Remains of Ramsgate Hoverport 2011

[@DesmoDreams]

I'd completely forgotten there was a Hoverport in Ramsgate, until I came across it by accident in 2000, when I was cycling along the Thanet coast. I wasn't even where I was at first, as it was very foggy. But then I came across the landing apron and memories came flooding back of standing on the bridge with my mum and brother sometime in the mid 70's watching the hovercraft land. The fog gave the abandoned site quite a ghostly feel. We never actually used the service at Ramsgate when it was operating, but did travel by Hoverspeed from Dover a few times. I was very young then so don't recall much specific details, other than the sea being very rough on one occasion. It was quite a while before it was safe to land. What should have been a 25 min crossing took about 2 hours! Travelling by Hovercraft was always an event.

[@BlueWellyWellies]

That brings back memories of travelling in the seventies!

[@brucedanton]

This is indeed a sad sight of what used to be the Hoverport at Pegwell Bay, nowadays all abandoned and awaiting redevelopment (or not?) Thank you for the memories though-well done!

[@donsarde]

I used to take the hovercraft very often and later, i worked on them when i was a student

[@669basher9rc]

the good old days..

[@tacticalbattledroid]

a sad sad sight ';-(

[@yobbsmissesalge]

Just like many other Ramsgate videos I've seen so depressing, as soon as Ramsgate went from a borough Counsil to Thanet District Counsil, it started to be neglected, & stripped of it's assets, even today all of the Town's 'surpless to requirement' buildings are being 'sold off for a 'bargain basement' value, T.D.C. in 1974 decided to create a policy for Thanet, that 'selected Ramsgate as the 'commersial/industrial corner of the isle, a policy that proved to be wrong but still persued to this day

[@sparkidee]

Had a trek through it yesterday and it looks much the same as it did when you made this film. Such a shame

[@Butlerbob]

personally I would say, demolish all the concrete or asphalt and make it a beach, set up some catering establishments and you have a great recreation area, but this will be a utopian thought. build apartments at extortionate prices, money makes people distant and relentless !!!

[@umbertoeco3076]

My mate hung himself from the bridge shown in your thumbnail. Oh, and they are saving the land for a development of luxury flats.

[@AntonHu]

Great shame - I liked the fast crossing, even if having P&O shares and cheap ferries drew me away. Amazing/frightening/encouraging how quickly nature reclaims concreted areas.

[@donsarde]

when did the port close down?

[@UKWMO]

Closed to passengers in September 1982 by the looks of it although was in use for a few more years as a maintenance base for Dover's SRN4 Hovercraft.

[@javiergilvidal1558]

British People, what did you do to your country?

[@UKWMO]

Javier Gil Vidal: I often wonder.

[@jonathaneastwood2927]

Voted Tory party over and over again..

[@Psykelektric]

Voted Conservative.