Renowned for its rugged beauty and captivating surreality, experience windswept shores and an eclectic mix of architecture in Dungeness.
Sitting at the southernmost edge of the county lies the captivatingly eccentric seascape of Dungeness. Its shingle beach, teeming with wildlife, exudes an artistically isolated, otherworldly ambience.
This allure is amplified by the presence of converted wartime industrial buildings, fisherman’s huts, and stoic lighthouses, punctuating its diverse terrain and telling stories of endeavours past.
This surreal and remote landscape hosts a rich array of rare plant and animal species making it a haven for artists seeking inspiration. Artists including Derek Jarman and Pink Floyd have used Dungeness’ alien landscape for their work and Derek Jarman’s house, Prospect Cottage, was recently saved for the nation to serve as ongoing inspiration for future generations.
The point of Dungeness sits about three miles out into the English Channel and thanks to its unusual geography, is an area of Special Scientific Interest and a protected bird sanctuary which means Dungeness will remain an unspoilt tract of land.
At the ‘north’ end of the estate explorers can find the ‘Watering House’ which, as the name implies, was constructed to house the family who provided fresh water to passing shipping.
However, the majority of the buildings at the ‘south’ end of the area came into being in the 1920s. This was when workers employed by Southern Railway purchased old rolling stock and had them towed off at the end of the line – to become holiday ‘shacks’.
Several of the ‘shacks’ in this area still retain the original railway carriage as part of their building, identified by their ‘carriage’ shape and all adding to the quirkiness of this unique, characterful landscape.
Old railway carriages make surprisingly good interiors. Check out Channel View, Dungeness or El Ray, they have both beautifully preserved parts of the original railway carriage retained inside the holiday home.
Perhaps the most interesting building at Dungeness is The Old Lighthouse. A historic Grade II listed building, it recently commemorated its centenary milestone. Unveiled amidst great ceremony by His Royal Majesty the Prince of Wales in 1904, it withstood the trials of two world wars before its decommissioning in 1960. For 56 years, it served as a guiding beacon for vessels navigating the treacherous waters of the English Channel, earning a revered place in Nickolaus Pevsner’s “Buildings of Kent.”
Rising majestically to nearly 46 metres in height, crowned by a commanding weather vane, and boasting an impressive diameter of 11 metres, the Lighthouse stands as a testament to architectural prowess. Its sturdy frame, crafted from engineering bricks complemented by sandstone inner walls, required the labour of countless hands and the placement of over three million bricks.
Within its imposing exterior, a labyrinth of mezzanine floors fashioned from slate and bolstered by steel beams and monumental rivets awaits exploration. Circular concrete stairs, adorned with ornate wrought iron bannisters, gracefully ascend alongside the walls, connecting each level with effortless grandeur. Cambered casement viewing windows adorn every floor, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape.
East and West Cottages are both former lighthouse keepers cottages set at the foot of the historic roundhouse in Dungeness with great views of the Lighthouse. If the walls could talk they could tell you a tale or two of the former lives of the lighthouse keepers, dating back to the early 19th century. Both of these cottages now sleep four guests and can accommodate one four-legged family member.
