Local history enthusiast Luke Bigg heads up casual history tours in Margate and has recently created a quirky Substack page called Borrowing Cats looking at some of the town’s past characters and events:
Ah, February! The month of love, pancakes, and—if you’ve lived in Margate long enough—flooding. While other towns worry about Valentine’s Day plans, Margate historically had bigger concerns, like whether the High Street would turn into a canal overnight.
Margate has always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the sea. On a good day, it brings in holidaymakers, a fresh breeze, and the occasional lost seagull with a chip theft habit. But every now and then, particularly in February, it decides to remind us who’s boss by leaping over the sea wall and settling in for a visit.
The Great Floods of February
One of the worst floods in living memory hit Margate in 1953, part of the infamous North Sea flood that devastated coastal towns across the UK and the Netherlands. A deadly combination of high tides, storm surges, and fierce winds saw seawater rushing through the streets, flooding homes, destroying businesses, and forcing evacuations. The town’s iconic Dreamland amusement park was left waterlogged, and locals had to swap their shoes for wellies—or, in some cases, boats.
Fast forward to 1978, and February once again proved it had no sympathy for Margate’s flood defences. A powerful storm surge, aided by a mischievous full moon, sent waves crashing over the harbour arm and into the town. Locals found themselves wading knee-deep through Marine Drive, and more than a few businesses were left to mop up the mess. It was a stark reminder that despite modern sea walls and defences, the sea still had the upper hand.
Even in more recent years, Margate has seen its fair share of water-based chaos. Storms in 2013 and 2014 saw dramatic waves battering the seafront, sweeping away beach huts and causing more than a few dramatic social media posts. The Turner Contemporary, standing proudly on the shoreline, looked less like a gallery and more like an accidental water feature.
Margate vs. The Sea
So, how does Margate fight back? Over the years, flood defences have been strengthened, sea walls reinforced, and drainage improved. But, let’s be honest—if the sea is in the mood to visit, it probably will.
Despite the challenges, there’s something oddly charming about Margate’s resilience. It’s the sort of town that takes a flood on the chin, wrings out its socks, and carries on. Whether it’s locals repairing shop fronts, pubs pumping out the seawater (priorities, of course), or people simply getting on with things, Margate never lets a bit of water dampen its spirit.
If history tells us anything, it’s that February will always be a month to watch. So, as we hunker down for another winter, keep an eye on the tide, have a backup plan for your chips if a rogue wave comes crashing in, and remember—Margate has been through worse and always bounces back.
Dive Deeper
And if you’re curious to dive deeper into Margate’s past (hopefully not literally), you can find more historical tales over on Borrowing Cats, my Substack dedicated to the town’s quirks, forgotten stories, and the occasional maritime mishap.
If freak weather like this happened today, we’d all be told it’s because we drive petrol cars and don’t reuse our carrier bags!
Well said.
No, Marg, it is not well said. Rather, it is an inaccurate exaggeration.
Remember Peter about 15-20 years ago we were told Margate would be underwater,because of rising sea levels,not happened,tide levels the same Floods make great story headlines,most rivers break their banks because the auth o do not dredge and clear rivers because nature must take its way ,nothing to do with not spending money.I bet in 20 years time Margate will not be underwater
Dredging rivers won’t have a great impact on alleviating floods unless the water has somewhere to go.
The reason gor recent heavy flooding in the UK and elsewhere is that a month’s rain has fallen in a few hours. No matter how clean the drains, they’re not going to cope with flow rates 30 times normal.
Margate now has a flood prevention system!
How will that work if storm conditions (like those in 1953) happen?
“Doomed, we’re all doomed I tell ya!”
Come on Clare explain the new system if you can please
Don’t you ever take things seriously, Peter Checksfield? Don’t you read newspapers other than this one,or watch the news on television? Do you think that the people who have experienced floods recently have been told that it happened because we “don’t reuse our carrier bags”? For shame, Mr. Checksfield!
Read: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kent-Weather-Book-Bob-Ogley/dp/1872337902
Mr Checksfield has made it clear, on these pages, that his intention is to wind people up.
Andrew- that’s why I’m not going to look at the “Kent Weather Book”.
I didn’t write it.
i think mr checksfields input is equaly as important as yours , more so in fact as i dont believe he is as quite up himself as you clearly are .
He/she/it is worse than a Climate Change denier: it’s a filthy/druggy/corrupt Thanet denier!
No, Peter Checksfield, I am not “a filthy/druggy/corrupt Thanet denier”. I think you need to be careful about what you say. I was taught as a child not to mock the afflicted.
You might have noticed that there is “freak” weather happening today. Whether it’s disastrous floods in Valencia or wild fires in Los Angeles, these events are ongoing. And let’s not forget the floods that have afflicted the UK in recent months.
And although using plastic bags isn’t much of an issue when it comes to Global Warming, burning petrol, or diesel or any other fossil fuel really is.
When it comes to sea-level rise, it’s already happening. When water warms up, it expands, like mercury in a thermometer. The seas are warming, and expanding.
But the big worry is that if the Greenland and/or Antarctic ice caps melt, global sea levels will rise by several metres.
Several of the “wild fires”in LA were the result of deliberate arson and you can’t blame that on global warming or freak weather
Would make an ideal local interest topic for Turner … if they can find enough photos. Link to current sea defence plans and on a wider theme the power of the sea in general. (Just waiting to see what happens with Santorini!)
Climate change impacts have been with us and evident for some time for those who choose to find out. The issue is that these impacts are unevenly distributed globally. The IPCC (United Nations body that assesses climate change science) has been clear for a while that we are facing unprecidented changes. In some ways it doesn’t matter why change is taking place, it does matter that our Government, and so many others, are ignoring this and failing to prepare civil protection and security. There are many risks to us but it is not entirely clear how these will be realised and play out, but change is gonna come!
My dear fellows, one cannot overstate the paramount importance of a most excellent fire brigade—not merely for the swift and valiant extinguishing of infernos but also for the deft management of floods and other such calamities. Our beloved village shall remain forever indebted to the gallant Captain Flack and his splendid brigade—Pugh! Pugh! Barney McGrew! Cuthbert! Dibble! Grubb!—a finer band of courageous souls one could scarcely hope to find!