Tuesday 7th July 2026

Heritage Open Days

Westgate-on-Sea Town Council and Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre invite you to enjoy our special Heritage Open Days in September. For details see Events.

Please check our social media and local publications nearer the time for more detailed information:

To pre-book for any of these events, please email Westgate-on-Sea Town Council or use the enquiry address on the Contact Us page of the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre website (contact details below).

Please check our social media and local publications nearer the time for more detailed information.

www.westgateheritagecentre.org.uk
F: Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre

www.westgateonsea.gov.uk
Email: staff@westgateonsea.gov.uk
F: Westgate-on-Sea Town Council
Twitter: @WestgateonSeaTC

Saturday 2nd May 2026

NEWS FROM THE CHAIR

Spring was upon us, and we had hopes of a gradual increase of temperature. But, just as the world was unsteady, so was the weather. We briefly enjoyed the blossom on Westbrook Avenue, before we had a pink carpet instead!

My news is a little longer this quarter so please scroll down the news page to see the report.

For information about our future talks, please visit the Heritage Centre’s website, where we have details of our programme up to September 2026.

Simone Breugem - Chair

Friday 1st May 2026

CHAIR’S REPORT

The AGM took place in March 2026 and after a brief meeting, during which we gave reports of Committee members, we voted in the new committee as follows:

• Chair and Lecture Programme Organiser: Simone Breugem
• Secretary and Minute Taker: Cathy I’Anson
• Treasurer: Jill Beechey
• Membership Secretary: Brian White
• Newsletter Editor and Researcher: Sally Whitworth
• Office Co-ordinator and Volunteer Co-ordinator: Kaye Nightingale

I announced that I will step down from the role as Chair and, indeed from the committee altogether, at the next AGM in March 2027. That will give way for a new Chair to continue and enjoy the role. If that is you - please step forward and let us know.

The new membership year has commenced and most of you have renewed, and we have gained new members too.

We have now secured lectures for the entire year, and we hope to attract more speakers for next year. Please see the website for more details.

Westgate-on-Sea Town Council and Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre are now working closely together. Two Councillors have become members, and both were appointed as Councillor Representative to Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre during the Annual Council Meeting on 6 May 2026. We welcome Cllr Mike Livesey and Cllr Sarah Jarman, who aim to attend our Lecture meetings each month. This follows the Mission Statement which includes “working with other groups to preserve and enhance the heritage of the Town”. Westgate-on-Sea Town Council also has an Events, Tourism & Developments Steering Group which usually meets monthly and is chaired by Cllr Mike Livesey. I am attending these and other Town Council meetings on your behalf and will keep you updated about our collaboration.

Westgate-on-Sea Town Council and Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre are participating in the Heritage Open Days on two days, the 12th and 19th September. Please help us make it memorable and volunteer to help.

We have also spoken about our previous donation of three commemorative benches on the seafront, which are in need of some maintenance, and now has the Town Council’s attention.

Wishing you all a wonderful and joyful summer.

Simone Breugem - Chair

Saturday 8th February 2025

Dr Graham Field (1941-2024)

I want to share with you the sad news that our previous Chairman, Doctor Graham Field, passed away just before Christmas 2024.

Graham had a long association with the Heritage Centre. Dr Dawn Crouch was the founder of the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre in St Saviour’s Church in 2007 and when the Heritage Centre was officially relaunched in 2012 and a committee formed, Graham was asked to become the first Chair and his wife, Brenda, the first Treasurer.

During Graham’s period as Chair, the Heritage Centre’s Business Secretary applied for and received a Lottery Grant to help set up the Heritage Centre for the benefit of the town. Graham and Dawn were instrumental in planning the installation of the three memorial benches on the seafront at St Mildred’s Bay to commemorate those who lost their lives in World Wars 1 and 2 and the work of the VAD hospital during World War 1 (the hospital was situated on Sea Road). Graham also worked closely with Dawn when the Heritage Centre received a grant from the Westgate-on-Sea Co-op. This grant ensured that a plaque in the memory of Westgate men who died in WW1 was erected in the Memorial Field in Lymington Road and also paid for a children’s slide in the playground there.

Graham guided the Heritage Centre as Chair until the AGM in 2022, when Mike Baker took the reins for a year, after which Graham became Chair again for one year, until his health dictated that he took a back seat.

Graham thoroughly enjoyed doing research, as history had been his hobby for a very long time, even when he was working hard as a GP in Cliftonville and on the Children’s Ward at Margate District Hospital.

Graham answered many enquiries that came to Heritage Centre via the website and by post and has written a new booklet with Sally Whitworth, which is to be published this year. As well as a number of booklets on Westgate’s history, he wrote numerous articles for the newsletter and all his contributions will be greatly missed. Graham believed that the Heritage Centre would continue to evolve and bring the history of Westgate-on-Sea to life for future generations, just as Dr Dawn Crouch would have wished.

We owe Graham a great depth of gratitude for the continuity and growth of the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre from 2012 until the present and are pleased to hear that his wife Brenda, who was Treasurer until the AGM in 2022, will remain a keenly interested member.

The Thanksgiving Service for Graham will be taking place on Thursday 10th April 2025 at 11.00 am at St Saviour’s Church, Westgate Bay Avenue CT8 8NX. All are welcome to attend.

Simone Breugem - Chair

Saturday 28th September 2024

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2025 Calendar

The Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2025 Calendars are now on sale, priced at £5 each.

You can buy the calendars at the monthly talks at Christ Church URC, Westgate Bay Avenue, (the next talk will be on Saturday 12th October 2024 and then on the first Saturday of each month) or in the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council Office at 78 St Mildred's Road, Westgate (please see their website for opening hours).

Alternatively, if you would like a calendar (or calendars) posted to you, please email us at - enquiries@westgateheritagecentre.org.uk

Saturday 3rd February 2024

PRICE REDUCTION - Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2024 Calendar

Our 2024 calendar, Past and Present in Westgate-on-Sea is now half price at £2.50. They are available to purchase, while stocks last, at our monthly Saturday talks at Christ Church URC, 54 Westgate Bay Avenue, CT8 5SN at 10am.

The calendar is also available by post for just £5.50 (which includes postage and packing in the UK). Cheques should be made payable to the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre and orders sent to our office address (Office 2, Town Hall Buildings, 31 St Mildred’s Road, Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8RE).

Thursday 28th September 2023

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2024 Calendar

Our 2024 calendar is now on sale and offers a colourful Then and Now look at Westgate-on-Sea.

The calendars are £5 each and available to purchase while stocks last at our monthly Saturday talks (4 November and 2 December at Christ Church URC, 54 Westgate Bay Avenue, CT8 5SN at 10am).

The calendar is also available by post for £7.50 (which includes postage and packing in the UK). Cheques should be made payable to the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre and orders sent to our office address (Office 2, Town Hall Buildings, 31 St Mildred’s Road, Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8RE).

Thursday 1st September 2022

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2023 Calendar

Our 2023 calendar is now on sale and offers a colourful look at Westgate-on-Sea through the decades.

The calendars are £5 each and available to purchase while stocks last at our monthly Saturday talks (on 3 September, 8 October, 5 November and 3 December at Christ Church URC, 54 Westgate Bay Avenue, CT8 5SN at 10am) and from the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council offices (78 St Mildred's Road, Westgate on Sea CT8 8RF).

The calendar is also available by post for £7.00 (which includes postage and packing in the UK). Cheques should be made payable to the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre and orders sent to our office address (Office 2, Town Hall Buildings, 31 St Mildred’s Road, Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8RE).

Wednesday 10th August 2022

Extra Summer Opening Times

We plan to open the Heritage Centre at St Saviour's Church daily from 22nd to 30th August alongside the Westgate Art Group's annual exhibition. This will be an opportunity to access our reference files and purchase our publications. We also hope our 2023 calendar will be on sale.

The planned opening times are:
Monday 22nd to Thursday 25th August - 10am to 4pm
Friday 26th - 1 to 4pm
Saturday 27th - 10am to 4pm
Sunday 28th - 1 to 4pm
Monday 29th (Bank Holiday) - 10am to 4pm
Tuesday 30th - 10am to 4pm.

Please note that these opening times may be subject to late changes.

Tuesday 12th October 2021

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2022 Calendar

Our 2022 calendar is now Sold Out

Our 2022 calendar is now available and its theme is Hotels, Hostelries and Holidays. It is filled with beautiful historic photographs and would make a lovely Christmas gift.

The calendar costing £5 is available to purchase at our monthly Saturday talks and from the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council offices.

It is also available by post at a cost of £7.00 (which includes postage and packing in the UK). Cheques should be made payable to the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre and orders sent to our office address (Office 2, Town Hall Buildings, 31 St Mildred’s Road, Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8RE).

Monday 23rd August 2021

Summer Opening Times

We plan to open the Heritage Centre daily from today until Thursday 2nd September. This will allow access to our reference files and our publications will also be on sale.

The planned opening times are:
Monday to Thursday 10.00am to 4.00pm
Friday and Sunday 1.00 to 4.00pm
Saturday 10.00am to 12.00 noon

Please note that these opening times may be subject to late changes.

Saturday 14th August 2021

Memorial Service - Dr Dawn Crouch

A memorial service for Dr Dawn Crouch, founder of the Heritage Centre who died in November 2020, will be held at St Saviour’s Church on Saturday 4th September at 1pm. This is a very fitting date as it would have been Dawn’s 91st birthday. All are very welcome to attend.

For this Saturday only, the monthly talk will start slightly earlier at 10:15am (doors open at 10am) and refreshments will be on sale after, rather than before, the talk.

Friday 16th July 2021

Westgate-on-Sea Railway Station 150th Anniversary Exhibition

On Westgate Day on Sunday 18th July the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council are providing another opportunity to see the photographic display about the railway station which was part of the commemorative event in April. This is able to be a slightly expanded version of that display. The exhibition takes place at the Westgate-on-Sea Community Centre in Lymington Road, Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8ES from 10am to 4pm.

There will also be an opportunity to purchase the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre’s book on The History of Westgate-on-Sea Railway Station, priced at £7.50, to celebrate the 150th anniversary.

Sunday 25th April 2021

150th Anniversary of Westgate-on-Sea Railway Station

On the 12th April 2021, the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council, Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre and South Eastern Trains held a small celebration to officially mark the 150th anniversary of the station opening. 150 years ago, the event was also a small one, although it was a very important day for the town. The opening of the railway station meant that purchasers of summer vacation homes could now travel quickly and easily to Westgate-on-Sea from London.

At the celebratory event, Jon Sandford, South Eastern Trains Station Manager, gave everyone a warm welcome and thanked those in attendance for supporting an event. He said the significance of Westgate having a station could not be over emphasised, with its importance for the community and for the railway as a whole. He revealed there are more plans for the station to be released at a later date. Westgate-on-Sea Town Councillor Joanna Cornford thanked everyone behind the scenes for their support and effort in staging the anniversary event, especially Gill Gray, the Town Clerk. Special thanks were also given to the Westgate in Bloom team who had planted flowers in the beds outside the front of the station. Westgate Community Spirit craft members also created bunting and silhouettes for the occasion.

Dr Graham Field, Chairman of the Heritage Centre explained that the Heritage Centre was founded by Dr Dawn Crouch who loved Westgate-on-Sea and always said that it would not have existed without the station. Dawn did so much for Westgate-on-Sea. She recorded its history and was rightly elected the first Honorary Freeman. She was very keen on anniversaries and wanted the Town Council to organise a celebration day. In spite of being unwell last year, she gave our Town Clerk, Mrs Gray, quite a lot of instructions about the form the ceremony should take, which sadly have had to be diluted due to Covid.

Dr Field went on to say that Herman Mertens (the owner of the land which became Westgate-on-Sea) sold land to the fledgling East Kent Railway later London Chatham and Dover Railway, and gave the land for a station to the LCDR. It was rumoured that local worthies funded this station. The LCDR took an “identikit”, off the peg design for a rural station for Westgate-on-Sea. Over the years these stations were expanded and modernised according to expanding needs. Until recently, only Meopham and Westgate-on-Sea were largely unchanged. Meopham was radically changed a few years ago leaving Westgate-on-Sea as a unique, remaining example. It has, of course, had to change a bit but, as documented in the history booklet, many of the older parts are still visible.

During recent modernising safety updates, some old features were revealed as documented, like the former booking clerk’s office in the old entrance of the building (now renovated for new purposes) on the up platform. I was delighted to see that the replacement footbridge has a colour scheme with a historical reference to the pre-war Southern Railway.

Mrs Whitworth, our Newsletter editor, has produced a trail leaflet of what would have been visible in 1871 when the station opened. The leaflet is in the style worthy of those produced by Dr Crouch.

Were Dr Crouch here today I am sure she would join me in saying we must treasure this unique station. We all say, “Happy One Hundred and Fiftieth Birthday”.

The Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre has published a thirty-nine page book on The History of Westgate-on-Sea Railway Station, priced at £7.50, to celebrate the 150th anniversary. The book can be purchased at the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council Office, 78 St Mildred’s Road, open Monday to Thursday 10 am to 12 noon and will be available at the Heritage Centre (when we re-open). Copies are also available by post (£9.00 including P&P, in the UK) – see our Publications page.

Saturday 7th November 2020

Dr Dawn Crouch

It is with deep sadness that we must report, Dawn passed away earlier today. She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have been touched by her in their lives. She was a driving force, so passionate about Westgate-on-Sea and its local history and her legacy will live on in our work.

Monday 28th September 2020

Westgate-on-Sea in the Second World War

The Heritage Centre had hoped to put on a series of events in 2020 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Second World War. These were to be based on the true stories of Thanet people who were alive at that time and which were collected by the Heritage Centre Curator, Dr Dawn Crouch, in 2005, 2010 and 2015. Many are no longer with us, but a few are, so it is important for them and their families and the community that these stories should be told at this point in time.

As there is little hope of any gatherings in the near future, because of the Covid 19 regulations, we are making one of our booklets with memories of the people of Thanet available to download.

Download

Monday 28th September 2020

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2021 Calendar

The theme this year is Transport, which ties in with the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Westgate-on-Sea Railway Station on the 12th April 1871.

The calendar costs £5.00

As well as being on sale at the Westgate-on-Sea Town Council Offices, 78 St Mildred's Road, Westgate CT8 6RF, calendars can be posted to members at a cost of £6.50 including postage. Cheques, made out to the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre, should be sent to:-

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre
Town Hall Buildings
31 St Mildreds Road
Westgate-on-Sea CT8 8RE

Because of the Covid-19 crisis, the Heritage Centre is not able to open in St Saviour's Church at the present time. During October 2020, the Heritage Centre office will be open every Tuesday morning from 10 am to 12 noon and members/non-members can also buy calendar from here. There is no need to go up the stairs to the office, a member of Heritage Centre team will be able to speak over the intercom, bring a calendar down and take payment.

Saturday 22nd February 2020

Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre Notice of AGM

The 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre will be held on Saturday 7th March at St Saviour’s Church, Westgate Bay Avenue, Westgate-on-Sea, commencing at 10.30 am. The Church will open at 10.00 am.

BUSINESS

1. To receive a report by members of the Management Committee.
2. To receive a statement of the independently examined accounts from the Treasurer.
3. Election of the Management Committee members who currently are as follows:-
Chair: Dr Graham Field
Vice Chair: Dr Dawn Crouch
Treasurer: Brenda Field
Newsletter Editor/Minutes Secretary: Sally Whitworth
Membership and Volunteers
Co-ordinator: Christine Attwood
Committee Members: Valda Neve

Monday 3rd June 2019

Saturday 15th June

Please note as the Church Summer Fayre is taking place that day, there will be no Heritage Centre Coffee Morning.

Monday 20th May 2019

A thank you to the customers of Westgate Co-op

The Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre would like to thank the customers of the Westgate Co-op who voted for us to receive a grant from the Co-op Local Community Fund to enable us to commemorate Westgate’s important contribution in the Great War 1914-1919.

We have now spent all our money - almost £3500. As a gift to the town we have bought two commemorative benches. One has been installed at St Mildred’s Bay to commemorate the Royal Naval Air Service Station Westgate 1914-1919 and those who flew from the bay.

The second will be installed in Sea Road near to numbers 19 and 25 Sea Road, which were the sites of the Westgate Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospitals, where over 2000 patients were cared for between 1914 and 1919.

The benches will be officially “handed over” to Westgate-on Sea Town Council in short ceremonies on 11th June 2019 at 2.00 p.m. at St Mildred’s Bay and at 2.45 p.m. in Sea Road. All are welcome.

Friday 3rd May 2019

2019 calendar reduced

The Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre 2019 calendar contains images of Westgate-on-Sea past and present and will make a lovely gift.

Price: £7.00 £3.00

Postage and packing: First Class £1.40, Second Class £1.26

Please make cheques payable to Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre and post to:
Westgate-on-Sea Heritage Centre,
c/o Town Hall Buildings,
31 St Mildred's Road,
Westgate-on-Sea,
Kent CT8 8RE.

Tuesday 28th August 2018

Venue change

With the restoration work taking place inside St Saviour's Church we have had to cancel our coffee mornings on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and also alter the venue for talk days on the first Saturday of the month.

The venue for the talk this Saturday (1st September) will now be the newly refurbished Swan, Sea Road.

The function room will open at 10 am and the talk will start at 10.30 am. Refreshments will be available to purchase from the Swan.

Friday 20th July 2018

Coffee mornings update

WHC pop-ins now called Coffee Mornings, will continue on Saturdays 10am to 12pm, however due to St. Saviours Church restoration works commencing on the 24th July, the Wednesday mornings will be cancelled from 25th July 2018 until further notice.

The monthly talks will continue as normal and are shown in the Summer Programme with the next one on Saturday 4th August.

Saturday 8th October 2016

Dawn Crouch Made Honorary Freeman Of Westgate-on-Sea

At a ceremony in June 2016, Dr Dawn Crouch, Consultant Historian of the Heritage Centre, was recognised for her many years of hard work researching and speaking about the local history of Westgate.

Images courtesy James Brazier.