The Ramsgate Society meets on the third Wednesday of each month September to May, in St. George's Church Hall, Broad Street, Ramsgate at 7.30p.m. (Our Christmas Lunch, usually held in the second week in December, takes the place of that months meeting).

Art Exhibition

Costumed Walks

Ramsgate Costumed Walks 2008

Join our guided walks around historic Ramsgate and meet famous costumed characters from the past.

East Cliff Walk - 22nd July 7.00pm, 19th August 2.30pm
(Assembly Point: Albion Gardens)

On this walk you will pass many splendid Regency and Victorian buildings, including those in Wellington Crescent built on land used by the army during the Napoleonic Wars, when Ramsgate was a garrison town; also the Granville, once one of Ramsgate’s premier hotels.

You may meet Collis Brown, Ernest Shackleton and the renowned artist Frith, who will tell you of his fine painting ‘Ramsgate Sands’. Other characters associated with the East side of Ramsgate may be there to enthral you, including a Second World War German pilot.

Central Ramsgate Walk - 15th July 7.00pm, 5th August 2.30pm
(Assembly Point: Halifax Bank)

Guides will greet you and take you through the centre of town to see and enjoy the wide variety of buildings, ranging from Regency to the 20th century. Your tour ends in the magnificent Parish Church of St. George where you will meet characters associated with the Church’s history.

Among the characters you may meet on this walk are Dame Janet Stancomb-Wills, Lillie Langtry and Mary Townley. You may also have the privilege of meeting the young Princess Victoria.

Royal Harbour Walk- 12th August 2.30pm
(Assembly Point: Pier Yard)

Ramsgate is proud to boast the only Royal Harbour in the UK, the honour having been bestowed by King George IV in 1821. You will see Smeaton’s famous dry dock and learn of the vast fishing industry carried on in Ramsgate until the 1920s and 30s. You will also hear of the miraculous evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk in June 1940.

Characters you are likely to encounter on this walk include Jane Austen, Mrs Thirza Whitmore and Elizabeth Fry.

West Cliff Walk - 29th July 7.00pm, 26th August 2.30pm
(Assembly Point: West Cliff Lift)

This walk is of particular interest for its architecture, amongst which is The Grange and St. Augustine’s Church, designed and built by Augustus Pugin. Amongst his famous designs is the interior of the Palace of Westminster in London; you may be able to meet him personally.

Other personalities of note who worked or resided in Ramsgate that you may meet include Mrs Mary Townley, Vincent van Gogh’s housekeeper, Wilkie Collins and no less a person than His Majesty King George IV.

There is no set charge for these walks as we are all volunteers but donations to help meet the cost of the walks and the upkeep of the costumes are welcome. We suggest two pounds per person. All those taking part in the walks do so at their own risk. No specific liability insurance is held.