News Archive: July 2010

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Wednesday, 29 December 2010

New photos in gallery
Over the last few days we have added two sets of photos to our online gallery of vintage Dreamland photographs. The first set show views of Dreamland in the 1980s, with its iconic attractions dominating the Margate skyline. With thanks to Martin Turner.

Thanks also to Peter Sutton for sending some fantastic photos of Dreamland between 1969 and 2006. The new Peter Sutton Gallery includes a rare photo of the Astro-Liner ride (right).

And don't forget to visit the construction gallery of work at the Dreamland site, which is updated regularly.

Friday, 24 December 2010

Gazette reports on commencement of works at Dreamland
Today's Isle of Thanet Gazette has devoted its front page to the work that has finally started on the Dreamland site. The front page article covers the works to the Cinema building, following the issuing of an Urgent Works Notice by Thanet District Council. The work to the Cinema is being funded by grants that have been awarded to the Dreamland Trust and Thanet District Council.

A second article in today's Gazette looks forward to work starting on the Scenic Railway early next year once the company has been selected to carry out the work. The Dreamland Trust is considering tenders submitted by various international wooden roller coaster specialists.

The Save Dreamland Campaign website will be following progress with the works at Dreamland in a special photo gallery. We have already uploaded photographs from the first few days of work.

Chairman of the Dreamland Trust Nick Laister comments: "Seeing this important restoration work start on the Cinema is a fantastic end to 2010 and will be closely followed early next year with works to the Scenic Railway. We still have significant hurdles to cross, but we are going into 2011 with the prospect of seeing Dreamland transformed over the next 12 months. On behalf of the Dreamland Trust, I would like to thank all of the Campaign's members for their continued support and wish everybody a very Merry Christmas."


The above photograph, taken from the Save Dreamland front page, is by Dave Collard, who is the main person behind the camera in the new Dreamland construction photo gallery.

Saturday, 18 December 2010

New photo gallery/Latest newsletter
Scaffolding has now started appearing on the Dreamland Cinema. Now that work on site has started, we have launched a new Photo Gallery, where on a regular basis we will provide you with the latest photos of activity from the Dreamland site. Click here for the new gallery to see progress on site over the past few days and check back regularly as we will add new pictures as work progresses.

The December issue of the Dreamland Trust Newsletter is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the Dreamland Margate project by the Dreamland Trust. This has already been sent by email to all those who have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our mailing list.

Thursday, 16 December 2010

New Dreamland Margate website launched/Works start at Dreamland
As the first real signs of activity start on the Dreamland site, the Dreamland Trust has today launched its brand new website www.dreamlandmargate.com. The site provides regularly updated information on progress with the Dreamland development, the rides we have secured and how to get involved. It also features a fascinating timeline of Dreamland history along with information on the Dreamland Trust and its Project Team. There is also a news page which will provide information on the Dreamland Trust's activities.

The new website is launched on the day that visible work starts at Dreamland, with the Cinema building now fenced off along Marine Terrace to allow for scaffolding to be erected from tomorrow. Work on the cinema roof and electrics should start in January, then in February/March we are expecting work to start on the restoration and rebuild of the Scenic Railway roller coaster. We will keep you updated on progress and will post photographs as work gears up.


www.dreamlandmargate.com

Saturday, 11 December 2010

A sparkling Christmas celebration for all the family
The Dreamland Trust presents The Pinball Parlour, a sparkling Christmas celebration for all the family. For one week only Dreamland will be celebrating Christmas in vintage amusement arcade style - a unique opportunity to experience, and play, a selection of classic 1960s, 70s and 80s pinball machines, games and juke boxes. 

The celebration runs from 18 to 24 December 2010 at 10am-4pm daily. Find us at The Pie Factory, Broad Street, Margate CT9 1EW.

FREE entry, no booking required, just a pocket full of loose change!

Sunday, 28 November 2010

The Isle of Thanet Gazette reports that a decision is expected next week on whether Thanet District Council will purchase the Dreamland site using a compulsory purchase order. The article can be viewed here.

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Latest Dreamland Trust newsletter available for download

The October issue of the Dreamland Trust Newsletter is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the Dreamland Margate project. This was sent by email to all those who have signed up for the Campaign on 12 November 2010. If you would like to get a copy of the newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our mailing list.

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

TV alert: Dreamland on this Sunday's Country Tracks on BBC1
Dreamland will be featured in this Sunday’s Country Tracks (7 November 2010) on BBC One at 11am. Set your video recorders, PVRs, DVRs and Sky planners! The series celebrates the British countryside and this week focuses on Kent.

Nick Laister was recently interviewed by G-Force Mag.

Sunday, 25 October 2010

Friday's Isle of Thanet Gazette included an item on the Dreamland Trust's appeal for information on three photographs in its archive collection. Click here to read the article.

Saturday, 14 October 2010

Share your memories of Dreamland/Latest Newsletter
Share your Dreamland memories at a family event in Margate on 26 October. Local writer Maggie Harris will be holidag a free, creative event where everyone is welcome to attend and share their memories of Dreamland. Drinks are provided.

Booking is essential, by phoning Nicola on 07845 979024. The event is to be held at the Margate Media Centre, King Street, Margate CT9 1DA.

For a large PDF flyer, click on the image to the right.

Issue 7 of the Dreamland Trust Newsletter is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the Dreamland Margate project.

This has already been sent by email to all those who have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our mailing list.

Sunday, 10 October 2010

Dreamland mentioned in Observer...
...but only very briefly, in an article on the future for Hastings Pier, which was almost entirely destroyed by fire last week. Read On...

Thursday, 7 October 2010

Dreamland in Isle Magazine/Mick Twyman
In the new edition of Thanet's listings magazine, Isle, Kiki Case reports on the rebirth of Dreamland. Although the article is highly inaccurate, it sets the work to develop a 21st Century amusement park attraction at Dreamland in the context of the park's history. Click here to view the article.

In the same edition, Thanet District Council's heritage development advisor Nick Dermott writes about some of his favourite architecture in Thanet, one of which is the Scenic Railway.

In other news, Dreamland was mentioned in last week's launch of the Margate Arts, Creativity and Heritage Programme, as reported in Your Thanet News.

And finally a belated mention of the death of local historian Mick Twyman last month, who was a good friend of the Save Dreamland Campaign and will be sadly missed by all of us.
 

Mick was the founder of the Margate Historical Society and was one of the first people to actively support the Campaign, meeting with Nick Laister in January 2003 at the Shell Grotto only days after the Campaign was set up. He supported the Campaign continuously since those early days and supplied information and photographs, some of which are displayed in our Galleries. In 2003, Mick was also the first person to propose the idea of Dreamland being used as a site to display "working funfair heritage" - see Comments page.

Wednesday, 8 September 2010

Dreamland in The Archaeologist
The Archaeologist, the Institute for Archaeologists' colourful quarterly house-magazine, devotes three pages to Dreamland and amusement park heritage in the new Autumn 2010 issue.

Michelle Stratton reviews the conference on amusement park history that took place in Southport in April, at which Nick Laister spoke about the proposals for the world's first amusement park of historic rides at Dreamland. There were also talks on the demise of Pleasureland and the legacy of London's Battersea Fun Fair.

The major Dreamland item is a two-page article by heritage consultant Jason Wood, who has been directly involved in the Dreamland project. In this article, Wood sets out the background to the Dreamland proposals and why that inspired him to organise the Southport conference. View the two articles.

Sunday, 29 August 2010

Dreamland guided tour
Dreamland is offering a tour of the world famous amusement park site and a presentation about its future as the world’s first heritage amusement park as part of Margate Heritage Open Days next month. The guided tour and talk, which is to be held on Friday 10th September, will take two hours, and the event starts at Marine Terrace. To book call 01843 609270.

A total of 12 different venues will be throwing open their doors next month, as part of Heritage Open Days, which runs from Thursday 9 September until Sunday 12 September. It’s been organised under the banner of Margate Arts, Creativity, Heritage (MACH). Click here for a programme of events in Margate. More here: www.heritageopendays.org.uk


Click for larger image

Sunday, 22 August 2010

Latest Dreamland Trust newsletter available for download

Issue 6 of the Dreamland Trust Newsletter is now available to download. This provides an update on work on the Dreamland Margate project. This has already been sent by email to all those who have signed up for the Campaign. If you would like to get a copy of the newsletter before it appears on this website, please join our mailing list.

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