Whitstable: The Postcard Collection

A fascinating portrait of Whitstable presented through a remarkable collection of historical postcards.

Whitstable on the north Kent coast, on the Thames Estuary, has long been famous for its oysters. One of the world’s first steam railways connected Whitstable to Canterbury in 1830, bringing goods and passengers from its harbor. Today the special character of Whitstable draws in many visitors, including to its annual May Day events and Regatta. In Whitstable: The Postcard Collection the author has drawn on a remarkable selection of old postcards to give a pictorial record of life in Whitstable in the past, from the beginning of the last century to recent decades, including the adjoining villages of Seasalter, Tankerton, Swalecliffe and Chestfield. Although some of the historic Whitstable seen in these views has been lost, many landmarks have remained and will be familiar today. The postcards show the changes Whitstable’s fabric and its community adapting and changing over the course of this period. This fascinating collection of images will be of interest to those who have lived in Whitstable or know it well.