Bishopstone

This is the bridge in Bishopstone Glen. If you walk over that bridge and follow the footpath to the right, you can walk to Reculver along the clifftops, or even take a bike ride if you prefer.

Sailing Trip!

If you like sailing then this could be the trip for you!
You could take a cruise under sail to an offshore sandbank and see a local seal herd in their natural environment.

This is a 5 hour cruise from Herne Bay, including 1 hour at a sandbank. On a good day, you could swim with the seals.....

The Third Pier

The original pier at Herne Bay was not only one of the earliest piers to be built, but was also by far the longest at that time. The famous engineer Thomas Telford approved the design of the first wooden pier, with its notable T-shaped head, and it officially opened in 1832. It was an incredible 3,633ft (1,101m) in length and had cost a staggering £50,000 to build. Constructed initially to form part of a route for continental passengers travelling between London and Dover, the enormous length of Herne Bay Pier was required due to the very shallow shoreline. As alighting passengers could not be expected to transport their luggage along such a distance, a sail-powered trolleyway was built, making its debut run on 13th June 1833.

Seven years after construction Herne Bay Pier had succumbed to the devastating effects of Teredo Worm, and close inspection of the structure had uncovered some alarming problems. Extensive repairs were required that included the replacement of the outer piles with timber protected by 'scupper' nails, and the replacement of the inner piles with cast iron duplicates. Steamer services from London ceased in 1862 and, by the end of the decade, the 40 year old Herne Bay Pier was in a serious state of decay. In 1870 the pier was finally demolished and its useful remains, sold for scrap.

There were mixed feelings as to whether a replacement pier should be built, but eventually the Herne Bay Promenade Pier Company financed a very modest structure at a cost of £2,000. Designed by Wilkinson & Smith the new pier was erected purely with promenading in mind, and extended only to a length of 320ft (97m). The second Herne Bay Pier opened on 27th August 1873, the rather bland structure being improved in 1884 with the building of a theatre at the shoreward end and some shops at the entrance. In 1892 visits by shallow draught steamers commenced as an experiement to gauge their popularity in the town.

Having been successful, this led to the construction of a third, deep-water, pier capable of handling regular steamers. Work commenced in 1896, the existing pier structure being incorporated into the new design, and the third Herne Bay Pier opened three years later. At 3,787ft (1147m) Herne Bay pier was now the second longest pier in the country.

The Great War saw the temporary suspension of steamer services, the old tramcars being used as shelters. Both services resumed after the conflict, with the tramcars eventually being replaced by electric. The theatre that had been retained from the second Herne Bay Pier was destroyed by fire in 1928. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw the end of the tram service, and the pier was sectioned from fear of German invasion.

Resulting from storm damage in 1953, the re-opened pier finally closed in 1968 when it was found to be in a dangerous state. The Grand Pavilion remained open at the shoreward end but was destroyed by fire in 1970, whilst work was being carried out on the pier entrance.

Shelter

This shelter sits along the seafront area of the Bay, useful for a sit down whilst eating fish and chips from the chip shop, or having a rest after taking a walk along the promenade.

More Steps!

These steps take you down onto the promonade from the Kings Hall, which forms part of the Saxon Shore Way, if you turn left you can walk into the town centre, and on to Hampton, if you turn right it takes you to Reculver.

The Saxon Shore Way forms an important long distance footpath, along the whole of the North Kent Coast. Within the Canterbury City Council district, the Saxon Shore Way runs from Seasalter through Herne Bay to Reculver. This is an important facility for visitors, either to access many sites of historic interest or to enjoy the varied coastal scenery.

Looking Distressed.....

Western Esplanade, a simple sign to tell us where we are.... But how sad and tatty this road sign has become! Is this a sign of how local councils leave their roads and associated signs to decay and rot....

This sign looks more than a little distressed to me!

Smugglers Cottages, Herne

This picture shows the Smugglers Cottages in Herne, which are Grade 2 listed buildings (this means these are buildings of special interest, which warrant every effort being made to preserve them). Unfortunately, I do not know when they were built, but I'd love to know!

Night Lights!

I spotted these lights, near the pier entrance, they remind me of old-fashioned lanterns and look lovely when they are alight

Badger Badger Badger

These camper vans are located near the memorial park in Herne Bay.... I always thought I would like to own a fabulous Winnebago.... So that I can travel around the country in style.... But what's with the Badger!

OK, so this isn't a photograph of a real Badger, but my friends and I like to play the game of badger whenever an opportunity shows itself.... So how do you play?? Its easy.... when out and about with good friends, the first person to spot a camper van calls out Badger.... However, be warned, it is turns out to be a caravan being towed.... YOU LOSE!

Textures

This weird textured photo was taken in Bishopstone woods at day time. There a loads of different trees and colours in the woods, it's like a different world.

Picnic!

I guess you can have a picnic anywhere, and Hampton beach is a good place when it's a sunny day. I wonder why they were looking at each other instead of the view?
You can just see the wind turbines in the distance.

Windchimes.....

Windchimes is a newly built disabled children's resource centre in Herne Bay. It comprises a six-bed residential respite unit which will be managed jointly by Health and Social Services and which adjoins a well equipped resource centre.

The centre is managed by the Children’s Society and includes a reception area with cafe facilities, multi-sensory room, therapeutic spa pool, large soft play room, disabled children's kitchen with fully adjustable height worktops, flexible use multi-function, ICT room offering children and parents access to computers, e-mail and internet and a large multi-sensory garden.

Magical Sky

Sorry for the amount of sky photos, but it's amazing what can be taken from out your bedroom window. I like the orangey yellow clow from the partitioning in the clouds, it looks beautiful.

Say Cheese!

Herne Bay has a lot of small shops, here is a photo of two friendly butchers, as you can see they were very keen to have their photo taken! Rooks the Butchers... You rock!

Moody skies.....

I thought I might join the 'skywatch friday' crew with this mean and moody shot of the sky over Neptunes Arm.

Gloomy Stairs

It's amazing how different the weather can be in Herne Bay. One day it's raining, the other it's very sunny! These steps lead down to the Hampton beach huts, I wouldn't want to be near the beach on a day like that!

Air Vents

I had to take a photo of these as they reminded me of the speakers in the Teletubbies! They are located on the sea front near the Kings Hall, and are air vents for the sewage treatment works that are built into the cliff below.

Who Lives In A House.....

Like this????

Unfortunately this house is located in my street in Sunny Herne Bay! In this day and age, I find it hard to believe that anyone could leave this potentially wonderful house to decay into this awful condition. With window frames rotting resulting in windows falling out, I wonder if it will ever be restored to its former glory!

What makes it worse for me is the fact that the other residents work hard to maintain their properties to keep up the appearance of our street!

A property like this leaves me wondering why the Local Authority doesn't have more power to insist homes like this are updated and made good!

Vantage Point

This man was admiring the view of the sea from the promenade on a rare sunny day in Autumn. From that spot, you can see Reculver Towers, which is a mere dot in this picture, however in real-life it's bigger.

Whose Bike?

I wonder who this bike belongs to! It was chained to the railings on the sea front all on it's own.

URGENTLY Needed.... Wellingtons!

It's clear to me that Winter is poking his unwanted nose around the corner.... As the rain pours down on the streets of Herne Bay, the sale of Wellingtons is certain to be booming...

Guess who'll be at the front of the queue!

Lamp Posts

Instead of normal, modern, boring lamp posts, along the promenade in Herne Bay there are delicately designed old-fashioned ones. To the right is the pier, which used to be the 2nd longest in the UK until it got burnt down.

Sign Posts

I wonder what we would do without sign post....I spotted this one while I was out walking in Herne Bay Memorial Park....

Fire Damage.....

The fire at this house in Herne Bay happened way back in July 2008. Word has it that the fire started after the home owner had been stripping paint from the outside of the house with a blow torch... This is only a local RUMOUR! During the course of his handy DIY, the home owner allegedly stopped for some refreshments, only to be greeted a short while later by a neighbour asking was he aware the roof of his house was on fire! DOH!

As you can see, the damage was colossal, and the roof has been removed totally. Consequently it is necessary to ensure the roof is covered completely to protect the house but to also allow work to continue... or not in this case! I have been told, this type of scaffolding and covering can cost somewhere in the region of £1000 a week! You'd think they'd be chasing the roofers/builders to get the job done! Alternatively, thank goodness for insurance!

All Ages Welcome

This is a couple taking a stroll by the sea near where the amusements are. Janet Street Porter has always mocked the Bay because it has 'many old people' living there, however I bet she hasn't seen the youths doing tricks on their BMX's along the promenade, or having fun inside the amusements.

Avenue of Remembrance

This is the entrance to Herne Bay Memorial Park, it's called The 'Avenue of Remembrance' and is a memorial to the town's residents killed during the two world wars.

Who Would Want To Own The Local Shop!

Two armed men burst into a Herne Bay newsagents and screamed "open the till or we'll kill you".

The chilling threats were aimed at terrified shop owner as he stood behind the counter of Kings Road Stores.

The men, one brandishing a gun and the other a knife, then attempted to smash their way into the till as the shop owner reached for the emergency button.

The attempted robbery happened just after 5.30pm on Tuesday 19Th August 2008. The bungled robbery was the work of two local brothers! They were later apprehended and recently appeared at Canterbury magistrates court, where one was jailed for five years and his brother was sentenced to four years youth custody.

Air Sea Rescue

It's not often Air Sea Rescue visits Herne Bay, and it only visited to give a wave to the tourists and residents.

Sunset

Herne Bay has many beautiful sunsets...Here you can see the Pier Sports Pavillion on the left, and Neptunes Arm on the right!

Free Parking.... Now That's A Novelty!

I think it is fair to suggest in this day and age, to find a 'free' car park is a bit of a mystery! I am sure that Canterbury City Council are not alone in their penny pinching, money grabbing ways.... With car parking fees at around £1.90 an hour this car park is quite unique! Mind you, it is in Hampton which is actually in the middle of nowhere! So, unless you're visiting the sailing club, are the owner of a beach hut or want a drink in the Hampton Inn, there really is little point in parking in the 'FREE' car park!

Eye Sore

Every town has a somewhat less than aesthetically pleasing feature. This is St. Anne's House, which is next to St. Anne's Surgery, the main doctors surgery in Herne Bay. There are only three tower blocks in Herne Bay, and none of which are very tall.