Discover Margate’s Magnificent Past.

Margate museum tells the story of Margate and its people through its unique and diverse collections that range from an Iron Age burial pit and beautiful drawings by renowned artists, such as Thomas Rowlinson to a piece of WW1 Zeppelin that was shot down near Margate, and an ambulance that served Victorian Margate.

The museum is housed in Margate’s old police station and magistrates’ court, where visitors can still enjoy the Victorian cells and Magistrates court.

As you explore the museum, the original pictures and artefacts show you how Margate changed from a small fishing village on an island to one of the first seaside resorts. In the 1730’s ladies and gentlemen came to take their salt water treatments and enjoy the entertainments. Sea bathing machines became a feature of the bay. In the 19th century, the paddle-steamers and the railway made the town more accessible and Margate became a popular holiday destination, especially for Londoners with its popularity reaching its peak in the1950s and 60s.

Visitors can experience:
• Crime and punishment: walk into a police cell, stand before the bench and await your sentence.
• At the sea-side: sea-bathing through the ages, entertainment and donkeys
• Margate at war: 1/7 of all soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk landed at Margate, how did Margate cope?
• Margate by the sea: paddlesteamers, coal and ship wrecks
• On an island: meet Cecil one of Margate’s earlier residents; uncover Iron-age and Roman Margate
• People of Margate: brewers, bellmen and mayors.

The museum is staffed by volunteers who are happy to guide you in your discovery and to share their passions.