Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre

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Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre

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CHECK WEBSITE FOR DETAILS OF OPENING TIMES. Founded in 2007, the Westgate Heritage Centre aims to tell the story of Westgate on Sea in Kent.

www.westgateheritagecentre.org.uk

31/10/2026

NEXT TALK Saturday 7th November 2026. The Isle of Thanet is surrounded by fascinating traces of the past. Come along to Victoria Hosewood's talk to hear more about an important archaeological project dedicated to uncovering, recording and preserving the island’s rich heritage for future generations. Victoria is the Urban Archaeological Databases and Characterisation Officer at Kent County Council

The talk will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8SN. Doors open at 10 am and the talk starts at 10.30 am. Tea/coffee and scones will be available to buy together with publications about the history of Westgate-on-Sea. Non-members pay just £3 on the door. Looking forward to seeing you there

05/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who came along to our monthly talk on Saturday. It was great to see new faces alongside our regular supporters.

Chair Simone Breugem gave a fascinating insight to life in Westgate-on-Sea in 1897, looking at snippets from the local Keble’s Gazette and placing them in the context of the wider environment of Victorian England.

From news of entertainment events and local ‘hot potato’ issues of the time, to births, deaths and marriages, and household tips in the Ladies’ Column, the level of detail provided by this source is astonishing, and wonderful to discover.

Our talks take place on the first Saturday of the month at Christ Church URC on Westgate Bay Avenue. Non-members are always welcome for a small fee.

Join us next on Saturday 7th November - more details to follow!

27/09/2026

NEXT TALK. On Saturday 3rd October, Simone Breugem will be talking about Westgate-on-Sea in 1897. The talk will be based on old newspapers from that year and give an insight into the Victorian world as well as what was happening in the town at the time. The photograph shows Sea Road in the late 1890s.

The talk will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8SN. Doors open at 10 am and the talk starts at 10.30 am. Tea/coffee and scones will be available to buy together with publications about the history of Westgate-on-Sea. Non-members pay just £3 on the door. Looking forward to seeing you there.

17/09/2026

⬇️ HERITAGE EVENTS THIS WEEKEND ⬇️

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to plan and deliver a series of events for the Heritage Open Days festival taking place nationwide and have taken the opportunity to shine the spotlight on Westgate’s unique history.

Last Saturday, Sally Whitworth led fascinating walks across the town, and this Saturday, 19th September, we’ll be hosting two FREE talks.

Come along to the Bakehouse at 10am or 1.30pm to hear our Chair, Simone Breugem, talk about Westgate in Victorian times.

Or join us in the Carlton Cinema at 10.30am or 12 noon to listen to Ian and Val Carter-Chapman’s ‘Cinema-on-Sea’ presentation.

These events help spread the word about the importance of heritage in Westgate-on-Sea and are wonderful entertainment to boot!

Pre-booking is essential as there is limited seating at both venues.

Email [email protected] to check availability and secure your space.

24/08/2026

On Saturday 5th September 2026, Robin Colyer will talking about the fascinating history and restoration of Drapers, the last surviving mill in Margate. The photograph is an early image of how the area around Drapers Mill used to look.

The talk will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8SN. Doors open at 10 am and the talk starts at 10.30 am. Tea/coffee and scones will be available to buy together with publications about the history of Westgate-on-Sea. Non-members pay just £3 on the door. Looking forward to seeing you there.

27/07/2026

This Saturday, 1st August 2026, Sally Whitworth will be talking about ‘Summers in Westgate-on-Sea’. From the early days of the town in the 1880s to the heydays of the 1950s/1960s, there was always plenty to do in Westgate-on-Sea! Photos show St Mildred’s Bay in the 1890s and West Bay in the 1960s.

The talk will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8SN. Doors open at 10 am and the talk starts at 10.30 am. Tea/coffee and scones will be available to buy together with publications about the history of Westgate-on-Sea. All are welcome and non-members pay just £3 on the door

29/06/2026

On Saturday 4th July, James Brazier will be talking about "Remembering Dick Hambidge: Westgate signwriter, local historian and collector of memorabilia extraordinaire" This year sees the centenary of Dick’s birth.

The talk will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8SN. Doors open at 10 am and the talk starts at 10.30 am. Tea/coffee and scones will be available to buy together with publications about the history of Westgate-on-Sea. All are welcome and non-members pay just £3 on the door

29/05/2026

The next Heritage Centre talk will be on Saturday 6th June 2026. Simone Breugem and Chris Sandwell will be talking about Mutrix Farm and other farms in the area. The photo shows the Garlinge Farm's barn and cottages on the Canterbury Road - you can see the spire of St James Church in the background. This very rural scene has now changed completely and there are houses on the site and a petrol station opposite.

The talk will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8SN. Doors open at 10 am and the talk starts at 10.30 am. Tea/coffee and scones will be available to buy together with publications about the history of Westgate-on-Sea. All are welcome and non-members pay just £3 on the door.

28/04/2026

The next Heritage Centre talk will be on Saturday 2nd May 2026. This time, we look a little further away from Westgate-on-Sea. The entertaining and amusing Ian and Val Carter-Chapman are coming back to talk about "Hassocks and Haystacks: A stroll through St Peter's encountering a cow in a tree, smallpox in the pub and smugglers in the High Street. But what secrets lie within the walls of the ancient church? And Castles and Contraband: Spies, thespians, writers, cannons, follies, 'owling' and a 'Woman in White' abound in the story of North Foreland and Reading Street - along with how Kingsgate got its name".

The talk will take place at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, CT8 8SN. Doors open at 10 am and the talk starts at 10.30 am. Tea/coffee and scones will be available to buy together with publications about the history of Westgate-on-Sea. Non-members pay just £3 on the door.

Address

Westgate Bay Avenue
Westgate On Sea
CT88NX

Opening Hours

10am - 12pm

Website

https://www.westgateheritagecentre.org.uk/

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