A TRENDY seaside town has a bizarre underground attraction made of millions of shells.
However, there is a long-standing mystery behind it – as no one knows why it was built.
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Hidden beneath Margate in Kent is the Shell Grotto, which has over 2,000 sq feet of wall and ceiling space adorned with intricate mosaics created entirely from seashells.
Inside you’ll find a staggering 4.6 million sea shells decorating every surface of the underground tunnels.
What makes Shell Grotto so fascinating is that no one knows exactly how old it is or what it was made for.
Despite being discovered in 1835, historians claim that it dates back way further than that.
Some local folk say it was just a fancy creation of a rich person in the 18th or 19th century, while others think it might have been the centrepiece of an ancient calendar.
Some even believe it could have been a meeting spot for sea witchcraft or connected to secret societies like the Knights Templar or the Freemasons.
One theory suggests that a group of skilled seafarers called the ancient Phoenicians might have built the grotto and they did it when they were establishing colonies around the first millennium BCE.
But, the twist here is that the grotto’s gothic-style arches don’t make sense in such an ancient structure, although some believe these could have been added at a later date.
Most of the shells used in the mosaics are local, like mussels, cockles, whelks, limpets, scallops and oysters.
These were probably found in nearby bays like Walpole Bay, Pegwell Bay, Sandwich Bay and Shellness.
However, adding to the grotto’s mysteriousness is that the flat winkles used in most of the mosaic aren’t common in those parts, so they might have come from shores near Southampton, where they’re everywhere.
Most agree it happened in 1835 but the earliest record of its discovery comes from an article in the Kentish Mercury’s ancestor in May 1838, which talks about how a gentleman found a large underground grotto filled with shell mosaics.
Over the years, the grotto has faced some challenges. The gas lights that once lit up the colourful shells were replaced with electric lights in 1932.
Cleaning trials showed that many shells had lost their colour and turned white. Plus, water has seeped in over time.
However, a five-year conservation project in conjunction with English Heritage has helped save it. They even started a project called the Roundel Project in 2012 to replace some of the mosaic panels.
Now, as a Grade I-listed building, the good news is you can visit it.
Those hungry for more can visit the grotto’s museum and nearby gift shop, where you can learn even more about this fantastic place.
During the winter season, opening hours are Thurs-Sun 11 AM-4 PM.
Entry costs £4.50 for adults, £2 for kids and £4 for concessions (over 60s, students registered disabled, armed forces). Infants under four years old can enter for free.
A family ticket for two adults and two children can be purchased for £10.
Margate has become a popular destination with tourists in recent years.
A neighbourhood in Margate was named one of the “trendiest in the world” by Time Out.
It also featured in the Sam Mendes film, Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman.
And an £1.8million attraction is hoping to open in Margate which will include a new pavilion, pool access and beach lift.
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