Littlestone-on-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Littlestone |
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 Littlestone beach |
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 Littlestone
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| OS grid reference | TR066249 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | New Romney |
| Postcode district | TN28 |
| Dialling code | 01797 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Littlestone-on-Sea is a small village located right on the coast in Kent, England. It's part of the New Romney area. This village was created in the 1880s by a man named Sir Robert Perks. He wanted to build a special holiday spot for wealthy families. It was also near a lifeboat station, which helps rescue people at sea.
If you visit Littlestone at low tide, you might see something amazing from World War II. There's a part of a "Mulberry Harbour" visible along the coast. These were giant, portable docks used during the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. This particular piece, called a "Phoenix breakwater" or "caisson" (a large watertight box), couldn't be moved to France, so it was left behind.
These Phoenix breakwaters were built to be sunk and hidden until they were needed. Then, engineers would pump out the water, float them, and tow them to France. They would become part of the huge temporary harbours. Littlestone also had a station for "P.L.U.T.O." (Pipe Line Under The Ocean). This was a secret pipeline that carried petrol (gasoline) across the English Channel to France during the D-Day landings.
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Littlestone's Role in a Famous Book
H.G. Wells and The First Men in the Moon
Littlestone-on-Sea is famous for being a setting in a science fiction book! The author H.G. Wells chose Littlestone for a key moment in his novel The First Men in the Moon.
In the story, a character named Mr Bedford lands on the beach in a special sphere (a round spaceship). He then goes into a hotel nearby. A local boy, Thomas Simmons, sees Mr Bedford arrive. Later, Thomas gets into the sphere himself and flies off. He is never seen again!
Playing Golf at Littlestone
History of Littlestone Golf Club
The Littlestone Golf Club was started in 1888 by a textile businessman named Henry Tubbs. He bought the land with J Lewis to create the golf course. In 1889, he built a house next to the course. This house was used as the clubhouse until the current one was finished in 1910.
This first house was called Netherstone. It's still a home today and is special because it's the only house there with a balcony that faces the golf course instead of the sea.
Henry Tubbs did something similar in Finchley, north London. He built a large house called Nether Court in 1883. After he passed away, this house became the clubhouse for Finchley Golf Club in 1929. It's still used as a clubhouse today.
See also
