Heritage Harbour status for Ramsgate
RAMSGATE’S ROYAL HARBOUR CELEBRATES HERITAGE HARBOUR STATUS JUST IN TIME FOR HERITAGE OPEN DAYS!
We are very excited to announce that in July 2024, Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour became a national Heritage Harbour, only one of fourteen locations across the United Kingdom to receive this important designation.
Get ready to join Ramsgate in celebrating the Grade II* Royal Harbour’s new status during Heritage Open Days, England’s largest history and culture festival, from September 6th to 15th 2024! Experience a vibrant lineup of talks, tours, workshops, guided walks, and a special exhibition of historic maritime treasures and best of all, every event is free! Download our Ramsgate Heritage (Harbour) Open Days events listing here . Scroll down to see the full schedule of events across town, including Pugin Week highlights. With 25 unique experiences to explore over 10 days, there’s plenty to discover and enjoy!
HERITAGE HARBOURS is a joint initiative between local groups and Historic England, the Maritime Heritage Trust and National Historic Ships. Its aims include: protecting heritage assets at risk; attracting investment and heritage funding, supporting local business growth, increasing tourism, and improving community cohesion and inclusion. Heritage Harbours supports the safeguarding and conservation of the UK’s most historic coastal and waterway locations, along with the buildings, quays, shipyards, and environments that make them special. They are where you can see traditional ships and boats still in operation, and the buildings, facilities and people that make this possible. Search for “Heritage Harbours” on Facebook or click here for more info on the Heritage Harbour website
RAMSGATE’S ROYAL HARBOUR is Grade II* listed and is the only royal harbour in the world, an honour bestowed by King George IV in 1821. Its history dates back to before Roman times, but it has always played a major part in the area’s commercial, military, and tourist activities. In the Napoleonic wars it was a base for the Sea Fencibles (naval defence units), and in the First World War for the Dover Patrol. During the Second World War it was the landing place for many of those soldiers brought home from Dunkirk by the ‘Little Ships’.
The construction of the Royal Harbour in its present form began in earnest after a violent storm in December 1748 led ships in the Downs (between the Goodwin Sands and coast) to seek shelter at Ramsgate. Many vessels and lives were saved and petitions were made to Parliament for Ramsgate as the site for a new harbour to provide a refuge for those in need.
Today, the Royal Harbour combines the maritime heritage with the activities of a 21st century harbour and a thriving waterfront café culture. Windfarm operations, a RNLI station, shipbuilders, boat yards and a local fishing fleet are neighbours to a Georgian powder store and the 18th Century Smeaton crosswalls, sluices and dry dock. The Victorian architecture of the Royal Temple Yacht Club, the Sailor’s Church and Smack Boys’ Home sits side-by-side the many restaurants and bars that line the water’s edge.
The Royal Harbour is at the heart of Ramsgate – named by Time Out Magazine as one of the best places to visit in 2024. A historic Kent seaside town with beautiful Georgian and Victorian architecture, Ramsgate has over 450 listed buildings, parks and monuments. So, if you are looking to visit somewhere steeped in architectural and maritime history, then check out our Where to Stay listing and come on down this September and expect a right, royal welcome!
Download the Heritage Open Days Harbour events listing flyer here
For all of Ramsgate’s Heritage Open Day FREE events from 6th – 15th September, check out the list below:
Heritage Open Days – Fri 6th to Sun 15th
Search Ramsgate: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
More detailed listings below:
Fri 6th – Sun 15th 9.30am – 4pm
Ramsgate Tunnels
at Marina Parade, CT11 8FH admin@ramsgatetunnels.org
01843 588123
Fri 6th – Sun 8th 10am – 4pm
The Clock House Museum Exhibition
Launching Heritage Harbour Status for
Ramsgate Royal Harbour
Arch 6, Military Road, CT11 8LP
See “Clock House Ramsgate” on Facebook
Sat 7th 10am – 3pm
Holy Trinity Church
Bellevue Road, CT11 8ET
Sat 7th 10am – 4pm
St. Laurence Church
High Street, St. Lawrence CT11 OQR
Churchyard Tour 10am and Church Tour 2pm
Sat 7th 10am – 4pm
St. George’s Church
Tours of the tower and crypt
Church Hill, CT11 8QY
Sat 7th 10am – 4pm
The Steam Tug Cervia
Pier Yard, CT11 8LP
Sat 7th & Sun 8th 10am – 4pm
The Sailors’ Church
Military Road, CT11 9LG
Sat 7th midday, entertainment from 4pm
Paradise, Open Houses
Ramsgate CT11 9TX
Sat 7th 1pm – 4pm
PUGIN WEEK www.augustine-pugin.org.uk
Click here for PDF
St Augustine’s Mini-Pilgrimage
Meet at Minster Abbey, Church
Street, Minster CT12 4HF for 5-mile walk
To Shrine of St Augustine
Sat 7th 2.30pm – 4pm
Royal Harbour Costumed Walk
meet outside The Clock House,
Pier Yard, CT11 8LP
(tour lasts approx. 90 mins)
Sun 8th 11am – 3pm
Ellington Park, Heritage Day
Park Road, CT11 9TL
See “Friends of Ellington Park” on Facebook
Mon 9th 7pm – 8pm,
“About Heritage Harbours”
talk at the San Clu Hotel, CT11 8DT www.eventbrite.co.uk
Wed 11th 5pm – 7pm
PUGIN WEEK
“Pugin: A Gothic Passion”
with Paul Atterbury & Rosemary Hill
St Augustine’s Church
CT11 9NY www.augustine-pugin.org.uk
Thurs 12th 6.30pm – 7.30pm
“Evacuees”
talk at The Ramsgate Tunnels,
Marine Parade, CT11 8FH
Fri 13th & Sat 14th 10am – 4pm
The Old Fire Station
Tours am & pm, displays and information
Radford House, Effingham St CT11 9AT
Free. Refreshments available
Fri 13th – Sun 15th 10am – 4pm
The Clock House Museum Exhibition
Arch 6, Military Road, CT11 8LP
See “Clock House Ramsgate” on Facebook
Fri 13th – Sun 15th 10am – 4pm
PUGIN WEEK
St Augustine’s Road, CT11 9NY www.landmarktrust.org.uk
Free
Pugin’s Grange and St Augustine’s
Presbytery Open Days
Fri 13th 11am – 1pm
PUGIN WEEK
“Contrasts: An Exploration of Gothic vs Georgian architecture”
Meet at van Gogh bust, Spencer Square, CT11 9LD
walking tour led by Jayne Evelyn
Fri 13th 7pm – 8pm,
“Royalty and the Everyday”
talk at the San Clu Hotel, CT11 8DT www.eventbrite.co.uk
Sat 14th 10am – 4pm
St. George’s Church
Tours of the tower and crypt
Church Hill, CT11 8QY
Sat 14th 10am – 4pm
St. Laurence Church
High Street, St. Lawrence CT11 OQR
Churchyard Tour 10am and Church Tour 2pm
Sat 14th Midday
PUGIN WEEK www.augustine-pugin.org.uk
Midday Mass
Mass for Pugin on the anniversary of his death
St Augustines Church CT11 9NY
Sat 14th – Sun 15th midday – 2.30pm
The Italianate Glasshouse
King George’s Memorial Park,
Montefiore Ave, CT11 8BD
Sat 14th 2pm – 3.30pm
Royal Harbour Tour
meet at the Obelisk, Pier Yard, CT11 8LP
(tour lasts approx. 90 mins)
Sun 15th 11am – 6pm
Vincent van Gogh and Spencer Square
Spencer Square, Ramsgate, CT11 9LD
“Harbour Highlights”
self-guided audio tour,
available free on all smartphones
Download the USEEUM app, and
select Ramsgate/Harbour Highlights
For the full What’s On Events listing leaflet for September, click here to download or pop along to the Visitor Information Centre at Custom House to grab a copy.
