Ramsgate Tunnels
In these last few days as we allow ourselves to get excited about our prospects of making it to Greece, we enjoy trips to a couple more destinations in England, both of them slightly out of the ordinary. The first of these is Ramsgate Tunnels.
The port of Ramsgate, less than 20 miles from our home in Kent, has a rich maritime and wartime history including being, as we have posted before, part of the amazing “little ships” story from WW2. Tucked around the corner from the harbour, hidden now by the new hotel and apartment complex currently under construction which will further enhance the quickly developing seafront, lie the Ramsgate Tunnels.
The rapid 19th century growth of the railway network was quickly followed by an Victorian burgeoning of interest in seaside resorts and sea bathing, with the three resorts of Thanet – Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate – enjoying significant economic booms. Ramsgate though had a small problem, in that its railway station was a mile from the beach, giving the other two resorts an edge in the popularity stakes. And so a tunnelled spur line was built, enabling visitors to alight at a new station right next to the beach.
This spur, on a fairly steep descent from town to sea level, operated for 60-odd years until 1926 when the line and the station fell into disrepair, later becoming a narrow gauge line forming part of a seaside fun park housed in the station building and known, amongst other things, as Pleasureland.
As fears of the growing aggression of the Nazis in Germany grew, the coastal towns of Kent were under genuine threat, their geographical position placing them on the front line of any German invasion either by sea or air. Its proximity to mainland Europe meant that by definition, warnings of air raids came with only a few minutes’ notice, unlike London and other inland targets which were granted more grace.
Ramsgate’s peers knew something was needed, obtained funds from central Government, and set about extending the tunnel network, converting the railway tunnel to air raid shelters and constructing additional narrower tunnelling which ran in a mile long crescent around and under the town.
Thousands would gather down here upon sounding of the haunting air raid sirens and, with those raids both regular and heavy, bringing with them the odd home comfort such as bedding or small stoves. Some returned to the surface to find their homes destroyed in the bombing, others simply opted to stay in the safety of the subterranean, the result being an ever growing population housed underground.
This tunnel dwelling community grew to be almost an underground town with makeshift shacks for homes and even markets and cafes, all cramped in this suffocating claustrophobic place with no running water, daylight or fresh air. Implausibly, some families were to stay here for up to three years, opting for this life of perpetual night rather than face the dangers of war.
Today the Ramsgate Tunnel attraction is a fascinating tour with knowledgeable guides and reasonable prices, recreating the atmosphere of those times with in-depth story telling, well worth a visit if you like your history slightly offbeat – and you’re not claustrophobic! The tour lasts around 90 minutes with a longer version available which takes in more of the narrow tunnels, although unfortunately this option was a victim of COVID rules when we visited.
If you’re heading to East Kent, put Ramsgate Tunnels on your to-do list!
16 Comments
bitaboutbritain
Absolutely fascinating – I’d never heard of the Ramsgate Tunnels – definitely my kind of (slightly quirky) place to visit!
Phil & Michaela
It was fab. Would definitely visit again when the little tunnels have reopened, We think that is from Monday. They re-opened to the public again in 2014, I always new about the tunnels but only found out the the other day that they had re-opened! 😁
Toonsarah
I’ve heard vaguely of these tunnels but didn’t really know what they were, so this is fascinating. It’s just the sort of history sight that we both enjoy so will definitely be on the list for a future visit to Kent 🙂
Phil & Michaela
I think Fergy posted about them previously. How is Fergy, Sarah? He’s quiet on the posting front…
Toonsarah
Yes, I think he mentioned them but hadn’t been inside? I don’t think he’s too great. He was supposed to come out with us a couple of weeks ago but when it came to it he didn’t feel able to 🙁 I’m not sure how much is physical and how much the mental impact of having stayed locked down for so long. A friend and I are hoping to lure him out later this summer by planning an evening much closer to his flat. He does go through phases with his blogging so hopefully he’ll be back online soon. Thanks for asking after him – I’ll let you know if I do hear from him.
Phil & Michaela
Yes I read that he was becoming isolated one way and another. This COVID thing has hurt people in so many ways.
wetanddustyroads
These tunnels are really something, hey? We first saw these for the first time in Malta and as I’ve mentioned in one of our Malta posts, it’s almost unthinkable that people lived in these tunnels for months without seeing daylight … but then, what do you do when bombs are falling on the outside 👀.
Thanks, it was great to read about the Ramsgate Tunnels and the history behind that.
Andrew Petcher
Fascinating. I have made a note.
Monkey's Tale
Fascinating tunnels and quite the history surrounding them.
leightontravels
“Fascinating” is what most people have said and it’s impossible to disagree. This is definitely my kind of place, have popped it onto our giant UK to-do list.
Destinations Journey
Amazing tunnels, somewhere else to visit if we manage to get back to the UK.
Phil & Michaela
We hope you manage to get back to the UK one day, so much to see 😊
Lookoom
It is an unusual place. I was making a parallel with our present lives, like a long tunnel with the hope of getting out. But compared to the dangers of the war, this comparison is a bit overstated.
Phil & Michaela
When we stood in the tunnels it made you shudder at the lives of the people that made their homes down there.
grandmisadventures
So interesting to learn about the tunnels and the history!
WanderingCanadians
This sounds like such a fascinating place to explore with so much history. I’m glad all those bunkers and shelters are things from the past!