The Flickr Cliftonville Image Generatr

Ilford 517 film developed in 510 pyro

Ilford 517 film developed in 510 pyro

Ilford 517 film developed in 510 pyro

Ilford 517 film developed in 510 pyro

Ilford 517 film developed in 510 pyro

The Postcard

A postally unused postcard bearing no publisher's name. The card, which has a divided back, was printed in England.

Cliftonville

Cliftonville is a coastal area of the town of Margate, situated to the east of the main town. It contains the area known as Palm Bay.

The original Palm Bay estate was built in the 1930's as a number of large, wide avenues with detached and semi-detached houses with driveways, garages and gardens. This land was sold by Mr Sidney Simon Van Den Bergh to the Palm Bay Estate Co. on the 23rd. June 1924. Such avenues include Gloucester Avenue and Leicester Avenue.

East Cliftonville

The Palm Bay estate covers the eastern part of Cliftonville, and was fields before the first avenue was built. It extends east beyond Northumberland Avenue and has been developed in phases. The later phase extending eastwards of Princess Margaret Avenue is a modern-style housing estate with small houses largely identical in appearance and of less substantial build quality than the original 1930's estate.

The eastward expansion of Cliftonville has included much of the former parish of Northdown, including Northdown Park and House.

West Cliftonville

West Cliftonville was originally developed as the up-market alternative to bustling Margate, and had many small private hotels and guest houses with outstanding Victorian architecture which catered for the many visitors to what was in the first half of the 20th. century a thriving holiday resort.

Many of the large hotels have been converted into one bed flats; this has brought about positive action from Thanet District Council which introduced selective licensing, ensuring that quality home improvements are maintained by landlords (2006) and restricting planning permission for one bedroom flats (2007).

Cliftonville now has many of its streets protected by conservation area orders. The seafront area once included many large hotels, including at one time a large Butlins complex. Some fantastic hotels remain, e.g. Smiths Court Hotel overlooking the sea, and The Walpole Bay Hotel.

Tourism and visitor numbers have increased in Cliftonville (2018) with the addition of newly opened bed and breakfasts changing the Cliftonville landscape. Northdown Road and Cliff Terrace have also had a resurgence, with many trendy and hip businesses opening up.

The Oval Bandstand and lawns run by community group GRASS Cliftonville bring an opportunity to bring community engagement to Cliftonville, and they host a monthly award-winning farmers' market on the last Sunday of every month.

During the summer there are a number of activities and events, including musical shows. The Tom Thumb Theatre brings a host of music events and theatre to Cliftonville.

Writing and Poetry

During the first half of the 20th. century, Cliftonville was considered the fashionable hotel quarter of Margate. It was during the autumn of 1921 that T. S. Eliot spent a period of convalescence at the Albermarle Hotel. His widow has confirmed that he found inspiration for, and wrote significant sections of 'The Waste Land' in the Grade II listed Nayland Rock promenade shelter.

The spirit of early 20th. century Cliftonville was caught by John Betjeman in his poem "Margate Pier".

Trevor Howard

Trevor Howard was born in Cliftonville on the 29th. September 1913.

Palm Bay Beach

The Walpole Bay Hotel, Cliftonville, Margate.

I have had a few meals here, and have also been past many dozens of times, but getting a decent photo has always been difficult due to parked cars. However, on the 20th April 2025, there was a very rare gap, so managed this shot. A couple of cars are just out of view to the right, which prevented me getting a more head on view, but I am not going to grumble!

A few minutes after taking the photo, I passed again, and the road was full of parked vehicles!

The Postcard

A postcard bearing no publisher's name, although it does state on the back of the card that the image is a real photograph, and that the card was printed in Great Britain.

The card was posted in Margate using a 1d. stamp on Monday the 21st. August 1933. It was sent to:

Mrs. H. Hawkins,
261 or 361, High Street,
Smethwick,
Birmingham.

The message on the divided back was as follows:

"Hotel Florence,
Cliftonville,
Margate.
Dear Ivy,
Hope you had a good
time on your holidays.
We are thoroughly
enjoying ours in a very
quiet way.
The place is packed, I
don't think I have ever
seen so many.
Kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
E. McWhirter."

Cliftonville

Cliftonville is a coastal area of the town of Margate, situated to the east of the main town. It contains the area known as Palm Bay.

The original Palm Bay estate was built in the 1930's as a number of large, wide avenues with detached and semi-detached houses with driveways, garages and gardens. This land was sold by Mr Sidney Simon Van Den Bergh to the Palm Bay Estate Co. on the 23rd. June 1924. Such avenues include Gloucester Avenue and Leicester Avenue.

East Cliftonville

The Palm Bay estate covers the eastern part of Cliftonville, and was fields before the first avenue was built. It extends east beyond Northumberland Avenue and has been developed in phases. The later phase extending eastwards of Princess Margaret Avenue is a modern-style housing estate with small houses largely identical in appearance and of less substantial build quality than the original 1930's estate.

The eastward expansion of Cliftonville has included much of the former parish of Northdown, including Northdown Park and House.

West Cliftonville

West Cliftonville was originally developed as the up-market alternative to bustling Margate, and had many small private hotels and guest houses with outstanding Victorian architecture which catered for the many visitors to what was in the first half of the 20th. century a thriving holiday resort.

Many of the large hotels have been converted into one bed flats; this has brought about positive action from Thanet District Council which introduced selective licensing, ensuring that quality home improvements are maintained by landlords (2006) and restricting planning permission for one bedroom flats (2007).

Cliftonville now has many of its streets protected by conservation area orders. The seafront area once included many large hotels, including at one time a large Butlins complex. Some fantastic hotels remain, e.g. Smiths Court Hotel overlooking the sea, and The Walpole Bay Hotel.

Tourism and visitor numbers have increased in Cliftonville (2018) with the addition of newly opened bed and breakfasts changing the Cliftonville landscape. Northdown Road and Cliff Terrace have also had a resurgence, with many trendy and hip businesses opening up.

The Oval Bandstand and lawns run by community group GRASS Cliftonville bring an opportunity to bring community engagement to Cliftonville, and they host a monthly award-winning farmers' market on the last Sunday of every month.

During the summer there are a number of activities and events, including musical shows. The Tom Thumb Theatre brings a host of music events and theatre to Cliftonville.

Writing and Poetry

During the first half of the 20th. century, Cliftonville was considered the fashionable hotel quarter of Margate. It was during the autumn of 1921 that T. S. Eliot spent a period of convalescence at the Albermarle Hotel. His widow has confirmed that he found inspiration for, and wrote significant sections of 'The Waste Land' in the Grade II listed Nayland Rock promenade shelter.

The spirit of early 20th. century Cliftonville was caught by John Betjeman in his poem "Margate Pier".

-- Trevor Howard

Trevor Howard was born in Cliftonville on the 29th. September 1913.

Mrs. Giles Borrett

So what else happened on the day that the card was posted to Ivy?

Well, on the 21st. August 1933, Mrs. Giles Borrett became the first female newscaster, broadcasting the six o'clock evening news bulletin over the British Broadcasting Corporation radio network.

However after two months, the BBC took her off of the air, for "technical reasons".

Janet Baker

The day also marked the birth in Hatfield, South Yorkshire, of the English mezzo-soprano Janet Baker.

Barry Norman

Barry Norman, the English film critic, was also born on that day, in London. Barry died in 2017.

The Photograph

A Paragon Series postcard that was published by A. H. & S. of Margate. The image is a glossy real photograph. The card was posted in Margate using two 1d. stamps on Tuesday the 2nd. August 1949. It was sent to:

Mrs. Nightingale,
The Cottage,
Ashampstead Common,
Nr. Pangbourne,
Berks.

The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:

"Dear Mrs. Nightingale & Stan,
We are all spending a
lovely holiday here. Last
week was beautiful, but
it has changed a bit now.
Hoping it will turn brighter
for this week.
Mum & Dad are very well.
We all hope to come and
see you for a day, if
convenient. I will write
when we get home.
Hoping Vera is keeping
well, also yourself & Stan,
Love from us all,
Violet & Fred."

Cliftonville

Cliftonville is a coastal area of the town of Margate, situated to the east of the main town. It contains the area known as Palm Bay.

The original Palm Bay estate was built in the 1930's as a number of large, wide avenues with detached and semi-detached houses with driveways, garages and gardens. This land was sold by Mr Sidney Simon Van Den Bergh to the Palm Bay Estate Co. on the 23rd. June 1924. Such avenues include Gloucester Avenue and Leicester Avenue.

East Cliftonville

The Palm Bay estate covers the eastern part of Cliftonville, and was fields before the first avenue was built. It extends east beyond Northumberland Avenue and has been developed in phases. The later phase extending eastwards of Princess Margaret Avenue is a modern-style housing estate with small houses largely identical in appearance and of less substantial build quality than the original 1930's estate.

The eastward expansion of Cliftonville has included much of the former parish of Northdown, including Northdown Park and House.

West Cliftonville

West Cliftonville was originally developed as the up-market alternative to bustling Margate, and had many small private hotels and guest houses with outstanding Victorian architecture which catered for the many visitors to what was in the first half of the 20th. century a thriving holiday resort.

Many of the large hotels have been converted into one bed flats; this has brought about positive action from Thanet District Council which introduced selective licensing, ensuring that quality home improvements are maintained by landlords (2006) and restricting planning permission for one bedroom flats (2007).

Cliftonville now has many of its streets protected by conservation area orders. The seafront area once included many large hotels, including at one time a large Butlins complex. Some fantastic hotels remain, e.g. Smiths Court Hotel overlooking the sea, and The Walpole Bay Hotel.

Tourism and visitor numbers have increased in Cliftonville (2018) with the addition of newly opened bed and breakfasts changing the Cliftonville landscape. Northdown Road and Cliff Terrace have also had a resurgence, with many trendy and hip businesses opening up.

The Oval Bandstand and lawns run by community group GRASS Cliftonville bring an opportunity to bring community engagement to Cliftonville, and they host a monthly award-winning farmers' market on the last Sunday of every month.

During the summer there are a number of activities and events, including musical shows. The Tom Thumb Theatre brings a host of music events and theatre to Cliftonville.

Writing and Poetry

During the first half of the 20th. century, Cliftonville was considered the fashionable hotel quarter of Margate. It was during the autumn of 1921 that T. S. Eliot spent a period of convalescence at the Albermarle Hotel. His widow has confirmed that he found inspiration for, and wrote significant sections of 'The Waste Land' in the Grade II listed Nayland Rock promenade shelter.

The spirit of early 20th. century Cliftonville was caught by John Betjeman in his poem "Margate Pier".

-- Trevor Howard

Trevor Howard was born in Cliftonville on the 29th. September 1913.

The North Atlantic Treaty

So what else happened on the day that Violet and Fred posted the card?

Well, on the 2nd. August 1949, Great Britain, France and the United States issued separate statements rejecting the USSR's charge of the 19th. July that the North Atlantic Treaty was a violation of the Italian peace treaty.

US Secretary of State Dean Acheson said that:

"Italy is left quite free by the
provisions of the peace treaty
to join with other states in a
collective defense arrangement."

Arnold Büscher

Also on that day, Arnold Büscher was executed.

Arnold Büscher, who was unfortunately born on the 16th. December 1899, was a German SS officer. Holding the rank of SS-Obersturmführer, he served as commandant of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp from September 1944 until January 1945.

-- Arnold Büscher - The Early Years

Büscher was born in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. He became a member of the Schutzstaffel (SS) in 1931. After the outbreak of the Second World War, he worked at many Nazi concentration camps, including Flossenbürg, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen and Neuengamme.

-- Arnold Büscher at Kraków-Płaszów

Büscher succeeded Amon Göth as commandant of the Płaszów concentration camp after the latter was arrested on the 13th. September 1944.

Büscher resisted Oskar Schindler's efforts to include 300 Jewish women on his list of Schindlerjuden for work at Schindler's new factory in Brněnec, instead sending them with other Jews from Płaszów to Auschwitz I.

Furthermore, Büscher, perhaps out of spite for Schindler, requested of Auschwitz I commandant Richard Baer that 300 different Jewish women be sent to Schindler's factory. However, Schindler was able to bribe Baer into sending him the original 300 female Schindlerjuden.

-- The Death of Arnold Büscher

On the 23rd. January 1948, Büscher was sentenced to death in Poland for his crimes at Płaszów. He was executed by hanging on the 2nd. August 1949. He was 49 years of age when he died.

The Postcard

A postcard bearing no publisher's name that features an image which is a glossy real photograph. The card was posted in Margate using a 2½d. stamp on Thursday the 2nd. April 1964. It was sent to:

Mrs. Bailey,
81, Lumley Road,
Horley,
Surrey.

The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:

"32, Edgar Road,
Cliftonville,
Kent.
Dear Mrs. Bailey,
Just to let you know
we arrived here safely.
The wedding was very
nice.
All here are well, but
it is cold.
Hoping you are all
well,
With best love from
all here."

Cliftonville

Cliftonville is a coastal area of the town of Margate, situated to the east of the main town. It contains the area known as Palm Bay.

The original Palm Bay estate was built in the 1930's as a number of large, wide avenues with detached and semi-detached houses with driveways, garages and gardens. This land was sold by Mr Sidney Simon Van Den Bergh to the Palm Bay Estate Co. on the 23rd. June 1924. Such avenues include Gloucester Avenue and Leicester Avenue.

East Cliftonville

The Palm Bay estate covers the eastern part of Cliftonville, and was fields before the first avenue was built. It extends east beyond Northumberland Avenue and has been developed in phases. The later phase extending eastwards of Princess Margaret Avenue is a modern-style housing estate with small houses largely identical in appearance and of less substantial build quality than the original 1930's estate.

The eastward expansion of Cliftonville has included much of the former parish of Northdown, including Northdown Park and House.

West Cliftonville

West Cliftonville was originally developed as the up-market alternative to bustling Margate, and had many small private hotels and guest houses with outstanding Victorian architecture which catered for the many visitors to what was in the first half of the 20th. century a thriving holiday resort.

Many of the large hotels have been converted into one bed flats; this has brought about positive action from Thanet District Council which introduced selective licensing, ensuring that quality home improvements are maintained by landlords (2006) and restricting planning permission for one bedroom flats (2007).

Cliftonville now has many of its streets protected by conservation area orders. The seafront area once included many large hotels, including at one time a large Butlins complex. Some fantastic hotels remain, e.g. Smiths Court Hotel overlooking the sea, and The Walpole Bay Hotel.

Tourism and visitor numbers have increased in Cliftonville (2018) with the addition of newly opened bed and breakfasts changing the Cliftonville landscape. Northdown Road and Cliff Terrace have also had a resurgence, with many trendy and hip businesses opening up.

The Oval Bandstand and lawns run by community group GRASS Cliftonville bring an opportunity to bring community engagement to Cliftonville, and they host a monthly award-winning farmers' market on the last Sunday of every month.

During the summer there are a number of activities and events, including musical shows. The Tom Thumb Theatre brings a host of music events and theatre to Cliftonville.

Writing and Poetry

During the first half of the 20th. century, Cliftonville was considered the fashionable hotel quarter of Margate. It was during the autumn of 1921 that T. S. Eliot spent a period of convalescence at the Albermarle Hotel. His widow has confirmed that he found inspiration for, and wrote significant sections of 'The Waste Land' in the Grade II listed Nayland Rock promenade shelter.

The spirit of early 20th. century Cliftonville was caught by John Betjeman in his poem "Margate Pier".

A New President of Brazil

So what else happened on the day that the card was posted?

Well, on the 2nd. April 1964, Ranieri Mazzilli was sworn in as the new President of Brazil, while João Goulart abandoned further efforts to fight the coup leaders.

Goulart and his family drove from his ranch in São Borja, and crossed the border to reach Santo Tomé in Argentina.

U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, who was in favor of the ouster of Goulart by anti-Communist forces, sent a cable to Mazzilli, and called the relationship between the U.S. and Brazil:

"A precious asset in the interest of
peace and prosperity and liberty in
this hemisphere and in the whole
world."

A Qualification Test

Also on that day, a 36-hour open-sea qualification test of a Gemini static re-entry module began in Galveston Bay.

The test ended after two hours when the test subjects became seasick.

Among the technical problems encountered during this two-hour exposure were the failure of one of the suit ventilation fans, and structural failure of the high-frequency whip antenna.

Zond 1

Also on the 2nd. April 1964, the Soviet Union launched Zond 1 on a flyby of the planet Venus.

Although the probe passed within 100,000 kilometres (62,000 miles) of the planet on the 18th. July 1964, no data could be received because of a failure of transmitters in May and in June.

The Imprisonment of a Massachusetts Governor's Mother

Also on that day, 72-year old Mrs. Malcolm Peabody, mother of Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody, was released on $450 bond after spending two days in a St. Augustine, Florida jail.

This occurred because Mrs. Peabody participated in an anti-segregation demonstration in the town.

I think this may well class as a ghost sign. The 1920s art deco complex is closed. The lido swimming pool is now filled with sand.
There's some history about the site here -
www.savebritainsheritage.org/news/Building-of-the-Month-C...

There's also interesting information here about Clifton Baths at the Lido site -
theisleofthanetnews.com/2019/03/15/thanet-hidden-history-...

The Postcard

A Silveresque Series postcard that was published by Valentine & Sons Ltd. of Dundee and London. The card was posted in Margate using a 2d. stamp on Thursday the 11th. August 1955. It was sent to:

Mr. & Mrs. S. Powell,
23, White Horse Square,
Hereford.

The pencilled message on the divided back of the card was as follows:

"Dear All,
Having a grand time -
weather lovely.
Had a storm during the
night but it has cleared
the air.
Hope you are all well.
We are all off for a swim
in the Lido.
Love,
Vera & Arthur."

Cliftonville Lido

Margate’s 1920's seafront Lido still communicates a jauntiness despite being a shadow of its former self. The cream coloured Art Deco complex with its porthole windows, bright red roof tiles and four-sided ‘Lido’ beacon has been closed for 40 years. The swimming pool is now filled with sand for safety reasons.

The lido was built by John Henry Iles, the creator of Dreamland - Margate’s celebrated pleasure park. The vast open-air swimming complex on the sea’s edge was built at great expense in 1925. Pulling in sea water, it could cater for 1,000 swimmers at any one time.

Originally offering a host of salt water treatments, once much in demand, the Lido had to adjust over the years. By the 1950's, the treatments were long gone and replaced by, among other things, a tropical fish aquarium and mini zoo. It was sited in the buildings which remain standing, somewhat forlornly, - albeit with no trace of their previous use.

The swimming pool (where the artist Tracey Emin learnt to swim) and was a vibrant part of the town right up until the 1970's, when it was last used as a disco.

But the shift in our holiday desires – fuelled by the advent of cheap foreign package deals – spelt the end of its popularity. The theatre was demolished, and the pool closed in 1981.

What was left of the Baths was listed in 2008 due to their importance in British seaside history - they were one of the earliest surviving sea bathing establishments in the country.

The remains of the baths are all subterranean, but provide a fascinating reminder of the beginning of seaside tourism.

The complex has been in private ownership for some time, but finding a suitable scheme that preserves the history of the site and does not compromise the seafront position has so far not proved possible.

Options include reviving the Lido - for which there are increasing examples such as Tinside Lido in Plymouth - mixed with retail, food outlets and venue hire.

Alternatively, some form of holiday accommodation could be possible, but would need to be sensitively designed.

A Disastrous Mid-Air Collision

So what else happened on the day that Vera and Arthur posted the card?

Well, on the 11th. August 1955, a formation of nine United States Air Force Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars were flying over Edelweiler, near Stuttgart, West Germany, on a training mission carrying troops.

One of them, a C-119G, experienced engine trouble, lost altitude momentarily, pulled upward abruptly, and collided with another C-119G.

The first aircraft crashed and disintegrated with the loss of all 19 on board. The second aircraft continued for a while before it also crashed about 30 miles from Stuttgart in a wooded area and burst into flames, killing all 47 on board.

The combined death toll of 66 made it the worst aviation accident in German history at the time, and the deadliest ever involving any variant of the C-119.

The accident tied with the 22nd. March crash of a United States Navy R6D-1 Liftmaster in Hawaii and the 6th. October crash of United Airlines Flight 409 in Wyoming as the deadliest air accident of 1955.

Groovy signage at Cliftonville's Tat Agent clothing store.

Postcard from my 'History of the English Seaside Holiday' collection showing The Promenade, Cliftonville, Margate.
This would seem to be a colourised image, unless the fashion that year was for yellow, green or red clothes. As everyone seems to be walking in the same direction, I assume they have escaped from The Bungalow Refreshments. No. 60 in the 'A H & S "Paragon" Series, Margate'. The year of the postmark cannot be discerned, but the Wilding stamp means it was posted no earlier than 1952.

The Postcard

An Ideal Series postcard that was posted in Eltham, London using a halfpenny stamp on Monday the 7th. August 1911. It was sent to:

Miss Grace Davies,
North Lodge,
Rusthall,
Tunbridge Wells.

The message on the divided back was as follows:

"Love and best wishes
for Many Happy Returns
of the day.
From all at 'Cliftonville'."

A Vote of Censure

So what else happened on the day that the card was posted?

Well, on the 7th. August 1911, Leader of the Opposition Arthur Balfour's vote of censure on the government of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith failed to pass in the House of Commons, by a margin of 246 to 365.

A similar measure in the House of Lords had passed 282-68.

Nicholas Ray

The day also marked the birth in Galesville, Wisconsin of Nicholas Ray (stage name for Raymond Nicholas Kienzle),.

Nicholas was an American film director known for Rebel Without a Cause. He died in 1979.

Thronged with visitors for a century. Now desolate.

Thronged with visitors for a century. Now desolate.

Thronged with visitors for a century. Now desolate.

Thronged with visitors for a century. Now desolate.