Kevin Nosferatu: Hengist and Horsa

Viking Bay is one of the main attractions for visitors to the lovely seaside town of Broadstairs. A town that I saw a decade or so ago on a television programme and thought I have to go there. So, I did, and I’ve been many times since.

A postcard showing scenes from Viking bay in Broadstairs in the summer with golden sands, beach huts, seagulls and sunbathers. Photos by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Greetings from Beautiful Broadstairs

Broadstairs is a town with a history rich in art and literature. For many years it was the favourite holiday destination of Charles Dickens who wrote David Copperfield while there. He also celebrated the town in an affectionate piece of writing entitled Our English Watering Place. John Buchan, author of The Thirty Nine Steps, recuperated there while recovering from illness. Frank Richards, the author of Billy Bunter, lived there as did Bruce Robinson, the author of Withnail and I, and most importantly, so did Oliver Postgate, the creator of Bagpuss and The Clangers.

View over Viking Bay

A picture showing the colourful beach huts on the sands of Viking Bay in Broadstairs, Kent. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Beach huts at Viking Bay

A picture of a view looking along the colourful beach huts on the sands at Viking Bay in Broadstairs. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Beach huts at Viking Bay

A picture showing a Signpost on the sands of the beach at Viking Bay. it points out the way to the toilets, First Aid Station, shower and Beach Inspector. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Signpost on the beach at Viking Bay

A picture of a seagull standing at the shore, just in the sea and looking out to sea. In the distance on the rocks stand a group of tourists also looking out to sea. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

A seagull by the sea

The Old Boathouse

Viking Bay used to be known as Main Bay. It was renamed in 1949 following the celebrations of the 1500^th anniversary of Hengist and Horsa landing at the bay in 449 AD. It is a horseshoe shaped bay with a beach of golden sands that for much of the year is bustling with holiday makers and tourists. At one end of the bay there is a harbour on which sits the Old Boathouse. Looking out to sea on the building is the figure of The Scotsman. This was recovered from the ship Highland Chief, which sank on the Goodwin Sands in 1869. Running up to and around the cliffs are numerous colourful beach huts and by the cliffs there are stairs and a lift up to the promenade.

Cliff side beach huts at Viking Bay

A photo of a blue railing door in the white wall of a cliffside building at Viking Bay. A painted sign above the door reads bucket and spade. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Bucket and Spade at Viking Bay

A picture of a seagull sitting on the railings that run alongside the walkway above the cliff side beach huts at Viking Bay in Broadstairs. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

A seagull enjoys the view over Viking Bay

A picture of the walkway above the cliff side beach huts at Viking Bay in Broadstairs. it runs alongside the white, crumbling chalk cliffs. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.

Walkway over cliff side beach huts

On my visit there today, I wandered along the beach in the bright winter sun. Even on a day like this when a cool wind blew in from the sea there were families and children playing on the sands of the beach. I walked past them and made my way up the walkway above the colourful blue and yellow doored beach huts. There in a crumbling hollow in the chalky cliffs that look out to the sea, I left a Skulferatu.