Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,302
I quote if I may from that august organ the Dover Express.
"Concerns were raised at the town council about Dover's failure to attract tourists passing through the harbour into the town. Blame was put on the univiting seafront which passengers saw when they arrived in the town........"
Er.. well that was 1902. Plus ca change etc....
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Terry you and I are as one...
I was going to post this very thing, its from Rhys's column in the Dover Express this week and I was fascinated by it because we have only just been talking on another thread about the attractiveness of the seafront as it is now. Clearly it wasnt the same then as it is now, as Hitlers bombs obviously played a part in its re-structuring.
I wonder if our oul friend 'Scotchie' has an image of the seafront at his disposal from the time?? are you out there Paul?
We still of course have the same problems attracting people to linger here as they did in 1902...its interesting though from my point of view, what attracted me to spend time here before I lived here, was that there was no one here!! It wasnt packed like Brighton and coming then from London it was a welcome relief from the rat race. Brighton it seemed to me at the time, was part of the rat race. Dover offered an alternative, a break.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Slightly early I think, but this was outside your window PaulB
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doverpast/1172613012/in/set-72157601544977322/
and this a bit further on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doverpast/2154376933/in/set-72157601544977322/
Incidentally we are doing a seafront walk on 22nd June (
http://www.doverpast.co.uk/walks/). Jeff recites some details I think from 1910 of the guesthouses, etc of the time
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Aaah Scotchie well done..jeez you never let us down. Im going to spend more time having a good look at those a bit later. have had an initial look though, never knew there was a promenading pier there..blimey!
Many thanks.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
it is strange how few things change, go to the museum of london and from 1600 onwards the biggest complaints are the time to travel across the metropolis, and fear of crime.
And the Young think they have invented everything!!!!! We say poo to that!! I was interviewing a young (ish) fella the other day for a job - he was doing well until he mentioned that he was in a punk band. Noticing how old I am he felt it necessary to tell me what a punk band is...............he got the job but my boss (who I told about the amusing incident as we have a shared interest in music) mentioned to him that "Bern and I and our generation invented Punk young man, and don't you forget it!!!" Hurrah for the Greybeards I say, and the GreyLadies too.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
Here here Bern! Good for you lol
Scotchie thanks for your excellent pics, fascinating stuff. Like Paul I didn't know there had been a pier there either, and what fun to see those ladies in their long dresses and umbrellas! They would turn in their graves if they saw what the modern day young ladies wear (or nearly wear!) on the prom these days! Mind you they must have been very hot in all those clothes I would think, bet they would have loved a bikini to wear
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
You'll all have to come along on the 22nd June and see a lot more pictures of "Days gone by"
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Great photos of interest there Scotchie, the pier is just amazing and as for the fashionable Dover ladies they really looked as though they had just walked off the set of 'My Fair Lady' Luverly
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Parts of the Pier still exist and we may one day get them back on the Promenade as a reminder of what was once there.....
http://flickr.com/photos/doverpast/2408465436/sizes/l/Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Thanks again Scotchie for that. Fascinating. I wonder why the original pier was demolished. It was prior to the war so wondering what the reason might have been. Perhaps costs on the upkeep could have played a part, sadly, as a number of features have been lost from the seafront area all due to council cost cutting..everything from fountains to ponds it seems. Another cost cutting move on the cards is the removal of the Coal Miner statue. I suspect its cost cutting although the move is being dressed up as something else.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
No No Paul not cost cutting .You have no idea of the debates re the Waiting Miner.Different mining communties stated it belonged to them and should be in their midst .A solution has now been found .
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Sue
Whats the solution?please pray tell.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Paul - it was commandeered by the Navy in WW1 and would have suffered over that time. There were the classic battles for custom between Granville Gardens pavillion and the pier and it just went out of use. It was demolished in 1926 :(
Been nice knowing you :)
So....where is the Miner going?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Its about time the miner statue was removed. It is totally inappropriate for Dover seafront and should be located to somewhere like Aylesham.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,302
Absolutely right Barry. Tilmanstone, Chislet, Betteshanger, Snowdown, even Samphire Ho, just not here!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Quite right, that horrible miner statue has little place in Dover. Deal seafront would be more appropriate, or possibly even in the Mill Hill area which had a sizeable mining community.
Guest 668- Registered: 13 Apr 2008
- Posts: 91
"Concerns were raised at the town council about Dover's failure to attract tourists passing through the harbour into the town. Blame was put on the univiting seafront which passengers saw when they arrived in the town........"
Perhaps due to the strangle hold the port of Dover has on the town... I feel that Dover stops at the A20 and the port of Dover continues onward.
We'll never get very far with a wall of lorries!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
am i the only one that likes the statue of the miner?
i understand that the coal board wanted to get rid it of when the pits closed.
now that the old mining communities have decided that they have a heritage, they want it back.