Ferries from Ramsgate
Ramsgate Ramsgate is a seaside town on the Isle of Thanet in east Kent. Its name derives from ‘Hraefn’s ate’ (‘cliff gap’). It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. Ramsgate’s main attraction is its coastline, and its main industries are tourism and fishing. Sited on cliffs, with a sandy beach and a busy harbour, the town has Georgian terraces and buildings at its centre and a genteel feel about it. The town has one of the largest marinas on the English south coast, and Port Ramsgate has provided cross channel ferries for many years. History The town’s close proximity to the Continent has played a major role in its history. Ramsgate has witnessed three great invasions that have changed the course of England’s history: the Romans in 43 AD, the Saxons in 449 AD, and the Christians in 597 AD. The latter arrived in the shape of St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, who brought the religion to Britain. The harbour took more than 100 years to be build (1749 to 1850), and established Ramsgate as one of the major British trade ports. Following a visit to the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1821, King George IV bestowed royal status on the harbour, a title held by no other English harbour. To commemorate the event, an obelisk was erected. The architects of the Ramsgate Harbour project were John Shaw Senior and John Shaw Junior. They designed the clock house, the obelisk, the lighthouse and the Jacobs Ladder steps. Because of its proximity to mainland Europe, Ramsgate was a chief embarkation point for the Dunkirk evacuation. A huge flotilla of over 4,200 ships, boats and fishing vessels left Ramsgate Harbour to rescue soldiers trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk during World War II. What to See & Do in Ramsgate
