A few old Ramsgate and Margate photos and a ramble from Michael's Bookshop

 

Work today, link to the books we put out for sale at Michael's Bookshop in Ramsgate quite a few Thanet local history ones, which is encouraging.

 I shared this one with various Facebook art groups and what surprised at the amount of scam comments I got, do be careful social media is getting nastier.

Some old fishing related pictures and some stuff from 10 years ago

 

Ramsgate harbour

Onto 10 years ago this month

This was the proposed new Tesco below Arlington House. 

The old and new Ramsgate Mayors

I was sketching at Minster Abbey

Another one of the Margate Tesco that never happened

Miniature railway related building at Ellington Park.

On to the present time

To be honest I'm struggling quite a bit with social media at the moment. I normally try to link the posts I do that contain Thanet local interest with the Thanet Facebook groups I belong to. This isn't working very smoothly at the moment and I honestly can't find a way of making links to the blog appear in a sensible and reliable way.

Michael's bookshop where I work in Ramsgate it's fairly busy at the moment so I only get a limited amount of time to post local history and local interest.

this is the link to pictures of the the last lot of books we put out

Ramsgate Guide for 1962, Broadstairs Letter Card, a ramble about art, reading and Charles III stamps.

 Here at Michael's Bookshop in Ramsgate we have another reprint of an old Ramsgate guide, these relatively recent Ramsgate guide reprints are thanks to permission from the town council.

This is the link to the buy it now button

Although I if you can I am recommending coming into the bookshop and browsing it before deciding to buy it.

Link to opening times

Some sample pages from the guide

Next the Broadstairs souvenir letter card. I think this is probably 1930s but honestly I am not very good on Broadstairs history so I could be more than a decade out.

Yesterday's rough sketch was supposed to be of Marilyn Monroe.

It is bookseller confession time now I have spent most of my time recently reading books and so haven't been engaging with the internet much at all.

Here in the bookshop we are just about to start on Charles III postage stamps.

Link to the books that we have just put out in Michael's Bookshop Ramsgate

The Hovelling Boat Inn Ramsgate, ten year anniversary and a ramble from the Bookshop.

Michael's Bookshop, where I work in Ramsgate was once a pub but I don't expect the building will ever return to being one. 

Stranger things have happened,  The Hovelling Boat Inn became The Perseverance Dining Rooms in about 1910 and didn't change back to being a pub for 104 years. 

Below is what I wrote here when it reopened as a pub 10 years ago.

 After being closed for 104 years The Hovelling Boat Inn, 12 York St, Ramsgate has reopened as an Ale and Cider House with no music, TVs or games machines.

 Ale and Cider straight from the barrel in a relaxed and friendly setting wine and soft drinks are also available but no spirits.

picture of The Hovelling Boat from Ramsgate Remembered website

 I note that ten years ago I didn't go for a pint there but instead I was painting in the dark in the Belgian Café

I expect an expert could enhance the picture, but it was pretty dark and it looks pretty dark.

As you see from above I have been messing about with photos that display well on a smartphone.

As far as I can see most people will be reading this on their smartphone, so this probably makes sense.

Next AI I, asked Google's Bard to "produce an article about Ramsgate's obelisk" the following is what it came up with:-

The Obelisk of Ramsgate

The Obelisk of Ramsgate is a monument located in the town of Ramsgate, Kent, England. It was erected in 1823 to commemorate the visit of King George IV to the town in 1821. The obelisk is made of Dublin granite and weighs 100 tons. It is 52 feet high and was unveiled by Lord Liverpool.

The locals at the time referred to the obelisk as the royal toothpick.

The obelisk is located on the harbor front, close to the Royal Harbour Hotel. It is a popular tourist attraction and is often used as a landmark for navigation.

The obelisk is a Grade II Listed Building and is considered to be an important part of Ramsgate's history.

History of the Obelisk

The obelisk was erected in 1823 to commemorate the visit of King George IV to the town of Ramsgate in 1821. The obelisk was designed by the architect James Wyatt and was built by the local masons.

The obelisk was unveiled by Lord Liverpool on July 19, 1823. The unveiling was a public event and was attended by a large crowd.

The obelisk was originally located on the beach, but it was moved to its current location on the harbor front in 1868.

Description of the Obelisk

The obelisk is made of Dublin granite and weighs 100 tons. It is 52 feet high and has a square base. The obelisk is topped by a pyramid-shaped capstone.

The obelisk is inscribed with the following words:

"This obelisk was erected by the inhabitants of Ramsgate to commemorate the visit of King George IV to the town in 1821."

Importance of the Obelisk

The obelisk is an important part of Ramsgate's history. It is a Grade II Listed Building and is considered to be a landmark for navigation.

The obelisk is also a popular tourist attraction. It is often used as a backdrop for photos and is a popular spot for picnics."

As you would expect it is American.

Far less blog posting recent as I have been busy at work in the bookshop here is the link to the books we put out recently

The Royal Victoria Pavilion Ramsgate aka Spoons and where to go after work.

 

I have been painting a watercolour from the gallery in Wetherspoons Ramsgate

This is the second large one I have tried in there

This time of year, by the time I have got to the end of the working day in the bookshop I find I'm developing something like cabin fever. What I would like to do is go outside and paint, in practise when you go outside after work it's dark.

The only place that comes close to being outside when you are inside in the light is Wetherspoons in the Royal Victoria pavilion.

Before that I guess it was the Belgian Café. I find it isn't just enough to have a seat and some food and some drink but that I need to be surrounded by quite a few other people.

If anyone has any ideas for alternative indoor places in the area where I might go go and paint after work I should be very interested to know where they are.

My relationship with the royal Victoria pavilion dates back to the 1960s. I think when I first started going there it was called The Show Bar

But fortunately still a big busy venue where you can just go and sit down for as long as you like with as little as a cup of tea.

Sorry for not posting regularly recently, we are very busy where I work here at Michael's Bookshop in Ramsgate here is the link to the books that have just come in