Did you know?
• The earliest naming of the town in the later 13th century refers to Remmesgate. The name is believed to be from the late Anglo Saxon hremmes, meaning raven, and gate for a gap in the cliffs. In the 14th century the town was referred to as Ramesgate.
• Ramsgate was a member of the Confederation of Cinque Ports.
• Ramsgate is an amalgamation of two settlements – a fishing community on the coast and an inland farming community at St Lawrence.
• An international hoverport used to be based at Pegwell Bay offering speedy Channel crossings to France.
• In WW1 Ramsgate suffered the first air raids from Zeppelins.
• The Sailor’s Church and Harbour Mission, close to the foot of Jacob’s Ladder, was built in 1878 by Canon Eustace Brenan.
• The Rolling Stones performed at Ramsgate’s West Cliff Hall to raise funds for the town’s football club in 1964.
• St George’s Church, a Grade I listed building just off the High Street, has a lantern turret on its west tower, funded by Trinity House, which is used as a navigation aid.
• The popular 19th century Paris society artist James Tissot visited and painted in Ramsgate. A pen and ink drawing in the Tate collection shows a room overlooking the seaside town.
• The English novelist and playwright Wilkie Collins stayed at 14 Nelson Crescent in the 1870s.
• Ramsgate has its own Meridian Line and ‘mean time’, being 5 minutes and 41 seconds faster than Greenwich Mean Time. This can be seen at The Clock House at the harbour
• In 597AD St.Augustine’s arrival marked the introduction of Christianity to this country. St. Augustine was the first Archbishop of Canterbury. St.Augustine’s Cross marks the area where he is thought to have landed.
• Augustus Pugin and Sir Moses Montefiore both chose Ramsgate as the place to build their ideal communities.
• Ramsgate is the only “Royal” harbour in the country. King George IV granted its Royal designation in 1821 in appreciation of the town's hospitality when he embarked with the Royal Squadron from Ramsgate for Hanover
• 19th century architect Augustus Pugin designed and built his own house 'The Grange' an example of his Gothic architecture in the town
• 'Hugin' Viking Ship at Pegwell Bay is a replica sailed to Thanet to commemorate the 1500th anniversary of the invasion of Britain
• King George VI Memorial Park is home to the Grade II* 19th century curved Italianate Glasshouse, brought to the town in 1832
• Ellington Park was designed by the Victorian landscape company Joseph Cheal and Son, known for their work at Hever Castle
• Pegwell Bay is part of Kent’s largest National Nature Reserve, Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve.
