Shell Grotto, Margate – Wikipedia

underground structure decorated with sea shells

rock grottosometimes called rock templeAn ornate underground rock grotto lies in the seaside town of Margate, Kent, England. The grotto, which consists of a passageway and main room, was excavated from chalk, a soft limestone commonly found in the region. Almost the entire surface area of ​​the walls and ceiling is covered with mosaics made entirely of shells, with a total area of ​​about 2,000 square feet (190 m).²) of the mosaic, with approximately 4.6 million shells. Its age, builder and purpose are unknown, which has prompted a variety of speculation, although several other shell grottoes in England were built in the 18th century. The grotto was rediscovered in about 1835 and first opened to the public in 1837 as a privately owned tourist attraction.^[1] The grotto is a Grade I-listed building.^[1] And remains open to the public. Attached to the grotto is a modern museum room, café and gift shop.^[2]

The Shell Grotto has a winding underground passage, about 8 feet (2.4 m) high and 70 feet (21 m) long, which ends in a rectangular room, called the “Altar Room” and measuring about 15 by 20 feet (5 by 6 m).

The grotto is completely underground. Stairs at the upper end lead to a passageway about 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) wide, roughly hewn in chalk, which flows down in a serpentine style to an arch, the walls and ceiling of which are henceforth covered with shell mosaic. The arch leads to what is known as the “rotunda”, a central circular column, which meets the dome at the far end – a shaft rising to the surface, covered to allow some daylight into the structure. The sub-base of the dome is triangular, equilateral and has an arch in the center of each side. Two arches in the sides lead from the rotunda, while the arch in the base leads to the “serpentine passage”. This passage, with its curved walls and highly vaulted vaults, is rich in mosaics of diverse designs.

At the end of the serpentine passage, another arch leads into the rectangular chamber. Here the decoration takes on a more formal and geometric character, but still finely drawn and executed. The subjects are mainly the figures of star and sun. The focal point, the “altar”, is the curved space facing the Gothic-style entrance arch.^[3]

The shells most frequently used throughout the mosaic – mussels, cockles, whelks, lumpates, scallops and oysters – are largely local. They could be found in substantial numbers from four possible bays: Walpole Bay in Cliftonville; Pegwell Bay especially at Shellness Point, Cliffsend, near Richborough; Sandwich Bay, Sandwich; and Shelness on the Isle of Sheppey. Most mosaics are made from flat winkles, which are used to create background infill between designs. However, this shell is rarely found locally, so it must have been collected from the west coast of Southampton, where it is abundant.

The origin and purpose of the structure are unknown.^[4] A member of the Kent Archaeological Society analyzed the grotto and concluded in 2006 that it was probably a medieval denehole, a small chalk quarry, which was rebuilt and decorated in the 17th or 18th century.^[1] For example, that era of decoration would be contemporary with the shell grotto built around 1720 in Pope’s villa at Twickenham.^[5] The decoration may have been created or added in the early 19th century.^[6]

People have come up with a variety of speculations and hypotheses as to the age and purpose of the grotto, such as: it was a rich man’s folly in the 18th or 19th century;^[1]It was associated with the Knights Templar or Freemasonry.^[1][7] In the late 1940s, a writer who was also interested in the Baconian theory of Shakespeare authorship published a book about his theory of the Phoenician origin of the shell grotto.^[8] In 1952, a member of the Canadian Geographical Society claimed similarities between shell decorations and the Bronze Age art of the Minoan civilization.^[9]

There are conflicting accounts regarding the grotto’s discovery, although most agree on the date of 1835. The earliest reference to the discovery appears in the preceding article in an 1838 article. kentish mercury,^[10]

Belle View Cottage, a detached residence, has recently been purchased by a gentleman, who, occasioning some changes, directed the workmen to excavate a few feet, during which the work was obstructed by a large stone, the gentleman being immediately called to the spot, directed a minute investigation, which resulted in the discovery of an extensive grotto, entirely studded with shells in bizarre devices, most elaborately constructed, leading to a serpentine walk. The chambers, and streets extended over vast distances, together form one of the most curious and intriguing scenes that could possibly be imagined, and must have been executed by torchlight. We understand that the owner intends to soon open the entire exhibition for a nominal fee for admission.^[10]

Since then it has remained in private ownership.

In 1932, a new owner took possession of the grotto, and soon after installed electric lighting in place of the gas lighting which, over the decades, had blackened the once colorful shell. Cleaning tests show that in most grottoes, the shells have lost their color under the dirt and turned white^{[citation needed]},

One of the walls was damaged by bombing during World War II and later rebuilt.^[1][11]

In 1973, the Grotto was added to the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building.^[6]

It was listed for sale in 1976.^[12] In 1981, new owners purchased the cottage and adjacent houses.^[13] In 1992, he said there were an average of about 17,000 tourists during the tourist season between Easter and October, down from 30,000 in the early 1980s.^[13] He also operated the nearby Margate Cave attraction.^[13] In 1999, the grotto was again put up for sale.^[14]

The structure has suffered the effects of water ingress. By 1999, it required significant reinforcement and drainage improvements.^[15]

Friends of the Shell Grotto was formed in 2008 and is a non-profit trust established to promote, preserve and protect the grotto as a unique historical monument.^[16]

it was removed from there heritage register at risk It opened in 2012 following a five-year conservation programme, run in partnership with Historic England. A scheme to sponsor replacement mosaic panels, the Roundel Project, was set up in 2012.^[16] The craftsmen who worked to restore the shell decorations were nominated for an English Heritage award in 2012.^[17] Additional restoration work was carried out in 2025.^[11]

The owner has taken part in initiatives to bring more tourism and economic activity to Margate.^[18]

Novels featuring the grotto include field of shells (2006), by Sonia Overall, and elijah’s mermaid (2012), by Essie Fox.^[19]

51°23′17″N 1°23′24″E51.3880°N 1.3899°E/ 51.3880; 1.3899