West Cliff Hall / Motor Museum - Ramsgate, JAN 2012

[Flyboy]

I have had my eye on this place for a long time now (it is very close to home), so I am glad it has now become doable! It was pitch dark in most rooms in this place - it is all boarded up apart from the access point, and a door out onto a terrace! Not really any evidence left inside from this building's days as a concert hall or a museum. Despite this, it was a very enjoyable solo visit!

History

This fine building has been empty since closure of the Ramsgate Motor Museum in 2006. Formerly a theatre and concert hall, the building has hosted many top artists including The Rolling Stones. Originally dug out of chalk the hall opened in 1914 just two days before the outbreak of war. Apparently the hall, which has a 600 square metre terrace overlooking the ferry terminal and harbour, is the only cliff top hall left in the country.

Recently the hall has been identified for disposal by Thanet District Council, and was listed in an auction with a guide price of £200,000. The Isle of Thanet Gazette for July 30th 2010 reports that following intervention by the Mayor Councillor David Green, the building has been withdrawn from the auction pending the outcome of talks with actress Janet Fielding. Miss Fielding's vision includes a 250 seat theatre, 75 seat cinema, restaurant, offices, meeting rooms, gallery and shop. Miss Fielding hopes to raise in excess of £5,000,000 in grants to fund the project.

Photographs

I am not the best lightpainter, so some of these images aren't up to par - focusing the camera was fun!



The roof of this building actually forms part of the promenade!





Found this under the entrance canopy.



Inside the entrance:





Main room - there was once a stage here!







On the terrace!







And a self portrait...



Thanks for looking!

[Clough]

That's good is that, mega like! Your light paintings not that bad

[MJS]

Yea, a lot of folk make a right mess of light painting. Good skills

[Flyboy]

That's good is that, mega like! Your light paintings not that bad

In pics 7&8 I had daylight flooding in from the terrace on one side behind me, so it was difficult to balance!

[simonix]

Nice work!

[GeoVDUB]

It's good is this!

[robbo1980]

good explore right there. like it

[coops]

good explore mate and nice to see something new

[obscurity]

nice effort there. The main doors are now open and there are squatters in there. The light switch at the bottom of the office steps turns all the lights on though throughout the building then there is only a few rooms you need to light paint. Did you see the metal door which looks like a safe? this leads through a connecting tunnel into the pub although it has been locked every time ive been down there. Glad ya got to see it, its a nice little splore if your local

[Flyboy]

nice effort there. The main doors are now open and there are squatters in there. The light switch at the bottom of the office steps turns all the lights on though throughout the building then there is only a few rooms you need to light paint. Did you see the metal door which looks like a safe? this leads through a connecting tunnel into the pub although it has been locked every time ive been down there. Glad ya got to see it, its a nice little splore if your local

Cheers for that - as I am literally just round the corner I will probably go back again soon. I didn't see that door - although if this place stays open much longer it wouldn't surprise me if it ends up open!