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Pigot's Directory, 1839 - Margate, Thanet

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Margate is a sea port, market town and parish, in the cinque port liberty of Dover, in the lathe of St. Augustine and hundred of Ringslow (or Isle of Thanet);  72 miles from London, 43 from Maidstone and 16 from Canterbury;  pleasantly situated at the northern extremity of the Isle of Thanet, partly on the acclivity of two hills and party in the valley below.  Until about the middle of the last century, Margate ranked but as a small fishing village;  but since that period it has been progressing towards its present importance, which is that of a populous town and a bathing place of the first celebrity;  the waters are limpid, the shore level, and the air bland, pure and invigorating.  In 1815 steam packets were established;  the number of passengers, in that year visiting Margaret, was 23, 500;  in 1824 the number amounted to 60,000;  and in 1830, in the high season, the number of visitors was upwards of 95,000.  These vessels now ply daily between London and Margate, making the passage in about six hours and a half;  and in the season 2,000 persons frequently land in one day.  The present buildings are still found insufficient for this vast influx of persons, and new ones are constantly erecting.  The establishments for the accommodation of the temporary sojourner, the invalid and the wealthy resident, though numerous and fascinating, are annually improving in their conveniences, and elegance;  and the baths, hotels, libraries, reading rooms, bazaars, assembly rooms, theatre, promenades, etc., are unrivalled in their efficiency.  Independent of the many hotels and inns, there are numerous public and private boarding houses, established upon various scales of expense.  The new pier, the plan of the late Mr. Rennie, built of Whitby stone, is 901 feet long, 60 feet wide in the broadest part, and 26 feet high, with a parapet of four feet six inches.  The promenade (and fashionable evening lounge of the summer visitants) is 856 feet long and 18 feet wide, elevated 7-1/2 feet above the level of the pier;  over it are canvass awnings, a band of music attends, and the whole is brilliantly illuminated with gas.  From the difficulty found in landing passengers from the steam boats at low water, a wooden pier was erected in 1824, which is carried 1,062 feet into the sea;  it is 18 feet wide, and well adapted to the purpose of its erection;  it is called 'Jarvis's landing place', in compliment to Mr. Jarvis, a resident gentleman of Margate, at whose suggestion this improvement was projected.

The parish church, which is situated on a hill, was built about the year 1050;  it is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and was made parochial about the year 1220.  From the great population during the summer months, and the increase of actual residents, the old church has been found too small:  and, much to the credit of the inhabitants, a new one, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was completed in 1829, from a design and under the superintendence of Mr. Wm. Edmunds.  It is an elegant structure of Bath stone, in the early style of the English architecture;  and consists of a nave nearly 60 feet high, and two side-aisles, elaborately groined:  the windows are ornamented with stained glass, and it is furnished with a fine organ.  The exterior of the building is decorated with buttresses and pinnacles;  the tower rises to the height of 135 feet, and, from the commanding site on which it is built, is seen at a very considerable distance, and is the first object perceivable on approaching this coast.  The length of the church is 143 feet - its breadth 71.  Towards erecting this edifice the commissioners for building churches gave £10,000., the pier joint-stock company £2,000., the parish (by rates) about £8,000., and £8,000 was raised by voluntary subscription, to complete the sum of £28,000 expended;  the organ, the velvet draperies and the communion plate are the gifts of some highly respectable individuals.  Here are also chapels for dissenters, baptists and Roman catholics, and a friends' meeting house.

Margate can boast of several charitable establishments:  amongst these are Draper's hospital, and charity and national schools;  but the principal charity is the Royal sea-bathing infirmary, at Westbrook, instituted under the patronage of his late Majesty;  a new wing has been added, for the better accommodation of female patients;  and it now stands a monument of the liberality of Thanet Isle.

The new market was planned in 1820, over which is the town hall, a building of the Tuscan order, supported by cast iron pillars.  The market is entered by porticos, and closed by iron gates;  and the whole is executed with a design to combine neatness with utility.  Adjoining the town are the Tivoli Gardens, recently opened, and possess the advantages of a most delightful situation, with ornamental sheets of water and thick plantations.  About a mile and a half to the s.w. of the town is "Dandelion", the fortified mansion of a family of that name in the reign of Edward I, of which a gate-house, flanked with four towers, remains in good preservation.

The market is held on Wednesday and Saturday, under a grant obtained in 1777.  The resident population of the parish, by the census for 1831, was 10,339;  being an increase, in the preceding thrity years, of 5,573 inhabitants.

Post Office, Cecil-square, Frederick Gore, Post Master - Letters from London, etc. arrive (by mail-cart from Canterbury) every morning at half-past six, and are despatched every evening at half-past seven.  Letters from St. Peters, Broadstairs and Ramsgate arrive (by foot-post) every morning at nine, and are despatched every afternoon at a quarter before five.  Letters for London, etc., must be put in the Office before seven o'clock, but are received until half-past upon payment of twopence with each.

Coaches

To LONDON, the "Courier", every morning at nine and the "Eagle" at ten, both from Holman's office, High street, and 4 Marine Parade - and the "Eagle", from 1 Bridge Street, every morning at nine and evening at six; all go through Canterbury, Rochester, etc.

To DEAL, DOVER, AND SANDWICH, the "Paul Pry", every morning at eight, and the "Swallow", every afternoon at four, both from Holman's office, High street and 4 Marine parade - and the "Union" from 1 Bridge Street, every morning at eight and afternoon at four.

To RAMSGATE, coaches, from the above offices, hourly in summer, and three times a day in winter.

Besides the above, coaches await the arrival of the steam packets, from London, and proceed to all parts of the Isle of Thanet.

VANS for passengers and goods

To CANTERBURY George Harnett, from Broad Street, every morning (Sunday excepted) at half-past eight, and John Loe, from the Bull's Head, at four in the afternoon - and the "Mail Cart", from Holman's office, High Street, every evening at half-past seven.

To RAMSGATE, "Vans" during the summer months, every hour - and James Read, from the George Inn, every afternoon (Sun. excepted) at half-past one.

CONVEYANCE BY WATER, for passengers

To LONDON, "Steam Packets", belonging to the Original Steam Packet Co. and the New Steam Packet Co. every morning during the summer months - and the New Steam Co.'s Packets, every Monday morning at nine in winter.

Original Company's office, 3 Bank side, Martin Miles, agent.

New Company's office, 3 Marine Parade - John Cutten, agent.

For Goods.

To LONDON, the "Isle of Thanet" trader (Latham Osborn, Jun. owner), every alternate Saturday, to Chester's quay and returns on Sunday - offices at John Poussett's, 6 King Street, and at Captain Valder's, Love lane.

To LONDON, the "Governor" trader (John Swinford, owner), every alternate Saturday, to Chester's quay, and returns on Sunday - office, Lombard Street.

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