The Sunken Garden was laid out in a 1600s Italian Baroque style. A tiered pathway borders the lower garden area, which contains flower beds and sheltered seating.
Located on the coast, the Sunken Garden sits on chalky alkaline soil, which presents both benefits and challenges for plant life. On the one hand, the soil offers excellent drainage; on the other hand, it dries out rapidly during Thanet’s long, hot, and breezy summers. As a result, the Sunken Gardeners have carefully selected plants that can thrive in this distinctive coastal environment. Moreover, these plants must not only tolerate regular northeasterly winds, heavy with salt, but also adapt to the area’s unique maritime microclimate. Consequently, every planting choice reflects both resilience and suitability to local conditions.
Seaside Planting at the Sunken Garden
Established in 2018, the Sunken Garden Society is a volunteer community group formed to assist the local council in the management and revival of this historic garden. Since then, the Society regularly runs task days and events to help promote and care for the space. In addition, we invite you to check our noticeboard for upcoming events, the latest news, and ways to support our work.
History Info
Origination
Margate’s “Optimistic Mayor,” Percy Osborne, drove the effort to create the Sunken Garden. Sidney Legg, the Parks Superintendent, designed and laid out the Garden, completing it in 1932. During the great economic depression, the council employed 13 out-of-work men to excavate the site, and together they removed over 20,000 cubic yards of chalk. Just imagine, how many buckets would that have taken?
1930s
Limestone walls and sunken grass pools form the key elements of the design, while the spectacular summer planting, admired by all, adds vibrant colour and life to the garden.
1940s
During wartime, the Sunken Garden experienced significant changes; for example, an Air Raid shelter was built. Additionally, the original iron railings were removed to support the war effort.
1950s
During the Garden’s heyday, summer bedding plants flourished alongside manicured lawns. Consequently, Londoners often visited the Sunken Garden, arriving in Margate by paddlesteamer.
1980s
The Sunken Garden once stood out as a prized horticultural asset of Thanet. However, by the 1990s, neglect and disrepair had taken over, causing its condition to decline significantly.
