MARGATE MEMORIAL GETS INCREASED LISTED STATUS

A memorial in Margate cemetery to a national tragedy, which attracted funding from royalty, has had its listed status increased.

The Surf Boat Memorial in St. John Cemetery has now been designated as Grade II* listed for its historic and artistic interest. Only 5.5% of buildings in the country are Grade II* and the grading is reserved for particularly important buildings of more than special interest.

The white marble memorial was unveiled in 1900 and was dedicated to nine men, all of whom died when the Margate surf boat, A Friend to All Nations, capsized whilst answering a distress call from the ship Persian Empire in 1897. It shows a large rock, with an anchor, rope and a lifebelt on top of it, inscribed with the words “Margate Surf Boat”, with a weeping female figure representing hope.

Funds for the Surf Boat Memorial came from all over the world, including £1,000 raised by the Daily Telegraph and £35 donated by Queen Victoria. In total, almost £10,000 was raised and the majority of it was spent on two memorials, the funeral procession and providing very small pensions for the widows. The second memorial was a bronze figure of a lifeboat man looking out to sea by the Nayland Rock on Margate seafront, which is Grade II listed.

The listing has been increased to Grade II* by English Heritage because “the loss of lifeboat men at sea was a tragedy experienced by many coastal towns, and memorials to such events are poignant reminders of England’s historic maritime economy and the toll this could take on coastal communities. The Margate disaster attracted funds from over the world and touched the nation.”

Cllr. Simon Moores, Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Regulatory Services, said: “It’s wonderful to see the listed status of the Surf Boat Memorial increased, and rightly so, as it has a great deal of historical significance. We need to ensure that we preserve the area’s history and the memorial is one small part of that rich heritage.”