Guess the Place

[Beachbum]

A better view of the Dome.......

[Beachbum]

Hades, Another shot.............

[MartinR]

That's excellent Beachbum.  You can see two of the alcoves which were constructed for the bathing machines and circular dance floor which was where the horses could turn around.  does anyone have any more shots within the area?

[Beachbum]

Hades was a great Nightclub with Spencer the DJ. Regular fights meant plastic beer pints.Very dark inside with a Kitchen up some stairs and a balcony to view the dance floor.


I went back in 1990's and was shocked at the poor condition structurally, but amazed by the huge complex and it's past.

[Beachbum]

Lido complex photo attached showing the Railway lift

[MartinR]

The nightclub was constructed in 1962 by adding a concrete curved staircase and gallery to the original (now listed) circular chamber.  This was constructed 1824-28 for the storage of bathing machines and formed part of the Clifton Baths.  The circular chamber has 8 alcoves where the bathing machines were stored, the large circular area allowing the horses to turn around.  A tunnel connected the chamber to the beach.  Also connected was the "Lower Reservoir" which was a rectangular structure filled by the tides.  It was used as a plunge pool for ladies and children, men of course used the sea.

[shoot999]

Taken from the top of the cliffs in the 50s

[John Walker]

Interesting stuff.  I've been going to that area since I was a nipper and don't recall seeing that lift.  In the 60s, Hades Night Club was underground at the Lido.  We supplied some of the equipment.  It had a great atmosphere with all the disco lighting but when the service lights were on, it was a dirty tip of a place.


This photo shows the Lido in its prime.  The lift can be seen on the left, partly hidden behind the cliff.

[MartinR]

I've been doing a bit of research on the site, and the story is quite complex.
Margate Cliff Railway was constructed during the winter of 1912-1913 to provide access from the top of the cliffs
to the promenade below.  As of 2022 all that remains is the concrete slope of the railway.  The whole Lido complex, including
the openair swimming pool at the foot of the cliffs, was built over the site of the original Clifton Baths during the 1920s.
The remains of the original baths are listed grade II.

The cliff railway was constructed as an inclined lift, not a funicular, having just a single carriage.
It ran on a straight 5' gauge track from a top station opposite the end of Athelstan Rd down to the promenade on a 45°
slope for a distance of 60'.  The lift was counter-balanced by a weight running in a vertical shaft.  As originally
constructed it ran down behind the face of the cliff, but by 1972 this portion of the cliff had eroded.  Further erosion
is visible on the current photograph.

Location:

• Nat Grid:    TR 36041 71392
• Post Code:   CT9 1RX
• WGS84:       51°23'33"N 001°23'29"N or 51.39244,1.39150

GSV:

• Aerial view:                  https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3922953,1.3913152,188a,48y,358.36h,0.23t/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1
• View from promenade: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3925466,1.3913819,3a,75y,149.01h,97.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sV-hKoubFC8FWlAGPSnS65Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1

Additional views:

• Today: http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/mar.htm
• 1972:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/28083135@N06/5152003267/in/pool-886903@N22/
• 1930:  https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1392729?section=comments-and-photos

[Stewie]

Spot on Johnwalker, described on the internet as the Margate beach railway but it did link to Cliftonville Lido. Apparently came out of use late 1970’s. I chose the photo because it was taken on the same walk to Broadstairs that took us past the mysterious tunnels in the previous GTP. Over to you 🤓👍

[John Walker]

A funicular down to the bathing pool at the Lido Cliftonville?  I can't see any steps on GSV so that's why my guess is a funicular.

[Stewie]

Thankyou Beach bum. Mrs Stewie and myself walked from Minnis Bay to Margate a couple of years ago and along the promenade approaching Epple Bay, came across a number of abandoned tunnels and substantial brickworks. Many of the tunnels have been sealed but one climbed via a flight of stairs up from the promenade coming out between two houses in what I thought was St Magnus Close. The brickwork which is quite substantial in places and to me resembles that found on some of the 'Palmerstone Folly' era forts so possibly Victorian. At the time, we could not identify why the area needed so many tunnels as there seemed to be no obvious reason for them either above or on the promenade itself. We noticed the ramps down to the sea from the promenade but these seem to be newer than the brickwork so may be a red herring. We were later told that the tunnels pre date the concrete promenade, so most likely would have given access to a beach area.
I don't have much to entertain you with so will put up this offering taken a couple of years ago as well. Can you say where it is and what it was?

[Beachbum]

John Walker's photo is spot on for the location, so MartinR is correct with the references (Thank you).............

[Beachbum]

This is the current day view.............

[MartinR]

Thanks John.  I was looking at the grassed area, about halfway between your two arrows.  I think you have identified the exit but we'll have to wait for Beachbum to come back online.  Oops, we crossed in the post!