MEETINGS
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 2nd October 2025. This will include our Annual General Meeting followed by a talk "Elizabeth Barton, the Maid of Kent (1506-1534)" by Melanie Gibson-Barton BSc(Hons). The meeting starts at 7.30pm, all welcome, members free of charge, guests £4.50.
Details of our 2025 programme, from March to November (except August) is shown on the Calendar page.
All meetings start at 7.30pm, the venue is Holy Trinity Church Hall, St Mary's Avenue, Margate CT9 3TN and all are very welcome. Members free of charge, guests £3.50 except where shown otherwise.
We serve tea, coffee and excellent cake at all our meetings at a very reasonable price.
NOVEMBER MEETING
Although we normally hold monthly meetings from March to October (except August), we are going to hold an additional meeting this November. This is so that we can hear a very special talk by one of our Vice-Presidents and noted local historian James Brazier. James' talk is about Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 and in particular the very large part played by Margate. The meeting will be held on Thursday 6th November and, as ever, all are most welcome.
TOWN PRIDE AWARDS
At our meeting on 1st May, we were delighted to announce the winners of our prestigious Town Pride Awards. The winner of the Blue Plaque was Thanet District Council for their tremendous renovation of the fire-damaged Nayland Rock Promenade Shelter. For further details of this and the other winners, please look at our Town Pride Award page - click to see it.
TOWN WALKS
Robin Colyer, who is a vice-president of the Society, hosts a number of town walks each year. Robin is very knowledgeable and presents information in an authorative but light and humorous manner. These walks are an ideal opportunity to learn about the heritage and history of our town.
The walks are free of charge, but we recommend a minimum donation to Margate Civic Society of £5 per person.
The walks planned for this year are:
Saturday 13th September: High Street and St John's Church. Meet at the Droit House at 2pm.
Saturday 11th October: Maritime Margate. Meet at the Droit House at 2pm.
Booking is recommended for all walks by telephoning or texting Robin on 07878 537448.
CLOCK TOWER GATE
Following repeated acts of vandalism to the timber door of the Margate Clock Tower, Society stalwarts Lynda and Harry Smith suggested that a protective iron gate fitted to the stonework in front of the door should prevent further attack.
The idea was promoted to Thanet District Council and a subsequent meeting was held with Council officers. The proposition was welcomed and initial thoughts considered as to what form the gate should take. The design had to be appropriate and respect the Listed Building status that the structure enjoys.
Committee member Mike Thompson had in mind that St Saviour’s Church in Westgate featured a beautiful pair of wrought iron gates in front of the entrance door and that a single one of the same design would be entirely appropriate. Subsequently, having carefully measured up the clock tower door reveal, he drew up the design to scale and this was submitted as part of the required Listed Building planning application. The design was accepted and eventually we received the necessary Listed Building consent.
In the interim, the Society had found a suitable contractor who was able to provide a quotation for the construction and installation of the gate. Aided by financial contributions towards the project from the Mayor’s fund and from money that Thanet District Council (TDC) received from a Southern Water fine, plus contributions from Society members, sufficient funds were secured to cover the project’s cost, and the go-ahead was given for manufacture.
This was awarded to Stonaco Fabrications of Ramsgate who were enthusiastic about the project from the start and were most helpful throughout the process.
Once the gate was manufactured, a date was agreed for fitting and this was carried out on 14th November 2024 by staff members from Stonaco, who did a first-rate job. The result speaks for itself.
A period now must elapse prior to painting the gate to allow the galvanising to settle and cure and then the Small Works team from TDC will paint it black - the colour approved in the planning application.
