EPW009167 ENGLAND (1923). The Dreamland Amusement Park, Margate, 1923

Belgrave Road south entrance, a long term point of access. It has been out of use for a number of years but may be reinstated as part of the current amusement park operation

The old buffet building

The Bungalow from before Iles purchase of the site, long term use as a bathroom facility, survives today but derelict and vandalised.

Lord George Sanger's second 'Margate Abbey' folly built in 1874 / 1882. This structure formed part of the western perimeter wall with the rear faces also serving as a convenient advertising billboard fronting the LCDR and SER railway lines. Depicted in the hoarding that Sanger put up above the Hall by the Sea building on Marine Terrace road, few photos and noted in various OS maps through the years, it is assumed the structure was used as a bandstand although photos show evidence of cage bars. In 1990 the Bembom Brothers began much demolition and clearance of the original railway and perimeter embankments within the west area of the Dreamland site, taking down the second folly which was replaced by modern in-filling. This section of the perimeter has now been developed after years of neglect and no access into a VIP area of the current Dreamland amusement park obscuring some of the surviving menagerie perimeter wall from view.

Lord George Sanger's 'Margate Abbey' third folly built in 1874 / 1882. This structure built across the disused LCDR railway embankment junction, formed part of the western menagerie perimeter wall and served as the termination point to direct visitors in the pleasure gardens down from the embankment via a set of steps to the indoor menagerie. Very little documentation exists of this folly as it was so well hidden amongst the vegetation that for many years covered the west side of the site. The structure is assumed to have been demolished when the adjacent indoor menagerie building was hit by a bomb in World War Two or when the remaining ruins were cleared in the late 1960s - early 1970s when the Astroslide was built on the site.

Lord George Sanger's indoor menagerie building. Unknown if constructed as part of the original operation from 1874, it possibly later replaced an original building. Documented to have housed 23 cages with the 4 corner conical roofs housing the larger animals. After Sanger's time, the building was reused and restocked as the 'New Zoo'. The structure is assumed to have been hit by a bomb in World War Two with the remaining ruins finally cleared in the late 1960s - early 1970s when the Astroslide was built on the site.

The Garden Cafe. A former World War One airship hanger, imported and constructed adjoining the Hall by the Sea and Ballroom to serve as a huge restaurant space. Later used as rollerskating rink, iceskating rink, amusement arcade, nightclub, just about anything for leisure purposes really. The space has had various refits over the years with a decorative tin ceiling eventually installed which survives today but in damaged condition from suspended ceiling installation by Jimmy Godden. It is now once again a open plan shared cafe and rollerskating rink space as part of the current Dreamland amusement park.

Dreamland miniature railway (second incarnation). Originally a closed loop around the south west corner of the site, then rerouted around the outer perimeter of the site and terminating nearby the Ballroom/Garden Cafe entrance at the north eastern corner of the site. This station (pinned) was relocated further south adjacent the then buffet building, removing the tunnelled section south of the station seen both as seen in this dated photo.

Margate's former football ground, home to Margate Football Club. Originally brook land unsuitable for development, the land was drained for suitable use by MFC who later moved to their current location at Hartsdown Park. The Dreamland amusement park then expanded into the land, for many years used for the famous Dreamland firework displays and over later years served as a coach park and then car park. A former World War One airship hanger was constructed in the south eastern corner of the land and remained for some years before being cleared. Operation of an expanded amusement park and a car park then followed over itself most recognisably in the 1980s operation by the Bembom Brothers. In the 1990s the land reverted to become exclusively a large car park and has largely stayed that way since.

The Joy Wheel ride

The Caterpillar ride

The Whip ride

Dreamland Ballroom, later the Dreamland Squash Club then offices. Now a venue, perhaps inappropriately called Hall by the Sea. The result of several extensions and refits to south of the abandoned LCDR constructed railway terminus, through Lord George Sanger's operation of Hall by the Sea and his menagerie pleasure gardens. Sections of the original menagerie perimeter wall on the west side was twice reused during this time with infilling and cladding added to make up the difference both in ground levels and roofline. The building largely survives in this form now as a shell after a privately funded restoration of works with stabilisation, repointing, re-cladding and some rebuild. A less appeasing third extension had been added to the south and east of Sanger's cottage in the 1940s forming perhaps a backstage area for the ballroom. It was removed in 1998 by Jimmy Godden, unfortunately also taking Sanger's cottage with it.

Lord George Sanger's 'Margate Abbey' ruins, as seen in many published postcards. This substantial structure built in 1874 as ruin by design would have served as the original entrance gate into the menagerie pleasure gardens. It survived through the new Dreamland Zoo of the 1970s, before sadly being cleared. Now listed grade II, only a small section of the original western perimeter wall, 3 cages and a modified folly of Sanger's menagerie remains today and has now been stabilised/part-restored.

Hall by the Sea railway station - closed around 1926?