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the festival and to celebrate, isle venues and experiences are participating in the national scheme with opportunities to discover Thanet’s rich history, architecture and culture, free of charge.

This year’s theme is ‘Routes, Networks and Connections’. People are invited to delve into the rich tapestry of history through the movement of people and ideas.

In Thanet, the festival includes:

A Guided Walk in Margate: Discover the fascinating architecture of six historic squares and learn about the notable residents who lived and worked there.
The Palace Cinema in Broadstairs: Explore the unique story of this iconic cinema and delve into local film heritage.
Historic Ramsgate: Visit Ramsgate’s oldest street, Paradise, home to retired sea captains in the early 18th century, and enjoy sea shanties and characters in period costume.
An Augustine Camino Mini Pilgrimage: Walk from Minster Abbey to the Shrine of St. Augustine in Ramsgate, uncovering stories of saints, scholars, Vikings, and powerful princesses along the way.

Heritage Open Days provides an opportunity to experience lesser-known venues and those that are not generally open to members of the public, including India House in Margate and St. Edward’s Presbytery in Ramsgate.

Thanet’s local history will be explored during engaging talks, including two relating to Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour and its new Heritage Harbour status and a special guided Dickens Town Trail in Broadstairs.

New venues are participating in the Heritage Open Days programme for 2024, including Holy Trinity Church, Radford House and Paradise in Ramsgate, and the Walpole Bay Hotel and Museum in Margate.

Free entry will be offered on specific dates during the festival at the Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens in Birchington; the Margate Caves and The Wonderworks in Margate; the Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs; and the Italianate Glasshouse and The Grange in Ramsgate.

Councillor Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said: “Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, running for 10 days every September. The festival offers members of the public free access to heritage venues, events and activities and I’m delighted that there are so many opportunities for local people and visitors to enjoy many of the area’s unique places, free of charge.

“I am grateful to The Ramsgate Society, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and to the Margate Civic Society, for the time they have given to help to coordinate Thanet’s Heritage Open Days this year. The festival’s success relies on the support of the participating venues and their staff, many of whom are volunteers.

“The council works hard to promote Thanet’s heritage buildings and local history and I hope that this festival will encourage and inspire more people to get involved.”

A Day in Paradise

Paradise is believed to be Ramsgate’s oldest street. Its name probably originates from its position between a brewery on one side and a convent on the other.

The area developed in the 17th and 18th centuries and was occupied by the sea captains and merchants engaged at one of the country’s busiest ports.

As the oldest part of the town, the ‘Ramsgate Historic Quarter’ is home to some distinctive and impressive architecture, including Dutch gabled rows and grand sea captains’ mansions constructed of handmade bricks andrecycled ships’ timbers.

In the days before steam power the Spread Eagle coaching inn – which stands empty and almost derelict on the High Street today – brought in the first tourists as well as travellers en route to the continent.

On Saturday 7 September, as part of the Heritage Open Days, three historic homes in Paradise – numbers three, seven and nine – will open their doors to the public and invite them to take a peek inside.

Visitors will be able to see historic architectural features such as an old ship’s mast – which is used as a beam to hold up the first floor of the three properties – wood panelled rooms, historic fireplaces and hidden cupboards.

In the evening there will be live traditional folk music and sea shanties. The ‘Ramsgate Historic Quarter Scheme’ is the creation of writer, actor, musician and film maker Robert Milton Wallace.

Robert Milton Wallace (in white with guitar) with band Men of Chalk

Robert will be performing at the Heritage Open Day event ‘A Day in Paradise’ with his band ‘Men of Chalk’ on September 7 from 5pm.

St John’s Church, Victoria Road, Margate

Join St John’s on September 8 as they celebrate the church bells on Sunday morning and throughout their Heritage Open Day events.

At the morning service from 10.30am Archdeacon Will Adam will preach and re-dedicate the bells.

Heritage visitors are welcome from noon to 4pm. David Lammler, gifted organist, will provide organ interludes from 1pm to 2pm.

Join a free tour of the church by local historian Robin Colyer at 2pm. Tower Captain Simon Friend and fellow bell ringers will ring a special quarter peal – 1260 changes of Plain Bob Triples – from 3pm.

The pop-up cafe is available for tea and cakes – a chance to meet up with old friends and make new friends.

Have a look at the new display of photos, parish magazines and art work. Maybe you will recognise the folk in the photos. Let the church know of any connections your family have with St John’s.

Admire the new lighting and learn about the ongoing refurbishments as the current congregation work together to continue to serve the local community.

See full details from the listing on the Heritage Open Days website – as the church will also be open on Saturday 14th September and on the afternoon of Sunday 15th September.

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/st-john-s-margate.html

Ramsgate synagogue

As it approaches its 40th anniversary (2025), the Thanet and District Reform synagogue in Margate Road, Ramsgate, will be open to the public on 8th September as part of Heritage Open Days.

The main display is the Jewish Living Experience Exhibition.

If you have never been inside a synagogue or if you have questions you haven’t got around to asking, come along anytime between 9.30am and 3pm.

Between 3pm and 5pm there is a family session for children and their well-behaved adults.

The Ramsgate synagogue serves East Kent and is now the only fully functional one in the area.

ARK Cliftonville

(Former Shul, Albion Rd, Cliftonville)

Leave to Land: The Kitchener Camp Rescue 1939

Saturday 7, Sunday 8, Saturday 14, Sunday 15 September • noon-3pm

Over the next two weekends, ARK opens its doors for Heritage Open Days. Discover what the building was like as a working synagogue, and also see Leave to Land: The Kitchener Camp Rescue, 1939

Set up in a derelict army base in Sandwich, the Kitchener Camp saved 4,000 men from the Holocaust. This fascinating exhibition brings together archival records and family treasures to build a moving and compelling picture of this unlikely sanctuary

Four Thousand Lives – a talk by Clare Ungerson

Sunday 15 September, 2pm-3pm

Clare Ungerson talks about her book – Four Thousand Lives: the rescue of German Jewish men to Britain, 1939, which describes how the rescue came about, what life was like for the men in the camp and what residents made of having 4000 German speaking Jews living in a camp in Sandwich.

Tickets at: https://billetto.co.uk/e/four-thousand-lives-the-rescue-of-german-jewish-men-to-britain-1939-a-talk-by-clare-ungerson-tickets-1045882

Birchington Heritage Trust

Birchington Map Exhibition is one of the Heritage Open Days attractions

It’s that time of year again when Birchington Heritage Trust host an extra-special, free event, to celebrate Heritage Open Days.

The Trust will show its rarely seen historic maps and related items on this year’s theme of “Transport and Connections”.

The event will be at Church House, Kent Gardens, Birchington on Sunday, September 8 between 2pm and 5pm. Car parking available.

Birchington Heritage Trust, The Burley Gallery, Birchington Library

Augustus Pugin’s Ramsgate: The Grange and St Edward’s Presbytery

Multiple dates available

The Grange and St Edwards’ Presbytery, Ramsgate,

Pre-booking preferred

The Grange was built by Augustus Pugin, designer of the Palace of Westminster, in 1843-4 as his family home. The Grange offers total immersion in the Gothic Revival style – a must for any fan of the Victorian era.

Broadstairs History Walks

Multiple dates available

Albion Street, Broadstairs,

Pre-booking not required

Celebrating Spencer Square

15 September

Sports Pavilion, Spencer Square, Ramsgate,

The historic Spencer Square will be celebrating its connections with Van Gogh who lived her for a time. Visitors will also get a chance to enjoy a free tennis taster session and watch a competitive match on the tennis courts located in the square.

Clock House Museum Exhibition at Arch 6

Multiple dates available

Arch 6, Military Road, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9LG

Pre-booking not required

This exhibition, called ‘Ramsgate’s Harbour’, is a celebration of the history, heritage, and people involved with the harbour over the centuries.

Conducted tour of Grade II* listed India House, Margate

Multiple dates available

India House, 11-13 Hawley Street, Margate,

Pre-booking required

A conducted tour of India House, Margate, one of the finest and most unusual buildings in Margate.

Dickens House Museum

Multiple dates available

2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs,

Pre-booking not required

Dickens House Museum celebrates Charles Dickens’ long connection with Broadstairs (1837-1851). It is housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield.

Dickens Town Trail – A walk around Broadstairs

08 September

Dickens House, 4 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs,

Pre-booking not required

Drapers Windmill

Multiple dates available

Drapers Windmill, St. Peters Footpath, Margate

Pre-booking not required

Thanet’s last working windmill grinding local grain.

Dreamland Heritage Trust Local History Fair & Heritage Tours

15 September

49-51 Marine Terrace, Margate, Kent, CT9 1XJ

Pre-booking not required

The Dreamland Heritage Trust would like to invite you to join us in celebrating the wonderful history and heritage within Kent at our Local History Day event taking place in Dreamland on Sunday 15th September for Heritage Open Days 2024

Ellington Park

8 September

Ellington Park, Park Road, Ramsgate,

Pre-booking not required

English Heritage Open Day Sunday 8th September 11am – 3pm to showcase the history and heritage of Ellington Park, Ramsgate, Kent.

Evacuees – A Talk by Helen Seaton

12 September

Ramsgate Tunnels, Marina Esplanade, Ramsgate,

Pre-booking required

Ramsgate Tunnels Oral Historian Helen Seaton will be giving a one off talk about the experiences of evacuees during World War II at Ramsgate Tunnels.

Open on Saturday and Sunday from 12.30pm-5pm for people to visit.

Royal Harbour Costumed Walk

7th September

Ramsgate Costumed Walks

Join a guided costumed walk to hear Ramsgate’s harbour history

Walk 2.30pm – 4pm (approx.) meeting at The Clock House

Ramsgate is proud to boast the only Royal Harbour, the honour having been bestowed by King George IV in 1821 and in July 2024, became a national Heritage Harbour.

You will see Smeaton’s famous dry dock, learn of the vast fishing industry carried on in Ramsgate in the 19th and early 20th centuries, hear about the miraculous evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk in 1940, visit the Sailors’ Church and meet various characters along the way….

People who take part in the walk will receive a free tote bag

Find all the venues taking part across Thanet, opening times and how to book at www.visitthanet.co.uk/heritageopendays.