Snargate Street Trams

c1920s

Few people that daily pass though Snargate Street realise that the area was once densely populated with housing and served by at least six churches. One of these, “Our Lady of Pity and St Martin”, is now hidden beneath the façade of .

Construction commenced in the late 1890’s and opened on 29th March 1906 in the presence of the local gentry and a large congregation. Part of the church was hewn from the cliff face and was lit by a massive skylight and ‘modern’ electric lighting. ‘DEO’ and ‘sub invocations beatae Mariae et sancti Martini’ graced the front elevation.

The church served well through the inter-war years, but finally closed down in 1940. The property was in the hands of the Corry family until it was sold to the present owner in 1961. Many features still remain, the alter (albeit split over two floors), the wooden block flooring and the cross over the front entrance serves as a reminder of its former life.
 

Information from “Dover’s Catholic Faith” by Robert Mackenzie.

Picture kindly provided by Smye-Rumsby.

 

 

snargate_street_trams_TAN

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