Margate in the 1950s & 1960s

If you ever took a holiday or a day trip to Margate during the heyday of this Kent seaside resort, my compilation of film and stills should bring back happy memories. The core of the material featured is an 8mm home movie that I took in 1961 on a day trip from Southend-on-Sea aboard the steamer, MV Royal Daffodil, and I've cut in some earlier filmed clips from other sources. Much of the action is centred on Margate's famous amusement park, Dreamland - and includes footage of the legendary Scenic Railway and many other rides - some of which had thrilled generations of holiday-makers - as far back as the 1930s. The accompanying music is the appropriately titled 'I'm Drifting Back To Dreamland' played on Hammond Organ by Ken Griffin. Enjoy!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Margate
• Thanet
• Pier
• Beach
• Sand
• Funfair
• Fairground
• Rides
• Roller
• Coaster
• Big
• Dipper
• Penny
• Arcade
• Slot
• Machines

[theefishlippedone]

Nice vid is the music by Tony savage?

[kester1940]

Good thought - I guess I should have used Tony Savage, as I still have an LP that my parents bought on one of their holidays. He was resident organist at the Lido in Cliftonville, wasn't he. The Hammond Organ you hear on my soundtrack was actually an American musician, Ken Griffin, and the title of the tune is appropriately 'I'm Drifting Back To Dreamland'.

[meljaxon]

I used to go to Margate every year with my parents for a holiday in the 60s. Sadly they are no longer with us and this video has really brought tears to my eyes. Such lovely memories of our holidays and look at Margate now. It is so so pitiful. Poor Dreamland and poor Margate altogether. It is heartbreaking.

[slapavisionarchival]

amazing film archive, even home 8mm produced valuable results :D

[lollyclan]

Bags being the first one on the time machine back to decent times like these.

[groovygraham123]

fantastic video footage and well done for getting some footage of the caterpillar ride in as well ... I hear there is one packed away ready for when dreamland re-opens ... can't wait!

[mpsarge2]

miss those days.. The steel Peir and the Diving horse from that era also

[barrowboy6]

I very nice vid. Brought back many wonderful memories to me. Last summer I had a guided tour around Dreamland and heard about their plans for it's re-birth. It looks as though it may well happen as much of the funds have already been raised.

[wimboes50]

@meljaxon Totally agree. I went to Margate virtually every summer with my parents from the mid 50s until 1970 and its demise is upsetting. I went back last summer for a day and wandered along the front trying to see any remaining aspects I knew so well. Some are still there but when you recall literally thousands of holidaymakers wandering the same path 40+ years ago young people could not begin to imagine those days now.

[scooota]

looks like the old lady with a wobble at 2:55 is taking snuff is that right?

[MrCharcharchar]

is that dunoon

[louellasnugglebunny]

It's interesting to know that they had cotton candy in England back in the 50's & 60's but it didn't catch on in Holland until the late 1980's!

[louellasnugglebunny]

It's interesting to notice that they had cotton candy in England back in the 50's or 60's but it didn't catch on in Holland until the late 1980's.

[rodtemplar]

Those were days of innocence and fun. Now just thugs and junkies hang out there.