RAMSGATE, Keut, a market-town, sea-poit, and watering-place in the parish of Ramsgate, is situated at the south-east corner of the Isle of Thanet, in 51' 21' N. let., l' 24' E. long., distant 17 miles E.N.E.
from Canterbury, 73 miles E. by S. from London by road, and 97 miles by the South Eastern railway. The town is governed by com missioners under a local act. The population of the town of Ramsgate in 1851 was 11,838. The living is a vicarage in the archdeaconry and diocese of Canterbury.
The ville, as it is legally termed, of Ramsgate, is a member of the Cinque-Port of Sandwich. Ramsgate was anciently a poor fishing town, consisting of a few meanly-built houses, with a small wooden pier. After the revolution of 1688 some of the inhabitants embarked in the Russian trade, by which they acquired wealth, and this led to the improvement of the town. Ramsgate was one of the places earliest frequented by the inhabitants of the metropolis for sea-bathing, though for some time eclipsed by the superior attractions of Margate. Early in the present century a stone lighthouse was erected on the head of the west pier; a small battery is fixed at the head of the east pier. The east pier is one of the longest in the kingdom, extending nearly 3000 feet ; the western pier extends about half that length : they are built of Portland and Purbeck stone and Cornish granite. The harbour includes an area of 48 acres, and furnishes a convenient shelter for vessels obliged by heavy gales to run from the Downs. A dry dock and a patent slip afford facilities for repairing vessels.
The old part of Ramsgate is situated in one of those natural depressions (called in the Isle of Thanet 'gates,' or etairs ') iu the chalk which open upon the sea. The newer part, which consists of
well-built houses arranged in streets, terraces, and crescents, is well paved and lighted with gas. The chief public buildings are tho town hall and the custom-house. There are an assembly-room, several bathing-rooms, and numerous boarding- and lodgiug-houses for the accommodation of visitors during the summer. The places of worship are—the parish church, erected in 1827, a spacious and handsome gothic structure, with a tower 137 feet high ; a chapel of ease ; district church ; two chapels for Baptista; and one each for 1Vcs]eyan and Primitive Methodists, lndepeudenta, Remelt Catholics, and Jews.
There are several National, British, and Infant schools ; a Church Union, with a library ; a savings bank ; a dispensary ; and an hospital especially for seamen, but to which tho neighbouring poor are under certaiu regulations admitted.
Ramsgate has a considerable coasting-trade; coal is largely imparted, and ship-building and rope-making are carried on. Wednesday and Saturday are the market-days. A county court is held in the town.
There is a considerable fishery. The number and tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to the port of Ramsgate ou December 31st, 1853, were—under 50 tons 95, tonnage 2564 •, above 50 tons 37, ton nage 3485; with 1 steam-vessel of 10 tons. The custom-houso entries at the port during 1853 present the following results :—Inwards, 619 vessels, tonnage 47,035 ; outwards, 252 vessels, tonnage 15,486.