Whitstable Harbour’s SECR gates that now lead to... nowhere!

HERE are two photographs of the South Eastern & Chatham Railway gates adjacent to Whitstable Harbour, as seen in late June.

These gates are sited on the north side of Harbour Street-Tower Parade just to the east of the junction with Cromwell Road. On the other side of the road, leading to Tower Parade, is a long-stay car park.

These gates must have served as road/vehicle access to the harbour.

The railway lines crossed the road at a sharp angle further to the east to access the harbour.

The iron fencing stretches away to the east. The rather unsightly buildings in the background are an aggregate works.

The gates and associated fencing are all that remains of the railway which has origins dating back to 1830.

Peter Moore, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire