For the Love of the British Isles: BROADSTAIRS

The site was originally known as Bradstow, meaning a wide place. In the 14th century, a small fishing community grew up at the base of the cliffs. It was called Broadstairs after a set of steps leading up the cliffs to a Saxon shrine on top.

Beautiful little harbour town, much loved by Charles Dickens, visited every year for over two decades from 1837. He stayed originally at the Royal Albion Hotel on Victoria Parade along the top of Viking Bay, before going on to live at Fort House, later renamed Bleak House in his honour.

Betsey Trotwood was inspired by Dickens' friend Mary Pearson Strong, with whom he would take tea.

the home of the Clangers..............animator Oliver Postgate lived in Chandos Square

There is not only a beautiful staircase (below) to take you from the top of the cliff down to the beach, but a lift too!

The clock tower was built for Queen Elizabeth's silver jubilee in 1977, to replace a previous one, marking Queen Victoria's 1897 Diamond Jubilee, which burnt down in the 1970s

The bandstand was opened in 1892 by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise

The weather vane on top of the clock tower, appropriately bears a viking ship, for Viking Bay.

Edward Heath was born in Albion Road (where I parked my bike this morning!), the son of a carpenter. His grandfather had a small dairy business, and later worked as a porter at Broadstairs Railway Station.

This arch is York Gate. The history of York Gate is a reflection of Broadstairs history itself, going back all the way to the 15th Century when one George Culmer built an arch over the dirt track that lead down to the fishing harbour. Naturally the town back then was merely a small fishing village known as Bradstowe, and this track would have been well-used by the many boatmen and shipwrights working out of the little harbour. The Culmers, a well-known land-owning family, continued to play an important role in the development of Broadstairs down the centuries. What we know now as the Culmers' Allotments, just up the way from York Gate, were originally bestowed to the poor of the parish to grow food on in the 1700's.

In 1540, the Culmers funded and built a sturdier stone version of the York Gate, incorporating two heavy wooden doors that could be closed to defend against storm tides. We can recognise the pointed arch structure, with grooves for the portcullis to this day. In previous centuries the gate went on to offer protection against smugglers and also enemy seafarers during the French Revolution. These days we are not so vulnerable to such threats but the arch continues to feel like an entrance to the town from the harbour.

Just the upper side of York Gate is a tiny cinema that seats just 111 people

The old lifeboat station, no longer in use. Lifeboat duties are now covered by the much larger and faster boats based in Margate and Ramsgate.

The giant deckchair on the harbour arm - used as a fundraiser for the Pilgrim's Hospice.

High above the town, stands Fort House, since renamed Bleak House in honour of it's most famous occupant! The flint building, bottom left of this picture, is the Tartar Frigate, reputed to be the first ever pub in Broadstairs. At one time frequented by former Prime Minister, Edward Heath, who lived locally, it was said to have been built around 1600 AD, although the current frontage dates it to the 18th. century.

There is a steep footpath just opposite the old lifeboat station, that takes you up to Bleak House. It's well-worth the walk, just for the retaining wall, which is decorated with anchors from lost ships and seashells from all over the world