Ramsgate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ramsgate |
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.jpg) Ramsgate from the air specifically the harbour. |
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 Ramsgate
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| Area | 8.017 km2 (3.095 sq mi) |
| Population | 42,027 (2021 Census) |
| • Density | 5,242/km2 (13,580/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Ramsgatonian |
| OS grid reference | TR382648 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Ramsgate |
| Postcode district | CT11, CT12 |
| Dialling code | 01843 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Ramsgate is a fun seaside town in Kent, England. It's part of the Thanet area. In the 1800s, it was one of England's most popular seaside towns. In 2021, about 42,027 people lived there. Ramsgate is famous for its beautiful coastline. Its main jobs are in tourism and fishing. The town has one of the biggest marinas (a place for boats) on the south coast of England. For many years, the Port of Ramsgate also had ferries that crossed the English Channel.
Contents
History of Ramsgate
Ramsgate started as a small village where people fished and farmed. A Christian missionary named St Augustine landed near Ramsgate in the year 597 AD. He was sent by Pope Gregory the Great. Today, you can find the Shrine of St Augustine in the town.
The town was first mentioned in old records around 1274. Its name comes from old Anglo-Saxon words meaning "raven's gate." This likely referred to a gap in the cliffs.
Ramsgate was part of the Cinque Ports, a group of important coastal towns. Building Ramsgate Harbour began in 1749 and finished around 1850. This harbour is special because it's the only "Royal Harbour" in the United Kingdom. Because Ramsgate is close to mainland Europe, it was a key place for ships to leave from. This was true during the Napoleonic Wars and for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.
In 1863, a guide described Ramsgate as a "first-rate town" with "glorious sands" and a "bracing climate."
The famous architect A W Pugin and his sons lived in Ramsgate. They built several important buildings there. These include St Augustine's Church and The Grange.
The artist Vincent van Gogh lived in Ramsgate for a short time in 1876. He was 23 years old and worked as a teacher. He wrote to his brother about the harbour, saying it was "beautiful."
In 1901, electric trams started running in the Isle of Thanet. Ramsgate, Margate, and Broadstairs were connected by 11 miles of tram tracks.
During the First World War, Ramsgate and its harbour were attacked by German airships and torpedo boats. The nearby RAF Manston airport played a big role in the Second World War. It is now called Kent International Airport, but it's not currently in use.
In 1923, Ramsgate elected its first woman Mayor, Janet Stancomb-Wills. As the Second World War got closer, Ramsgate built a network of deep tunnels. These tunnels could shelter 60,000 people from bombs. They opened in 1939. Today, you can visit part of these tunnels.
From 1940, Ramsgate harbour was the main meeting point for small boats needed for Operation Dynamo. This was the evacuation of soldiers from Dunkirk. Ramsgate became the second busiest port during this time. Almost 43,000 soldiers passed through the port.
In 2017, Ramsgate became one of the first "Heritage Action Zones." This project helps to boost the local economy by celebrating Ramsgate's history.
Geography of Ramsgate
Ramsgate is about 78 miles southeast of central London. It's one of the most easterly places in the United Kingdom.
The town grew from two smaller settlements. One was a fishing village on the coast, nestled between two chalk cliffs. The other was a farming community further inland. The cliffs are called East Cliff and West Cliff. They are mostly residential areas. You can walk along promenades on top of both cliffs. There are parks at each end and sandy beaches below.
Ramsgate's Climate
Ramsgate has an oceanic climate, which is typical for the United Kingdom. This means it has mild winters and cool summers. The nearest weather station is at Manston Airport.
The highest temperature ever recorded was 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) in August 2003. The lowest temperature recorded was -14.5 °C (5.9 °F) in February 1986.
Ramsgate gets about 600 mm of rain each year. This is similar to the driest parts of England. It usually rains for more than 1 mm on about 110 days a year.
Because it's on the coast in Southern England, Ramsgate gets a lot of sunshine. It has over 1800 hours of sunshine a year. This is more than most of the UK.
| Climate data for Manston, elevation 54m, 1991–2020, extremes 1960– | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.4 (61.5) |
16.8 (62.2) |
20.2 (68.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
29.6 (85.3) |
31.2 (88.2) |
33.6 (92.5) |
34.6 (94.3) |
29.6 (85.3) |
24.9 (76.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
15.9 (60.6) |
34.6 (94.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.6 (45.7) |
7.9 (46.2) |
10.3 (50.5) |
13.2 (55.8) |
16.3 (61.3) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.1 (71.8) |
22.2 (72.0) |
19.2 (66.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
11.0 (51.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) |
5.2 (41.4) |
7.1 (44.8) |
9.5 (49.1) |
12.5 (54.5) |
15.5 (59.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
18.1 (64.6) |
15.6 (60.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
11.1 (51.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
2.5 (36.5) |
3.9 (39.0) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.7 (47.7) |
11.4 (52.5) |
13.7 (56.7) |
14.0 (57.2) |
11.9 (53.4) |
9.1 (48.4) |
5.6 (42.1) |
3.2 (37.8) |
7.7 (45.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12 (10) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
−6 (21) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
0.9 (33.6) |
6.4 (43.5) |
5.4 (41.7) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−6 (21) |
−8.8 (16.2) |
−14.5 (5.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 51.2 (2.02) |
41.0 (1.61) |
36.1 (1.42) |
37.8 (1.49) |
47.6 (1.87) |
46.5 (1.83) |
47.4 (1.87) |
50.7 (2.00) |
48.8 (1.92) |
73.7 (2.90) |
69.3 (2.73) |
62.6 (2.46) |
612.7 (24.12) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 10.9 | 9.7 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 11.3 | 11.7 | 11.9 | 110 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 65.6 | 84.1 | 134.5 | 195.8 | 230.8 | 235.4 | 242.7 | 225.3 | 172.2 | 122.3 | 77.3 | 60.0 | 1,846 |
| Source 1: Met Office | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI | |||||||||||||
How Ramsgate is Governed
Ramsgate is part of the parliamentary constituency of East Thanet. This means people in Ramsgate vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the UK Parliament. The current MP is Polly Billington from the Labour Party.
Ramsgate became a borough (a type of town government) in 1884. In 1974, it became part of the Thanet local government area. The town is divided into seven areas called wards. These wards have 17 seats on the Thanet District Council. Local councillors are elected to these seats to make decisions for the area.
In 2009, a town council was set up for Ramsgate. The leader of the Town Council is called the Town Mayor. The current Town Mayor of Ramsgate is Councillor Raushan Ara.
Ramsgate's Economy
Ramsgate's main jobs are in tourism and fishing. The town has a busy marina with over 800 places for boats to dock. There are also businesses related to the sea under the Royal Parade arches. Colleges in Ramsgate also teach English to students from other countries.
Even though Ramsgate has the most valuable fish landings in Kent, the fishing industry is getting smaller. The Port of Ramsgate used to have ferries that crossed the English Channel for many years.
Unemployment in the Thanet area is about 4.1%, which is a bit higher than the national average. There are some light industries in the town. A new industry growing in Ramsgate is power generation. The Thanet Offshore Wind Project, a wind farm off the coast, is expected to create 800 jobs. Ramsgate also has a market every Friday and Saturday.
Ramsgate has a LETS scheme called RAMLETS. This started in 2014 and lets people trade goods and services using a virtual currency called RAMs.
People of Ramsgate (Demography)
| 2001 UK Census | Ramsgate | Thanet District | England |
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| Total population | 39,639 | 126,702 | 49,138,831 |
| Foreign born | 4.4% | 5.1% | 9.2% |
| White | 98% | 98% | 91% |
| Asian | 0.7% | 0.6% | 4.6% |
| Black | 0.3% | 0.3% | 2.3% |
| Christian | 72% | 74% | 72% |
| Muslim | 0.3% | 0.5% | 3.1% |
| Hindu | 0.1% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| No religion | 18% | 16% | 15% |
| Over 65 years old | 18% | 22% | 16% |
This table shows information about the people living in Ramsgate, based on the 2001 UK census. It compares Ramsgate to the wider Thanet District and England.
In 2001, Ramsgate had a population of 39,639 people. Most residents were white (98.0%). About 95.6% of residents were born in the United Kingdom. The main religion was Christianity (71.6%). About 17.9% of people said they had no religion.
Culture and Fun in Ramsgate
Tourism and Attractions
The town's main draw is its coastline. Ramsgate Main Sands beach even won a Blue Flag award in 2015, which means it's very clean and safe. You can also take tours of Ramsgate's wartime deep shelter tunnels, which opened to the public in 2014.
Ramsgate has a small group of wild rose-ringed parakeets. No one is quite sure how they got there! Some people think they might have flown away from trading ships long ago.
The town hosts an annual regatta (a series of boat races) in the summer. The Ramsgate Carnival is a yearly parade that also takes place in the summer. Other fun events include the Addington Street Fair and the French Market.
Sports in Ramsgate
Ramsgate's main football club is Ramsgate FC. They play in the Isthmian League Division One South. Their local rivals are Margate FC, and when they play, it's called the Thanet Derby. The club also has reserve teams, women's teams, and many youth teams.
Thanet Wanderers is the only rugby team on the island. They have played at a high level and even won a national cup in 1997. They have many senior and junior teams.
Cliftonville Hockey Club plays its home matches at St Lawrence College.
Thanet Galaxy is a special football club for players with disabilities. It offers coaching for all ages. In their first season, the adult A team won the Kent Disability League Adult Championship.
Ramsgate has many sports facilities. There's a public swimming pool, a fitness centre with a gym, and a sports hall. You can find tennis clubs at Spencer Square and St Laurence. Ramsgate also has three golf clubs. The Royal Temple Yacht Club is a sailing club with a long history. They host races all year, and the main event is 'Ramsgate Week' in August.
Arts and Local Media
The Gallery IOTA (Isle Of Thanet Arts) is located on the harbour front. The Ramsgate Maritime Museum is near the harbour. It shows how Ramsgate Harbour grew and tells the story of east Kent's sea history. The King's Theatre in the town centre has shows and community events.
Ramsgate has local newspapers like the Isle of Thanet Gazette and Thanet Times. There are also free newspapers like the Thanet Extra.
You can watch local news and TV shows from BBC South East and ITV Meridian. For radio, there's KMFM Thanet, Academy FM (Thanet), and county-wide stations like Heart Kent and BBC Radio Kent. Thanet Community Radio (TCR) is an online service that offers podcasts about local arts and features.
Famous Landmarks
The Hugin is a reconstructed Viking longship located at Pegwell Bay in Ramsgate. It was a gift from the Danish government. It celebrates 1500 years since the legendary arrival of the brothers Hengist and Horsa to England in the year 449.
Ramsgate's Architecture
Ramsgate has many beautiful Regency (from the early 1800s) and Victorian (from the mid-to-late 1800s) buildings. There are about 900 listed buildings in the town, with over 200 near the harbour. One famous building is the 18th-century Townley House.
The town has three important churches:
- The first church in the Thanet parish of St Lawrence was built in 1062. It's called St Laurence-in-Thanet.
- The second important church is St Augustine's, on the West Cliff. It was designed by Augustus Pugin in 1847. It honors Augustine, who brought Christianity to Britain. In 2012, it became a shrine to St Augustine.
- The town's parish church, St George, is near the High Street. Its special lantern tower was added to help guide ships.
Ramsgate library was originally built in 1904. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 2004, just before its 100th birthday. A new library was built, and it officially reopened in 2009.
Getting Around Ramsgate (Transport)
By Sea
The Port of Ramsgate has a 700-berth marina called Royal Harbour Marina. It also has a ferry terminal. The harbour protects boats from storms. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Ramsgate Lifeboat Station is located in Ramsgate Harbour.
By Road
Ramsgate is connected to the main road network by the A299 Thanet Way. This road leads to the M2/A2 and then to the M25 and London. The A256 connects Ramsgate to Dover. Bus services are provided by Stagecoach South East. You can take buses to nearby towns like Broadstairs, Canterbury, and Margate.
By Rail
Ramsgate railway station is at the top of the town. A new high-speed train service to London St Pancras started in 2009. This train uses High Speed 1, the UK's first high-speed rail line. The journey from Ramsgate to St Pancras takes about 76 minutes.
Other trains from Ramsgate go to London Charing Cross and London Victoria. These journeys take about 1 hour 50 minutes.
Thanet Parkway railway station opened in 2023. It's near Ramsgate and easy to reach by road.
By Air
A local airport in Ramsgate opened in 1935 but closed during World War II. It reopened in 1952 and then closed again in 1968.
From 2004 to 2005, a low-cost airline called EUjet had flights to many European places from the airport. However, the airport closed again in 2014. If the airport were to reopen, the town would be directly under the flight path.
Education in Ramsgate
Ramsgate has several schools:
Secondary Schools
- Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School
- The Royal Harbour Academy
- St Lawrence College
Colleges
- Ramsgate's closest college is East Kent College. It is in the nearby town of Broadstairs.
Twin Towns
Ramsgate is connected with these towns in other countries:
- Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, France
- Chimay, Belgium
- Frederikssund, Denmark
See also
In Spanish: Ramsgate para niños
