Giant Shell Lady arrives in Margate

TDC press release

The giant shell lady of Margate has been hoisted into position on the town’s Harbour Arm today (Thursday 27 November).

The sculpture, created by artist Ann Carrington and commissioned by the Margate Renewal Partnership, is a towering nine feet high and is made entirely of cast bronze.

Created with the aim of encouraging people to visit the Old Town area of Margate, the sculpture is to be welcomed by an entourage of ladies made from real shells. Local may have seen the Shell Ladies throughout the summer months leading people into the Old Town area on a highly popular treasure trail, highlighting some of the unique features and architecture of the area.

Each Shell Lady has her own name and identity, based on some famous and infamous ladies in Margate’s history. The bronze sculpture is to be Mrs. Booth, Turner’s long-suffering mistress, who will be looking longingly out to sea in the hope of sighting her lover, from her position at the end of the Harbour Arm.

The Margate Shell Ladies are funded by money from the European Regional Development Fund, which has also funded other improvements in the town, including the new CCTV cameras and footway improvements in the Old Town, the regeneration of the Harbour Arm and the new play facility, currently under construction in Cliftonville.

Claire Tarelli, Margate Renewal Partnership Project Officer, said: “Margate’s Shell Ladies have been a great success over the summer and have really helped to promote the town, with a lot of national press coverage of them. They’ve become a familiar sight in Margate and now the giant Shell Lady will be a permanent fixture along the town’s newly regenerated Harbour Arm, which has also been funded by money from Europe. She’ll be a welcoming sight for both visitors to and residents of Margate.”

The giant shell lady of Margate will be illuminated nightly, starting from Saturday 29 November, which coincides with Sir Bob Geldof’s visit to the town to turn on the Margate Christmas lights.