Sorry for a very brief Five this week. We've been away for my birthday. Where? Margate. (It's in Kent.) So here's five things from there.
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Hundreds of men and women up and down the country risk their lives regularly in rough and hazardous seas to go to the help of others. There's a rescue boat near the harbour arm in Margate.
This clock is on the tower of the tourist information office, known as the Droit House, a building which used to act as the customs house and also the place where ships paid fees to enter the harbour.
The artist JMW Turner said Margate had the finest skies in all of Europe. And I have to admit they've been pretty good this week.
Turner was a bit of a rogue and in later life lived in Margate with a Mrs Booth - seaside landlady. While there he was known as Mr Booth, even though he had a wife and children back home in London. There's a sculpture on the harbour arm that's called Mrs Booth, and it's shaped like a souvenir shell lady - except it's MUCH bigger.
And finally - hidden in a back street away from the town centre is a mysterious cave. 104 feet long and decorated with 4.6 million shells. No-one knows who made it, when or why, but it was discovered in the 1830s and opened as a tourist attraction very shortly after. It deserves a post of its own - so watch out for more about it later.
This has been a very bitty Five on Friday post. Now head over to
Tricky's FAST blog to see others that have been put together with much more care than mine!
Lovely to see a few highlights of Margate with you!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Margate so thanks for those five facts. Who knew that Turner was a ladies man? The cave sounds absolutely fascinating.
ReplyDeleteOne day I'll have to go to Margate and enjoy the light that artists rave about. The shell cave sounds interesting. Hope you had a great birthday trip.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Hope you had a great day.
ReplyDeleteThat shell cave sounds magical! How intriguing
Thanks for joining in with us for Five on Friday, have a wonderful weekend
I always knew there was more to Turner than skies. Margate's looking good - years since I was there. And Many Happy Returns to you!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the look around Margate. Looks interesting.
Interesting place... Margate. Now, where is it?
ReplyDeleteHope you had a super birthday in Margate. I like the statue of Mrs Booth. We went to see the film Mr Turner, and indeed he was a bit of a rogue. The shell cave looks interesting:)
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! I must say I've never been to Margate. The skies certainly look beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHappy Five on Friday!
Belated birthday wishes. That cave was an incredible discovery. Too bad they've never been able to figure out the who and why of it.
ReplyDeleteSuper interesting post and photos. That sky is beautiful! Can't wait to hear about the cave with all the shells.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking me to Margate. Interesting place and the clock looks cool!!
ReplyDeleteMargate looks lovely. I enjoyed hearing about the work of the RLNI. The shell lady is so cute!
ReplyDeleteFun photos, and a belated Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated Birthday! It looks like you had a very interesting time in Margate and I look forward to hearing more about the shell cave, what a remarkable place.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine having a job where you are out on the sea when it's rough and hazardous. Scary! And I also cannot imagine all those shells decorating a cave! I wonder how the made them stick to the wall for all those years. Margate sounds interesting. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteCindy