Above photo 1920, showing the area where the "Conyngham" used to stand.

Above photo circa 1920, showing the bowling green.

From the Thanet Advertiser, 7 July, 1894.

IMPROVEMENTS AT PEGWELL.

The quiet-going little hamlet of Pegwell, after a long period of competitive somnolence, seems to be awakening to the needs of these progressive times. In the vicinity of the locality famed for its shrimps and its tea-parties (and more latterly for badgers), private enterprise has been doing much to bring Pegwell up to date. We have been able once or twice during the last twelve months to record generous gifts to the public of land belonging to private owners, the donors including Mr. R. Bear, Mr. Banger, and Mr. J. Passmore Edwards, of the Echo. Since that time the prosperity of the picturesque hamlet has received a distinct fillip, and many Pegwellians, with a courage and optimism which does them credit, are prophesying great things for the pleasant little spot. Foremost amongst the endeavours made is the generous effort of Mr. Passmore Edwards, who has purchased the building formerly known as "Tatnell’s Hotel," and, with characteristic generosity placed it at the disposal of the Working Men's Club and Institute Union, London. Mr. Passmore Edwards's idea is this: that there are a large number of London artisans and other members of clubs and institutes in the metropolis who, run down by overwork and long hours in the great city, need an occasional indulgence in the relaxations which the sea-side pre-eminently affords. So, at considerable cost, he has purchased the "Pegwell hotel," had it fitted with great completeness from top to bottom, and has and has handed it over to the Club and Institute Union, whose endeavour it will be to make it an attractive sea-side resort for members of associated clubs. Mr. Passmore Edwards has provided all that is necessary in the way of decorating, repairing, and fitting the thirty odd rooms in the commodious building. The Club und Institute Union are to provide the furniture, and the Club and Institute Union not being endowed, any more than the rest of us, with superfluous funds, are asking clubmen and other generous people to help them in the endeavour to suitably furnish the place. Several London clubs have promptly responded to the Uuion's appeal, and the members of the Ramsgate Liberal Club are making an effort to endow one or two rooms. Several prominent gentlemen have handed over their subscriptions, and it is hoped and expected that the balance will be forthcoming without long delay. It would be a poor return for Mr. Passmore Edwards's generosity if the Convalescent Home had to start its career in nakedness. All who have had anything to do with furnishing houses know what it means to adequately fit up apartments in a comfortable style. Modestly enough the Union appear to have put down £5 per room as the estimate. It will thus be seen that there will be little Oriental magnificence about the home’s appointments; the aim of the kindly donor, and of the Union is to provide a place where the jaded and weary Londoner can enjoy himself for a few weeks in the summer and bring back to his cheeks the colour of health. Who would not help in such a cause us this? The Thanet Advertiser reporter who went down to view the place a day or two ago was charmed with the arrangements made. Everything is in apple-pie order, and the project taken all round seems to be an admirable one. He was informed that the subscribers towards the fond for endowing the "Ramsgate Room" included the ever-ready Mayor of Ramsgate, Sir William H. Wills. Bart, Messrs. W. Carling, M. J. Poole, G. Vye, A. T. Richford, E. E. Wastall, and other popular local friends of the workers. The idea is such a capital one that there is no room to doubt the ultimate success of the scheme.

In addition to the Convalescent Rome, Pegwell is having improvements of another kind. The gardens below the cliff, where in his younger days our representative spent many delightful and inexpensive hours contemplating the scenery and the stars, etcetera, have been, so to speak, rejuvenated, and they begin to look gay in their new attire. In a few days it is hoped the transformation scene will be complete, and Pegwell-by-the-Sea will be beautiful again. Mr. G. Scamp, of Ramsgate, is the builder of the new venture. It will include handsome and spacious dining rooms, a tennis ground, shady bowers where people can eat shrimps and drink tea, a large room for beanfeast and dinner parties, a lake for skating in winter, and lots of other attractive features, much too numerous to mention. Mr. Scamp is also engaged in repairing the remains of the picturesque little pier, which was ruined in a furious gale some years since. It is now being so renovated as to afford an easy landing place for small boats. Under the cliff there will be a capital road for promenading, and means are being furnished whereby a descent can be easily made from the summit to the cool shade of the “ground floor.” Our man looked in rain for artificial rock work. The enterprising proprietor, however, believe in taking Nature as he finds her, and, as a consequence, no monstrosities of that character are on view. Some day, when Pegwell-by-the-Sea becomes a thriving borough, and its inhabitants get old and childish, the imitation rockery may be there. Up to the present the promoters of the "Conyngham" restaurants and pleasure grounds rely largely upon Nature’s aid for the beautification of this pleasing little spot. Mr. Scamp very nearly let our representative into a secret. It appears that he has discovered, somewhere, a stream of pure water, and a well, full of Apollinaris, or Zoedone, or Glencoe, or some equally pleasant liquid. Now, it isn’t generally known, but eminent antiquarians say it is a fact that Pegwell was so called because a well existed there. Where the "peg" comes in is not so certain. At all events the well has been discovered and the oldest inhabitants of the hamlet are at this moment telling one another stories about a certain worthy gentleman named Augustine, who was in business in the saint line, and who used to come down to Pegwell with his family every summer to eat shrimps and take the waters of this wonderful well. Several gentlemen visitors were taking the waters during the visit of our reporter, and he noticed with pleasure the invigorating effects of the medicinal precaution. Jesting aside, there will be something to see this year at Pegwell if the present weather holds out and the visitors hold on. Certainly the enterprise is one of some magnitude, and one cannot help wishing the sanguine promoters all the success they deserve and expect. Those who knew Pegwell in the old days will rejoice at its reawakening. It is a very pretty little spot, easy of access from the town, and it promises to provide more than one valuable addition to the many attractions of the borough.

It has been arranged that the "Conyngham Restaurant and Cafe" shall be opened next Wednesday.

From the Thanet Advertiser, 22 September, 1894.

REGATTA AT PEGWELL BAY.

St. Augustine would have been considerably astonished had he re-visited Pegwell Bay on Tuesday to find the picturesque hamlet in its best holiday attire, with visitors as numerous as shrimps on the sea shore. Pegwell does not have a regatta often. It used to in the old days, but some time ago the inhabitants abandoned the event and went to sleep, like Rip van Winkle. Also like that amiable Dutchman they subsequently woke up, and this year, as becomes a branch of a healthy parent stem like Ramsgate, Pegwell has endeavoured to make itself famous by holding a regatta entirely "on its own." And, despite the not unexpected difficulty about funds, a very pleasant and successful little affair it was. Hundreds of visitors flocked to the scene during the day, and, the weather being splendid, watched in comfort and with apparent interest the progress of a good programme of events. The pretty grounds of the "Conyngham Cafe," of which Mr. G. Scamp is the proprietor, and the bijou pier adjoining, were utilised for the occasion, and the regatta offered in one material respect a considerable advantage over other fetes of the sort. Everyone could see what was going on, and everyone seemed to enter readily into the spirit of the affair. At many regattas the interest is limited to the favoured individuals who happen to be aboard the lugger which serves as a committee boat. It should be mentioned that the gentlemen who most assisted in making the arrangements for the gala were Messrs. S. Banger, sen., A. Downs, G. Scamp, H. R. Armitage, R. Grant, S. Banger, jun., W. Fife, G. Hills, and G. Moulder; while Mr. J. Simson very efficiently discharged the by no means light duties of hon. sec. The evening’s illuminations, as well as the decorations, were wisely entrusted to Messrs. Assiter and Andrews, who repeated, on a more limited scale, their notable successes at Ramsgate regatta. Naturally the illuminations were an attractive feature of the proceedings, and came in for a good deal of favourable comment. For the races, Mr. H. R, Armitage acted as starter, Mr. R. Grant as umpire, and Mr. Simson dealt very diplomatically with the competitor—always in evidence at regattas—who hasn't won a prize and won't be happy till he gets one. In the evening there was to have been an illuminated cycle parade. Owing to some reluctance on the part of local cyclists to immortalise themselves by becoming parts of a public pageant, the procession was on a very limited scale. It included, however, one or two very prettily decorated cycles, that ridden by a small maiden, seated demurely under an umbrella, from which depended numerous coloured lanterns, being the most attractive feature. Prizes for the best illuminated cycles were given by Mr. S. Priestley, High-street, and Mr. Martin, Queen-street. During the afternoon and evening Mr. A. J. Webb's excellent Town and Artillery Band discoursed sweet music in the grounds of the restaurant. The results of the chief contests were as follows:—

Pair-oared race in wherries, open to Pegwell, Chilton, and St Lawrence; prizes, clock given by Mr. J. J. Blackburn, £1, aud 10s.:—1, Bow Bella (S. Banger, jun., and Milton); 2, Wallflower (Ambrose and Hinge); 3, Lizzie (Redmond and King.)

Boatmen's race in wherries, with coxswains; prizes £2, £1, and 10s.:—1, Bow Bells (Kirkcaldie and Cullen); 2, Lizzie (Miller aud Stead); 3, Unknown (Cooper and Fox.)

Youths' swimming race, for cup presented by Mr. J. Simson. and 7s. 6d. for second prize:— 1, F. Sutton ; 2, Goldfinch; 3, G. Lush.

Pair-oared race in wherries, for Volunteers, Firemen, and Ambulance Corps. Prizes, first, given by the Mayor of Ramsgate; second, £1; third, 10s.:—1, Bow Bells (Tucker and Crale); 2, Lizzie (W. and W. A. Brett); 3, Caroline (G. Read and W. Fagg.)

Barrow race, for prizes, first given by Mr. C. Buckley, second by Mr. G. Foreman, third by Mr. S. Banger, jun. 1, March; 2, Clarke; 3, Redmond.

Obstacle race; prizes 10s., 5s., and 2s. 6d.:— 1, J. March; 2, Liddle; 3, Fox.

Shrimpers' race ; prizes 10s., 7s. 6d., 5b., and 2s. 6d.:—1, Goldfinch; 2, Craycraft; 3, H. Gisbey.

Special barrow race; prizes, first, silver watch, second, 5s. 1, G. Fox; 2, Drury.

There were also the usual greasy pole contest, which excited the accustomed amount of fun, and numerous other sports were provided in the grounds. The prizes were distributed on Wednesday evening at the "Chiltern Tavern," the ceremony being performed by Mr. S. Banger, sen., the chairman of the committee.

From the Thanet Advertiser, 1 August, 1896.

WANTED.

A waiter and a waitress.

Apply "Conyngham Cafe," Pegwell Bay.

Following text taken from ????.

The picture from the Pegwell regatta shows a large bay where today much of it has been reclaimed. This article from the National Piers Society shows the why.

"Britain’s shortest-lived pleasure pier at just five years was conceived as part of the Ravenscliff Gardens development by the Pegwell Bay Aquarium and Hotel Company. The Company was formed by James Tatnell, who owned the Clifton Hotel in the village, in 1872 to reclaim six acres of foreshore for the gardens. The aquarium part of the scheme was later dropped, but the Clifton Hotel was enlarged, and in addition to the pier, the gardens were also to house a swimming pool, restaurant, skating rink and photographic studio.

An application was forwarded to the Board of Trade in June 1874 and work began on reclaiming the cove the following year. On 16th September 1879 the Ravenscliff Gardens and Pier were formally opened and a basic entrance fee of 2d was charged to use the gardens and pier, although this was increased to up to 6d for special occasions such as regattas.

The pier was a rather fragile structure, 300ft in length, constructed of wood with slender iron supporting columns. A kiosk was placed on the pier head, which also had two small landing stages. However, no evidence has come to light that any vessels ever called there and the gardens and pier were a colossal failure; leading to the failure of the Pegwell Bay Aquarium and Hotel Company within a year of opening.

The Clifton Hotel and Ravenscliff Gardens and Pier passed to the mortgage company (the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Building Society) who leased them in 1880 to John Garratt Elliott, who, as a member of the London Swimming Club, was principally interested in the swimming pool. However he departed in the following year and the mortgage company tried unsuccessfully to sell the development. It appears that in 1883-4 the gardens and pier were leased to Jane Carter at the Belle Vue Tavern (famous for its shrimp paste), but the short and rather sad life of the little pier came to an end on 4th December 1884 when the hull of the wrecked barge Usko drove through the shore end of the structure during a gale. In January and February 1885 the surviving portion of the pier was sold off upon the cliff top.

The gardens eventually came into the hands of the Working Men’s Club & Institute Union, which had utilised the former Clifton Hotel since August 1894. A corner was also used by the Conyngham Café for various entertainments between the years 1894-1908. The swimming pool was filled in in 1895 and the gardens steadily over the years became unkempt. They were abandoned by the convalescent home in the late 1960s and are now very overgrown. However, at low tide, the piles of the head of the long-lost pier may still be seen.

A booklet by Martin Easdown about this Kentish resort and its failed attempts to become a watering place to rival neighbouring Ramsgate is available via the NPS Shop webpage. The booklet has a particular emphasis on the development and decline of the Ravenscliff Gardens and Pier during the period 1872 to 1908."

Thanet Advertiser 29 September 1900.

APPLICATION' FOR A FULL LICENCE FOR THE CONYNGHAM CAFE.

Mr. George Charles Scamp, of the "Conyngham Restaurant," Pegwell, applied for a licence to sell spirits.

Mr. A. H. Daniel supported the application, which was opposed by Mr. H. Bracher (for the temperance party), and Mr. J. W. Weigall (for the owner and tenant of the "Belle Vue Hotel").

Mr. Daniel stated that Mr. Scamp had been tenant of the premises in question for the last five or six years, holding them on a lease which expired in 1915, at an annual rental of £120.

About four or five years ago Mr. Scamp obtained from their worships a licence to sell wines and beer, and although he had found that licence a great boon and of very great service to him in carrying on his business, he found it absolutely impossible to comply with the urgent and perfectly legitimate demands of his customers without that further concession he was asking at their worships’ hands that day.

Mr. Scamp, in addition to the ordinary business of a restaurant keeper, also carried a considerable business as a hotel proprietor or boarding-house keeper. The premises contained twelve bedrooms, which were capable of providing sleeping accommodation for upwards of thirty persons. In addition he had a number of boarders for whom he provided sleeping accommodation elsewhere.

Pegwell, added Mr. Daniel, was a most favoured resort of visitors to this neighbourhood. There was hardly a single visitor to Ramsgate or the Isle of Thanet who did not find himself some time or other at Pegwell Bay, which was famous not only for its beautiful air and surroundings, but was also famous for shrimps, whether potted or unpotted.

If Pegwell Bay was an attractive spot the "Conyngham" restaurant was the most attractive feature in that locality, having spacious dining-rooms and gardens extending out to the seashore. Mr. Scamp had supplied him with statistics which shewed that during the month of August alone there were over 2,100 dinners served in the house. Among such a large number of persons there must necessarily be a large demand for spirits, more especially when they considered the fact that whiskey was far superseding beer as the national beverage of the country. Then, again, they all knew that amongst the most numerous supporters of Mr. Scamp were those persons travelling in the many brakes and waggonettes standing all the way from the "Conyngham Restaurant" right up the Pegwell-road in the direction of Ramsgate.

In order to show that the application was made to supply a great public demand he would be able to put in a letter written by the secretary of the brake association in which he urgently asked Mr. Scamp to apply for the licence, because there were loud and frequent complaints by people travelling in the wagonettes and brakes that they could not obtain spirits at the "Conynghnm Restaurant." He had also a memorial signed by over 800 persons, and one from the brake drivers and proprietors numbering 66 signatures. He ventured to think there never was a stronger case presented to their worships.

Mr. George Charles Scamp, the applicant, bore out the opening statement, adding that he had as many as 70 persons taking meals at his house daily during the season. There was a considerable demand for spirits, and surprise had often been expressed by visitors that he could not supply them with each. He witnessed every signature appended to the memorial. A large number of brakes stopped outside his house and he had frequently to send out for spirits.

By the Magistrates’ Clerk:- The rateable value of the premises was £48 per year.

Applicant was cross-examined at some length by Mr. Weigall with the view of shewing that the "Belle Vue Hotel" met all present.