Coast

Just before you begin walking down Chapel Place notice the ship's anchor in the garden on your left.

As you walk along Chapel Place you'll see lovely Georgian house fronts that are now mostly businesses and flats, including Apollo House Social Services. In the past this street was the "Harley Street" of Ramsgate with doctors and dentists in residence.

Apollo House is the site of St Mary's Church which was bombed during World War Two. It was first damaged in 1941 and finally demolished in 1955. The altar of St Nicholas' Chapel in St George's Church was St Mary's Church altar.

The Almshouses

Notice the unusual blue bay windows that protrude from the mock tudor house at the far end of the street. This used to be the vicarage of St George's Church. It is now an adult education centre although no classes are held there.

At the end of Chapel Place turn left down Elms Avenue and you will see on the left the Almshouses of the Parish of St George "built, endowed and dedicated to the poor... by the will of Frances Barber".

He said of his very generous donation: "A man dies disgraced if he leaves millions of dollars which he could have used in his life time for the benefit of Mankind."

Opposite the library is Guildford Lawn, our next stopping point.

Remnants of the public library

This crescent is in the Regency style which was very fashionable from the beginning of the 19th century until about 1830. Wander around the crescent and you’ll see the painted stucco, curved bays, round headed doorways and sash windows that are typical features of this style.

William Saxby built the beautiful houses in 1842. But alas they lost their lawns as a Mr Beer gradually bought them one-by-one and resold them garden-less to make room for Lawn Villas which now stands on the spot.

It is said that Karl Marx’s daughter used to stay in one of the houses in Guildford Lawn.

Once you come to the end of the crescent go straight down Effingham Street, the road opposite.