Broadstairs from the jetty
This is a photo of Broadstairs taken from the jetty. Why the name? Well apparently there was once a cliff-top shrine, the Shrine of Our Lady, at what was then called Bradstowe, meaning "broad place" and when a fishing settlement developed in the bay a flight of steps was made in the cliff to give access to the shrine from the bay, hence Broad Stairs.
There are a few ‘places of interest’ in the photo. In the centre perched on the cliff is Bleak House. Charles Dickens first came to Broadstairs in 1837, aged 25, and returned frequently for the next two decades. In 1850 Dickens took residence at Fort House, now known as Bleak House. It was from here that he wrote David Copperfield. Dickens stayed with his family at this house for at least one month every summer from 1839 until 1851. However, there is no evidence that it formed the basis of the fictional Bleak House, particularly as it is so far from the location of that house which is in St Albans. Fort house was renamed many years after the book was published as a tribute to Dickens. The house was originally known as 'Fort House' as it was built as the residence of the Fort Captain during the Napoleonic Wars.
On the far right of the photo is a building with cream coloured weatherboarding. That is The Look Out House and Stores. It dates back to the 18th Century and is a listed building. I’ve no idea why it has a figurehead of a Scotsman. The red telephone box outside is protected too. For those that have an interest in these things it is a Type K6 designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, and is made of cast iron. I didn’t check to see whether it was still functioning. This was on Saturday prior to Storm Isha and it was very cold and windy, although you don’t get that impression by the photo!
Immediately to the left of The Look Out is Admiralty Cottage. That’s the black weatherboarded cottage with White window frames. It’s one of the last two remaining tarred weatherboarded cottages left in Broadstairs.
Broadstairs from the jetty
This is a photo of Broadstairs taken from the jetty. Why the name? Well apparently there was once a cliff-top shrine, the Shrine of Our Lady, at what was then called Bradstowe, meaning "broad place" and when a fishing settlement developed in the bay a flight of steps was made in the cliff to give access to the shrine from the bay, hence Broad Stairs.
There are a few ‘places of interest’ in the photo. In the centre perched on the cliff is Bleak House. Charles Dickens first came to Broadstairs in 1837, aged 25, and returned frequently for the next two decades. In 1850 Dickens took residence at Fort House, now known as Bleak House. It was from here that he wrote David Copperfield. Dickens stayed with his family at this house for at least one month every summer from 1839 until 1851. However, there is no evidence that it formed the basis of the fictional Bleak House, particularly as it is so far from the location of that house which is in St Albans. Fort house was renamed many years after the book was published as a tribute to Dickens. The house was originally known as 'Fort House' as it was built as the residence of the Fort Captain during the Napoleonic Wars.
On the far right of the photo is a building with cream coloured weatherboarding. That is The Look Out House and Stores. It dates back to the 18th Century and is a listed building. I’ve no idea why it has a figurehead of a Scotsman. The red telephone box outside is protected too. For those that have an interest in these things it is a Type K6 designed in 1935 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, and is made of cast iron. I didn’t check to see whether it was still functioning. This was on Saturday prior to Storm Isha and it was very cold and windy, although you don’t get that impression by the photo!
Immediately to the left of The Look Out is Admiralty Cottage. That’s the black weatherboarded cottage with White window frames. It’s one of the last two remaining tarred weatherboarded cottages left in Broadstairs.