EPW042847 ENGLAND (1933). Dreamland Amusement Park, Margate, 1933

Scenic Railway station. Note the basic uncovered platform and access arrangement

LCDR/SER embankment, junctions and line spur. Built in 1926 for goods traffic to interconnect with the old SER line through to Ramsgate which had been closed under the LCDR embankment through to the former SER Margate Sands station on Marine Terrace road

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

Mini Golf

Lord George Sanger's 'Margate Abbey' third folly built in 1874 / 1882, just about visible here. 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 (as seen to the right of the structure) 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. The rerouted miniature railway line would have passed beside the structure between it and the indoor menagerie building then onto the north along a newly raised embankment (also just visible in this photo). Ironic as it sat below the main railway embankment built by LCDR, that had never been used.

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', as seen here. 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

Dreamland Miniature Railway station (second build). This was the new station built within the former tunnelled section of the original 1920s loop line

The new Dreamland Arcade. Completely destroyed in one of the amusement park's biggest fires

Belgrave Road / Grosvenor Hill Dreamland entrance. This possibly maybe reinstated in the future for access into the 'Tivoli Gardens' area of the current amusement park.

'The Bungalow', a washroom facility that survives today but in very poor condition from metal theft and vandalism. Unappealing by any means, it is in fact one of the older buildings on the site possibly even predating Henry Iles' first incarnation of Dreamland in 1920, according to OS maps. It was threatened with demolition as much of the amusement park buildings were being cleared through the early 2000s, but as of yet doesn't appear to be within the agenda of the current amusement park operator.

The new Dreamland Buffet, designed by CFS Palmer and built in 1929 replacing an older building. This building has survived many years of modification and was threatened with demolition as much of the amusement park buildings were being cleared through the early 2000s. Remaining in very poor condition and damaged further by fire during abandoned restorative works by the current amusement park operator, full restoration to original design is pending into 2018. The assumed water tower on the north end of the building was removed in the 1970s likely when the Dreamland Miniature Railway was removed from the site

Racing Coaster ride

River Caves ride. Demolished by the Bembom Brothers in the 1980s.

Haunted Snail fun-house. Destroyed by fire

Tumble Bug ride

The Skid ride

Caterpillar ride

Ghost Train ride

A string of former SECR 6 wheeler coaches with Southern white roofs. In good condition for vehicles that must be close to the end of their working lives. Indeed they were probably only used for excursion traffic by this time.... and hop pickers specials!