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© Mr Martin Poole
IoE Number:
356546
Location:
THE GROTTO, GROTTO HILL
MARGATE, THANET, KENT
Photographer:
Mr Martin Poole
Date Photographed:
19 June 2003
Date listed:
22 February 1973
Date of last amendment:
22 February 1973
Grade
I
The Images of England website consists of images of listed buildings based on the statutory list as it was in 2001 and does not incorporate subsequent amendments to the list. For the statutory list and information on the current listed status of individual buildings please go to The National Heritage List for England.
GROTTO HILL
1
1380
The Grotto
TR 3570 NE 6/169
I
2.
Many theories have been advanced for the origin of the Margate Grotto, including
Phoenician origin or a Roman Mithraic Temple. The Grotto was discovered in 1835
by a schoolmaster and his sons digging their back garden. It is however most
likely to be early C19 as there are traces of a modern brick in one of the Gothic
shaped arches. The pattern of the Grotto is 2 semicircular passages leading to
a central dome and then a passage leading off to a rectangular chamber. The Grotto
has about 2000 square yards of shell mosaic consisting of 28 different types of
shells, many of which are foreign. The cement which adheres the shells to the
chalk walls is very similar to Roman cement and is said to contain fish oil and
crushed shells. The motifs include common Egyptian, Greek and Indian motifs.
In the rectangular chamber are motifs of the rising sun, the moon and stars.
The modern buildings at ground level are not listable.