Dungeness has gone to the dogs!

The following is from an Octogenarian who revisited Dungeness – and was rather disappointed.

Her ‘Letter to the Editor is published in full – with her permission. She also wouldn’t object to using her full name – but I decided to use initials only.

I’ve grown up loving Dungeness. I’m 80, hadn’t been for a few years due to health problems and went back last Sunday and was devastated with the changes. That wonderful little restaurant at the station, always a queue with lovely home cooked food at a good price, flowers on the table, s/hand books for sale, with a conservatory we’d eat in admiring the view, a lovely warm welcoming café. Replaced with a very cheap run of the mill entrance hall selling tourist crap, with a few wipe clean tables, and a handful of customers snacking. I had never seen Dungeness so busy and the building so desolate, no buzz. Very disappointing as I was looking forward to a good meal in the conservatory. Desperately hungry we walked to The Brigadier (sic Britannia) which was dreadful. People had always recommended The Pilot which I’d never noticed before but saw it as we left. The changes made must have caused a big loss of income. The complete diversity of the buildings are an integral part of its character, the previous café, sheds, shacks, houses the gorgeous circular Georgian building have grown organically are eclectic grown over decades. A burgeoning disneyesque or to be kind, National Trust. I loved it for its wilderness devastated that something so precious is undergoing so many changes don’t get me started on the people having to pay to take photographs or films. Lands End has been perpetually ruined in a similar way.

About the Author: Mike Golding

Born in Ashford a long time ago I have had a lifelong relationship with Dungeness having spent every year here for a fortnights holiday up to the age of 15. In those good old days there was no electricity and hence no radio, no running water and no adequate sewage solutions. Nothing to do other than enjoy the vast expanse of the Ness and all it offered for the young children of that era. Out after breakfast and back before nightfall. There were lakes to swim in. Same lakes to boat on (well old railway sleepers). A derelict school and long disused railway station in and on which to play. Gun emplacements, underground shelters. Sheer bliss. That all ended at 16 when I joined the RAF, finally purchasing a shack – as indeed it was then – in 1971 for the princely sum of £750.00. Only 15 years prior to that we could not afford the £150.00 asking price for what was then known as ‘Windwhistle’, reported to be one of Queen Victoria’s entourages carriages. Still there today, sold last year (2022) and still awaiting planning permission to re construct, but the original structure still concealed behind painted shiplap. Leaving the mob I travelled, retuning ‘home’ as oft I could, and realistically, only becoming a permanent fixture since 1977. In those days there was a vibrant community here with annual gatherings for the Mayday festival – spit roast and all and open days at the Lifeboat station – with bosuns chairs, zip wires to keep the kids happy. I think Health and Safety put paid to that and other activities, as did the moving away of many locals. The result of which , today there are probably less than 20 families residing here permanently, (I have been told not to use the word ‘shacks’ as now, at £650,000.00 plus they are 'desirable bungalows in a well sought after locale'. So ‘Shacks’ they are! End. P.S A few originals left to rent from £500 per week.