Margate Jetty Art: A Glimpse into the Victorian Past

A vintage postcard depicting Margate Pier in its heyday, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century. The pier stretches out into the sea, bustling with activity, with people strolling along its wooden planks and enjoying the seaside views.

The Victorian Pier:

Margate, a charming seaside town in Kent, England, has a rich history intertwined with its iconic pier. Initially constructed of wood in 1824, it was rebuilt with iron in 1855 and extended over the following years, the pier was a marvel of Victorian engineering, attracting visitors from far and wide. It served as a popular destination for leisure, entertainment, and transportation.

A Hub of Activity:

The pier was more than just a walkway; it was a vibrant hub of activity. Visitors could enjoy a variety of attractions, including:

• Bandstands: Listen to live music performances from talented musicians.
• Pavilions: Explore shops, arcades, and tea rooms.
• Fishing: Cast a line and try your luck at catching fish.
• Horse-drawn carriages: Take a leisurely ride along the promenade.

A Symbol of Seaside Pleasure:

The pier's popularity peaked during the Victorian era when seaside holidays became a fashionable pastime. Families and couples flocked to Margate to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the fresh sea air and scenic views.

A Changing Landscape:

Over the years, Margate Pier has faced challenges, including storms and structural damage. It closed in 1976, was badly damaged in 1978 and underwent occasionally demolition until the final section was completely removed in 1998.

The artwork below was created by me based on a Victorian era postcard I have in my collection, copies can be purchased from my Colin_picture_this Zazzle store on various products. You can also transfer the design to alternative products of your choosing as required.

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Postcard's fom the Past. Fir Tree Pond, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Our final glimpse into the past today takes us to the serene waters of Fir Tree Pond, nestled on the common in the elegant Royal Tunbridge Wells. This isn't just any picture postcard; it's a tangible link to a summer day over a century ago, a fleeting moment captured in ink and paper.

Imagine holding this very card, its edges softened by time and handling. It bears the indelible mark of its journey through the postal system: a clear postmark dated 3rd July 1913. Think of the world as it was then, just a year before the outbreak of the Great War, a world powered by horses and early automobiles, where communication relied on the steady rhythm of the postal service.

Affixed to the back is a humble yet significant detail: a King George V half penny green stamp. This small piece of adhesive paper, bearing the profile of the reigning monarch, speaks volumes about the era. It's a tiny window into the visual language and currency of the time.

This particular postcard wasn't merely a scenic view; it served its intended purpose. It was posted, embarking on a journey from the genteel surroundings of Royal Tunbridge Wells to a Miss Ratcliffe residing at 4 Market Street, Nottingham. One can almost picture the postman, perhaps on a bicycle, delivering this small piece of news.

And what news did it carry? Here, the story becomes a little more enigmatic. The handwritten message, faded and perhaps smudged over the years, proved a challenge to decipher. Yet, through the veil of time, fragments emerge. A polite acknowledgment: "thanks for a previous letter". This simple phrase hints at an ongoing correspondence, a connection between two individuals separated by distance.

Then, a universal observation, one that transcends time and place: "the weather was raining". A quintessential British summer's day, it seems, even in 1913! This small detail grounds the image, making the scene feel more real, more relatable. We can almost feel the dampness in the air, see the raindrops dimpling the surface of Fir Tree Pond.

Who was the sender? What were the contents of that "previous letter"? What were Miss Ratcliffe's thoughts upon receiving this damp missive? These are the silent questions that echo from this small piece of ephemera.

This postcard of Fir Tree Pond is more than just a pretty picture. It's a snapshot of a specific moment in time, carrying echoes of human connection and the everyday realities of life over a hundred years ago. It reminds us that even the simplest of objects can hold fascinating stories, waiting to be pieced together from the faint whispers of the past.

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Crossing the Thames, The Woolwich Ferry and Dartford Tunnel.

This collection comprises short video segments, captured during vehicular transits, with the initial recording documenting a crossing on the Woolwich Ferry in November 2013. The video, originally recorded with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, provides a first-person perspective of the journey from the southern pier at Woolwich to the northern pier at North Woolwich, under an overcast and rainy November sky. This raw footage, available both here and on YouTube, serves as a snapshot of a routine, yet historically significant, urban transport operation.

The Woolwich Ferry, a vital artery in East London's infrastructure, facilitates the movement of vehicles and pedestrians across the River Thames, effectively bridging the north and south circular inner relief roads. This free-of-charge service, a rarity in modern urban transport, underscores its role as a public utility rather than a commercial venture. While primarily catering to vehicles, it also accommodates foot passengers, albeit with a requirement to disembark at each terminal. This operational detail highlights the ferry's function as a continuous shuttle, rather than a long-distance passenger service.

The ferry's historical roots trace back to the 14th century, but its formalized service at the current location commenced on March 23, 1889. This transition marked a significant development in local transportation, reflecting the industrial and population growth of the area during the late Victorian era. The present fleet comprises three vessels, each named after prominent political figures: John Burns, Ernest Bevin, and James Newman.

• John Burns: A pivotal figure in the late 19th and early 20th century British political landscape, Burns served as a Liberal MP from 1892 to 1918. His involvement in social reform and labor movements underscores the ferry's connection to the era's progressive ideals.
• Ernest Bevin: A prominent Labour Minister, Bevin's tenure spanned from 1940 to 1951, a period marked by wartime mobilization and post-war reconstruction. His role in shaping the welfare state highlights the ferry's association with a period of significant social change.
• James Newman: Serving as the Mayor of Woolwich from 1923 to 1925, Newman's local political leadership reflects the ferry's integration into the community's fabric.

The overcast and rainy conditions captured in the video offer a glimpse into the everyday realities of operating and utilizing the ferry. The use of a Samsung Galaxy Tablet for recording, while commonplace in contemporary documentation, provides a relatable, unedited perspective. This raw footage, with its inherent imperfections, offers an authentic portrayal of the ferry's operation, contrasting with polished, professionally produced content.

The Woolwich Ferry, therefore, transcends its function as a mere transport link. It embodies a confluence of historical, political, and social narratives, reflecting the evolution of East London and its inhabitants. The video, though brief, serves as a valuable document of this dynamic intersection

This footage, captured in October 2013, offers a glimpse into a bygone era of the Dartford Crossing, a critical artery connecting Kent and Essex beneath the River Thames. The video documents a journey through the eastern tunnel, a structure inaugurated in 1980, which doubled the crossing's capacity and alleviated the notorious bottlenecks that plagued its predecessor, the western tunnel.

The western bore, originally opened in November 1963 as a single-lane conduit, struggled to cope with the burgeoning traffic demands of the region. The completion of the eastern tunnel marked a significant engineering achievement, transforming the crossing into a dual-tunnel system. Northbound traffic was diverted to the western tunnel, while southbound flows utilized the newly constructed eastern passage.

By this time, the crossing was already a vital component of the UK's road network, handling an astonishing 65,000 vehicles daily. The 1986 integration with the newly completed M25 motorway further amplified its importance, pushing daily traffic volumes to an estimated 80,000 vehicles.

The subsequent construction of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in 1991 introduced a pivotal shift in traffic management. The eastern tunnel was repurposed to accommodate northbound traffic alongside the western tunnel, with the bridge exclusively handling southbound flows. However, the eastern tunnel retains its crucial role as a contingency route for southbound vehicles during high winds or incidents that necessitate bridge closures.

Notably, this video predates the late 2014/early 2015 removal of the toll booths, a change implemented in the hope of streamlining traffic flow and reducing congestion. The transition to a remote charging system was anticipated to usher in a new era of efficiency. However, as a professional truck driver who traverses this crossing regularly, I can attest that the promised reduction in congestion remains largely elusive, a testament to the persistent challenges of managing such a critical infrastructure node.

The engineering of these tunnels themselves is a marvel, each bore a testament to the challenges of subaqueous construction. The eastern tunnel, in particular, showcases the advancements made in tunnel boring technology between its construction and that of its predecessor. The sheer volume of concrete and steel involved in its creation is staggering, a silent, yet imposing, monument to human ingenuity.

The video, therefore, serves not only as a record of a journey but also as a historical snapshot, capturing a moment before a significant infrastructural change. It invites reflection on the ongoing evolution of our transport systems and the perpetual struggle to balance progress with the ever-increasing demands of modern travel

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