Dreamland and Hall by the Sea

ages

Margate in Maps and Pictures

compiled by Anthony Lee

Dreamland and the Hall-by-the-Sea, Margate

Click on pictures for a larger image

CONTENTS: History The Hall-by-the-Sea Dreamland Amusement Park Dreamland Cinema Dreamland Publicity Material
History
The history of Dreamland is described in Dreamland Remembered by Nick Evans. It starts with the London Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) building their station in Margate on Marine Terrace, next to the station of the South Eastern Railway. An argumenent between the two companies led to the LCDR being ordered to vacate their terminus and rebuild on a site further away from the town. The vacated terminus was rented by the LCDR in 1867 to Spiers and Ponds, a major catering contractor of the time. They ran The Hall-by-the-Sea as a dance and concert hall, but without any great success. So, in 1870, they sold it to the then Mayor of Margate, Alderman Thomas Dalby Reeve, a prominent local business man. Reeve’s son Arthur married Harriett Sanger, daughter of Lord George Sanger in 1873 and, in 1874, Sanger took over the Hall. With the Hall came a lot of land, including a number of potato fields, with the unused railway embankment running right through the centre. In May 1874, Sanger advertised that the Hall-by-the-Sea, Italian and Zoological Gardens at Margate would open for the season, from Whit Monday, May 25th. Much of this early history is described in the article The Reverend Wood visits the zoo that can be accessed here. The original railway buildings lasted until 1898 when they were replaced by a purpose built structure designed by Richard Dalby Reeve. In 1919 the Hall-by-the-Sea was sold to John Henry Iles who gradually developed the site into an Americam-style amusement park, Dreamland.
top of section \| top of page
The Hall-by-the-Sea
		The OS map of 1873 shows the location of the Hall-by-the-Sea next to the South Eastern Railway Station
The unused railway embankment leading to the old railway station building and the Margate Brooks land to the right were used to built the Zoological Gardens of the Hall-by-the-Sea and later the Dreamland Amusement Park.
The original Hall-by-the-Sea building was obviously rather a basic conversion from the original station building, as shown in these stereocards taken in July 1866.

		This is also shown in this early view of Marine Terrace in the 1860s, with the Hall-by-the-Sea on the right.
		A rare view of the front of the Hall-by-the Sea is shown in this very early photograph [Chris Brown].
A view inside the Hall-by-the-Sea was published in The Penny Illustrated Paper for 1871
		Another view, of Sanger's New Hall by the Sea, was published in 1898
		A view of dancing in the Hall-by-the-Sea is shown in this wood-cut from an unknown publicaton
A rare view of the Zoological Gardens is included in a Leporello album, The Album of Margate Views, published by Charles, Reynolds & Co. in the 1990s. The two towers on the building on the left can still be seen in the backgrounds of a number of photographs of the Dreamland Amusement Park in the 1930s.
		In the Zoological Gardens it was possible to get up close to the animals, as shown in this Caabinet Card, probably from the 1880-1890 period
This two-sided, fold-out catalogue of the Hall-by-the-Sea, Italian and Zoological Gardens describes what was available under the reign of Lord George Sanger.
		The second side describes the In-Door Menagerie, and the Aviaries on the Lawn and on the Esplanade
This programme describes the entertainments available in 1891.
		By 1899 the Hall had become the Royal Grand Hall-by-the-Sea.
This 1900 programme again emphasises the wide range of entertainments on offer.
The frontage of the Hall-by-the-Sea was dominated by large paintings of the attractions.

Hall-by-the-Sea 1876	Hall by the Sea 1912 [PC]
Postcards were published showing the Ballroom, the Gardens and the Zoo

Hall by the Sea Abbey ruins 1904	Hall by the Sea Ballroom [PC]	Hall by the Sea Ballroom [PC]	Hall by the Sea Gardens 1904 [PC]

Hall by the Sea Lion tamer 1904	Hall by the Sea Lion Tamer with Bear [PC]	Wolf and sheep dog [PC]	Hall by the Sea Grand Costume Carnival Dec 1912 [PC]
The Hall-by-the-Sea was also advertised in a number of Guides of the time

Hall by the Sea Abbey ruins [Guide 1903]	Hall by the Sea Billiard Saloon [Guide 1903]	Hall by the Sea gardens [Guide 1903]	Hall by the Sea gardens [Guide 1903]
The Hall-by-the-Sea Ballroom was used for a variety of purposes

Hall by the Sea Ballroom, flower show
A rare stereocard shows an animal display and the 'Royal Works' waxworks

Hall by the Sea Abbey Royal Works [stereocard]
top of section top of page
Dreamland Amusement Park
		This OS map of 1954 shows how the Dreamland Amusement Park developed in the land of the former Margate Brooks.
This plan shows the arrangement of Dreamland Park in 1921
The location of the Park is also clear in a number of Aerial views of Margate

Aerial View 1923	Aerial View ca 1920a	Ariel View 1957	Aerial View 1957

Marine Terrace and Dreamland 1931 [TDC collection]	Dreamland 1937 [TDC collection]	Dreamland from the air	Dreamland from the air
For a long time the grounds to the left of the Scenic Railway were little changed

Flower gardens 1927	Flower gardens and miniature railway 1927	Avenue of Statues	Dreamland Gardens

Dreamland Lawn and Abbey ruins	Flower gardens ca 1937	Dreamland Flower gardens ca 1930s	Beautiful Flower Gardens in Dreamland

Dreamland Gardens	Dreamland Gardens	Dreamland Duck pond
The grounds also contained a Zoo

Dreamland Zoo /lion Prince	Sea Lion Act Dreamland Zoo	Hall by the sea Zebra	Sangers Cattle c1906

Sangers Zebra c1906	Hall by the Sea trainer and leopard	Hall by the Sea Thibet Yak	Dreamland Zoo animal 1971

Dreamland Zoo sea lions 1971	Dreamland Zoo Elephant 1971	Dreamland Zoo Llama 1971	Dreamland Joey of Joyland

Sangers Cages c1906
Recently, some of the cages in the wall around the garden were uncovered

In 1951 the Magic Garden opened in the old ornamental gardens


Around the edge of the park ran a model railway, as shown on the map.

Miniature Railway July 9 1926	Miniature Railway ca 1937	Dreamland Miniature Railway 1953	Miniature Railway July 1946

Dreamland Railway Station	Dreamland Railway Station	Dreamland Arcade Miniature railway station and buffet ca 1930s	Miniature Railway

Dreamland Miniature Railway ca 1930s	Engine No 2 at Park Station	Engine at Station	Engines Nos 1 and 2 at Station

Dreamland Miniature Railway ca 1930s	Engine No 1 at Station	Engine on transporter	Dreamland Miniature Railway

Engine No 1 at Park Station 1961	Dreamland Railway/Red Dragon	Dreamland Park Station No 2 Prince Edward	Dreamland Park Station Engine No 2

Dreamland Park Station Engine No 2	Dreamland Miniature Rly ca 1923	Dreamland Miniature Rly and Station Tunnel	Dreamland railway and garden buildings

Billie at Dreamland station	Dreamland Billie 1979	Dreamland station bridge 1967	Dreamland train in garden

Dreamland train in garden	Dreamland station 1929
The home of the Margate Football Team was a field later to become the Coach Park

Eaton Road Gate 9 April 1909 - Football ground on right	Football Ground 14 Feb 1914 Zoo cages behind	Football Ground Zoo buildings in background	Football ground Brook Terrace and Hall by the Sea Terrace in background

Football Ground Belgrave Road in background	Football Ground 1913 Zoo buildings in background	Football Ground 1913 Belgrave Road in background	Dreamland Football match 1920s

Football Ground
The Amusement Park contained a wide range of rides and stalls.

Tea Gardens and Scenic Railways 1920s	Scenic Railway 1960	Scenic Railway 1929	Scenic Railway ca 1930s

Scenic Railway	Maintainance of Scenic Railway	Scenic Railway	Dreamland Scenic Rly 1920

Scenic Railway	Scenic Railway from Dreamland Coach Park	Scenic Railway 1960	Dreamland ride 1935

Scenic Railway	Dreamland TrainAir tethered aeroplanes ca 1930s	Dreamland Motro Speed Boat Lake ca 1930s	Roundabout (late Pettrigroves) 1951

Park from top of Scenic Railway Aug 1953	Park 1955	Park from top of Skye Wheel August 1953	West side of Park 1955

West side of Park	Hurricane Jets ride 20 May 1956	Paratrooper ride	The Caves

Dreamland Park	Prize Car at Dreamland	Kiddies Day 1 Oct 1934 - Indian magician	Kiddies Day 1 Oct 1934 - Indian magician

Publicity material for Girl in Bottle	Publicity material for Girl in Bottle	The Falls	The Park 1927

The Park 1927	Ride 1922	Bert Powsey High Diver 1927	Bert Powsey High Diver

Haunted Snail June 1950	Dreamland July 1946	Dreamland Midget Town programme 1930s	Dreamland watching the Fireworks ca 1930s

Construction of the replica of the Queen Mary in 1951	Paratrooper 1961	Racing Cars Dreamland	The Snail Dreamland

Dreamland Park	Dreamland Park	Jet Ride Dreamland	Dreamland Park

Dreamland Park	Dreamland Park	Dreamland Park 1966	Dreamland Park

Dreamland Upside Down House 1950s	Dreamland the sphinx 1960	Dreamland Racers	Dreamland Racing Cars [John Robinson]

Dreamland Skating [John Robinson]	Dreamland The Whip	Dreamland Boating	Dreamland Cycle Drome July 1936

Dreamland Cycle Drome July 1936	Dreamland Attendent July 1936	Dreamland River Caves July 1936

Dreamland ride 1975	Dreamland ride 1975	Dreamland roundabout 1975	Dreamland skating rink

Buillding the Wall Of Death	Wall Of Death Riders	Dreamland Rides 1960s	Dreamland Rides 1960s

Dreamland Rides 1966	Dreamland Rides 1964	Peter Pan Railway	Cars, 1959

Dreamland Scenic Railway
A set of postcards by J. Easton, Clifton Baths

Dreamland Scenic Railway	Dreamland The Falls	Dreamland Scenic Railway and Zoo	Dreamland Scenic Railway

Dreamland Motor Racing Cars and Caterpillar	Dreamland Rides	Dreamland Caterpillar

Kitchen for Garden Cafe	Garden Cafe	Garden Cafe window	Garden Cafe ca 1937

Staff at Dreamland 1927 in front of Abbey Ruins	Dreamland Catering Messrs Barclay Pekins & Co party	Dreamland Catering Taylor Walkers party for 3000

Damage to Scenic Railway due to Fire 21 August 1949	Fire damage 1930	Fire damage 1930	Fire damage 1930

Fire damage 1930	Dreamland Fire 1925	Dreamland Fire 1925	Dreamland Fire Wallins Arcade 1950

Dreamland Fire Wallins Arcade 1950	Dreamland Fire Wallins Arcade 1950
A miniature coach ran from the car park



Dreamland Coach Park 1968	Dreamland Coach Park 1968
top of section \| top of page
Dreamland Cinema
Various changes to the old Hall-by-the-Sea buildings took place after John Iles took over in 1919. The old ballroom was converted into a cinema in 1923 when the old roller skating ring was converted into a new ballroom

Dreamland Ballroom little changed in 1920	Dreamland Variety Cinema 1931	The new Ballroom 1927	The Stage in the new Ballroom

Dreamland Great Ballroom ca 1930a	Dreamland Super Variety Cinema advert 1929
The exterior had been remodelled but although the name Dreamland was on the front of the building, the side still said Hall by the sea.

Dreamland Hall	Dreamland 1920s	Group outside Dreamland Variety Cinema	Group outside Dreamland Grand Super Cinema
Competition from the other cinemas in Margate led to the decision to demolish the old building and construct an entirely new cinema: work started in 1933.

Dreamland cinema	Dreamland 1949	Dreamland Cinema Compton Organ	Dreamland Cinema 1934

Dreamland Cafe 1934	Dreamland Cinema entrance 1934	Dreamland 1934 entrance vestibule	Saloon Bar 1934

Dreamland floor plan 1934	Dreamland Buffett 1934	Dreamland cinema booking foyer 1935	Dreamland Cafe 1934

Dreamland Cafe bar 1934	Dreamland cafeteria 1934	Dreamland cinema inside 1935	Dreamland cinema main foyer 1935

Dreamland cinema section plan	Dreamland cinema side entrance 1935	Dreamland cinema staircase 1935	Dreamland Cinema 1935

Dreamland Entrance hall 1934	Dreamland view from cafe 1934	Dreamland Coach station 1934

Dreamland cinema interior ca 1930s	Dreamland Sunshine cafe ca 1930s	Dreamland Cinema entrance early 1950s [TDC collection]	Dreamland, Foyer Of Cinema 1956

Foyer Of Cinema 1956	Foyer Of Cinema 1956	Foyer Of Cinema 1956	Foyer Of Cinema 1956

Foyer Of Cinema 1956	Foyer Of Cinema 1956	Foyer Of Cinema 1956	Foyer Of Cinema 1956
top of section \| top of page
Dreamland Publicity Material
A variety of pamphlets were produced by Dreamland. These give an insight into what was thought to be important in attracting visitors to Margate.
Dreamland Advertising Booklet ca 1931

Dreamland advertising booklet ca 1931	Page 1	Dreamland Flower Gardens	The New Dreamland

The New Arcade	The New Amusement Park	Reconstructions	Reconstructions

Catering Facilities	The Garden Cafe	The New Dreamland Amusement Park
Dreamland Catering 1934

Margate Estates Co pamphlet [1934]	Specimen Menus	Dreamland New kitchen one of three	Dreamland dining hall laid for 1000

Dreamland dining hall seats 550	Dreamland dining hall seats 500	Dreamland dining hall laid for 500	Dreamland dining hall laid for 250

Dreamland dining hall seats 250	Dreamland dining hall seats 500	The New Dreamland
top of section \| top of page