Read about these adventures on our dawsonsoverseas blog

Click here to read about these adventures on our dawsonsoverseas blog

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

From Smack Boys to Vikings

 Decided to walk along the cliff tops from Ramsgate to Pegwell Bay on the outskirts of Sandwich... We set off past grand buildings now transformed into apartments or small hotels.  Some immaculate and some well - rather the worst for wear!  We came across this beautiful building which housed the young sailors from the fishing boats.

The church was so simple and had great feel.  I loved the names and histories on the plaques.  The smack boys were apprenticed from a very young age.  They formed the crew of the small ships with the skipper often being the only adult aboad.

Eventually the home was used to house sailors that had been rescued, mostly from wrecks on the Goodwin Sands. Later some 3,300 survivors of the First World War were fed, clothed, sheltered and medically treated there. 


We left the harbour and the blue plaques behind and set off across the headland... spectacular views. 



At the end of the walk we came upon a replica of a Viking ship which sailed from Denmark to Thanet in 1949, to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the invasion of Britain, the traditional landing of Hengist and Horsa and the betrothal of Hengist's daughter, Rowena, to King Vortigen of Kent.

Viking conditions were faithfully observed and the only instrument carried was a sextant. 

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