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Discovered in 1835, Margate's Shell Grotto is an astonishing find; 21 metres of winding passages decorated with 4.6 million shells. The walls are covered in images of gods and goddesses, trees of life and patterns of whelks, mussels and oysters. Some think it is an ancient Pagan grotto, others that it is simply an ornate Regency folly; but with no definitive explanation or history, the Shell Grotto is Kent's greatest mystery.
The Shell Grotto is an ornate subterranean passageway in Margate, Kent. Almost all the surface area of the walls and roof is covered in mosaics created entirely of seashells, totalling about 2,000 square feet (190 m2) of mosaic, or 4.6 million shells. It was discovered in 1835 but its age remains unknown. The grotto is a Grade I listed building and is open to the public.
The grotto was discovered in 1835 by James Newlove, who broke through into its roof while digging a duck-pond. It was illuminated by gas lamps and opened to the public in 1837, and has remained in private ownership ever since.
The age of the structure is uncertain and attempts to use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the site have failed. Carbon deposits from Victorian lamps which were used to illuminate the grotto in the 1800s have entered the shells.
The Shell Grotto is an ornate subterranean passageway in Margate, Kent. Almost all the surface area of the walls and roof is covered in mosaics created entirely of seashells, totalling about 2,000 square feet (190 m2) of mosaic, or 4.6 million shells. It was discovered in 1835 but its age remains unknown. The grotto is a Grade I listed building and is open to the public.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
Discovered in 1835, Margate's Shell Grotto is an astonishing find; 21 metres of winding passages decorated with 4.6 million shells. The walls are covered in images of gods and goddesses, trees of life and patterns of whelks, mussels and oysters. Some think it is an ancient Pagan grotto, others that it is simply an ornate Regency folly; but with no definitive explanation or history, the Shell Grotto is Kent's greatest mystery.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
We followed a sign to the shell grotto and discovered an amazing place, found by accident in 1835 it opened to the public in 1838. It was partially destroyed in WW2, so one wall is bare cement but the rest of the rooms and tunnels are covered with millions of shells, most of which were found locally.
Tom Swift and Paul Hazelton's discovery of a box at the Shell Grotto, Margate; with an effigy of a figure holding a sacred duck totem
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.
Inside Margate's Shell Grotto
Margate's Shell Grotto was discovered in 1835, although its actual age and origin is unknown.
The grotto is a 70ft passageway ending at the Altar Room, a small rectangular chamber 15 by 20ft.
The grotto gets its name from the 4.6m shells that decorate the interior with geometric patterns and stylised imagery.