The Shell Grotto of Margate
Under a seaside town in Kent, a winding tunnel and a chamber are covered with millions of shells, arranged in patterns. No one knows who made it.
What was reported
In 1835, a man digging a duck pond in Margate broke into an underground space. Inside were winding passages and a rectangular chamber, their walls covered with about 4.6 million seashells, mostly mussels, cockles and oysters, set in patterns of stars, suns, flowers and symbols.
It opened to the public in 1838, and ever since, people have argued about who built it and when: an ancient temple, a secret meeting place, or a rich family's Georgian folly.
Explanations offered
Attempts to date the grotto have been difficult, partly because soot from gas lamps has covered the shells. Many think it was built in the 1700s or early 1800s as a decorative folly, but this is unproven.
- When
- Found in 1835
- Where
- Margate, Kent, England, UK
- Witnesses
- Visitors since 1838
- Status
- Origins debated
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
More from England