Ramsgate

Ramsgate harbour

Ramsgate, town, Thanet district, administrative and historic county of county of Kent, England. It lies on the east coast and is the reputed landing place of the invading Anglo-Saxon warriors Hengist and Horsa (449 ce) and of the Christian missionary St. Augustine (597).

The fishing hamlet of Ramsgate developed as a port in the middle of the 18th century, and the opening of the Kent coalfield in the 20th century brought additional trade. Ramsgate also became noted as a popular seaside resort. Charter flights are available from the town’s airport, and a regular hovercraft service to France is operated from Pegwell Bay. Pop. (2001) 37,967; (2011) 40,408.