Victorians on Holiday – Newgate Gap, Margate

Margate is near the eastern end of Kent, on the north coast. The gap leading to the beach is situated between the centre of Margate and Palm Bay (which is to the east of the centre of Margate). There are many such gaps leading down to the bays of Margate and other nearby seaside towns. They were cut through the chalk by farmers in earlier times so that they could gather seaweed from the beach and distribute it on the fields, to use as fertiliser. Each gap along the coast is now used by holidaymakers to gain access to the beach and some of them – like this one are quite steep – to walk on.

At the bottom of the steep slope, we can see bathing machines in the sea. At the time of the postcard being printed, which was probably late Victorian or Edwardian times, there was a coastguard station to the left, on top of the cliff. Not only were such gaps easy for those on holiday to access the beach by day but also for those running contraband – principally alcohol in bottles – by night and coastguards were posted all along the Kent coast for that very reason.

Above the Newgate Gap is an old footbridge with plenty of sightseers standing on it, looking out to sea. They were probably standing on the bridge because vegetation near the cliff edges obscured their view. The interesting thing about this postcard is that it has quite a few people in it, walking up and down the slope. Bathing is advertised on a board on the far left saying that access is ‘Down this Cutting’. The sign has been fixed to wooden stairs leading from the high ground where the coastguard station is positioned. Near the stairs is an old timer with his donkey. Did he also provide donkey rides on the beach? With such a steep slope, it may be that he offered the passers-by the services of his donkey to carry them up or down the slope. It seems a curious place to have a donkey otherwise.

The way that people dressed in those times is always fascinating. Look at the small boy facing the camera, walking up the slope with his mum (or older sister) and his younger brother. He is dressed in a sailor outfit that any small boy of the time would be proud to wear. On the right are two groups of three people on their way to the beach. In the group nearest the camera, the two women are both wearing boaters with the woman in the middle wearing a full-length dress. The three female characters just below again have a lady with a full-length dress. Notice how dark the colours are. Surely a lighter colour would be more fun at the seaside! For information, Newgate Gap still exists but the footbridge above has been replaced. Plenty of holidaymakers still walk up and down the steep gradient but, in good weather, most of them probably wear far less clothing.

-ENDS-