Aged 8, I stayed for a week in the summer of 1956 at St. Mary's Bay School Holiday Camp with St. Margaret Mary's Primary School Pilch Lane Liverpool. All the huts carried the names of towns on them, our's was called Barrow. It was sited next to a pen full of turkeys - some kind of farm I suppose. Inside the hut from the front were a couple of small rooms for the teachers and their families (Mr Bullen, his wife and children Charles and Ann). Then separated along the length of the hut were two dormitories, one for the boys the other for the girls. At the far end were the bathroom blocks for each dorm. and another entrance.
It didn't rain at all the whole week and thanks to the teachers who organised it - producing a handbook, collecting the money (approx £5 for the entire holiday), looking after pocket money as well as arranging the whole thing complete with a trip to Canterbury Cathedral - we had a fantastic time.
I remember the shingle beach with some sort of concrete structure on it that we used to climb on near the waters edge. There was also a funfair by the beach.
We ate well in the large dining hall furnished with long tables and had great times playing football and rounders after tea on the extensive lawned areas. St. Mary's Bay - Ah yes!
KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: Paul T
Regarding the St Mary's Bay camp, remembered by Janet in Australia. I attended the camp for a two-week school trip too, but in 1970. I remember it well, the bunk bed dorms, itchy blankets and lots of fun. I also remember other schools being there at the time and us all convening in the large dining hall for dinner. Great walks along the beach across the road and playing football.
It did seem like a place frozen in time. I'm sure it hadn't changed since the 40s and 50s. I presume it had been an army camp during the war.
Unfortunately it's not there anymore. I drove along the coast in the late 80s and looked for it. It had been demolished and replaced with houses. But the memories are still good fortunately. There is a photo of the camp on this site: http://www.francisfrith.com
KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: Kevin
In answer to a previous contributor, I was also incare in late 1940's early 1950's in Potters Bar, Herts & spent several holidays at St Marys Bay Holiday camp riding the little railway, visiting Dymchurch amusements, Dungeness Lighthouse, Romney model railway exhibit.
I visited the site in 1998, hasn't changed too much, the railway is still in existence. The campsite is now a housing estate, but the area is still recognisable.
KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: Janet (Australia)
In the late 1940's and 1950's I was in a children's home in Surrey and every year we would go for 2 weeks holiday to a holiday camp in St. Mary's Bay Dymchurch.
We stayed in what I can recollect as being some kind of army camp. There were other children from lots of other children's homes.
We used to have such a lovely time. We slept on camp beds with itchy grey blankets, no sheets as it made for more washing.
We went to the beach across the road ( taking our sandwiches ) and played there all day and then home to the camp again.
During our stay we had a day trip out and had a ride on the minature railway. As I remember, it never rained in St. Mary's Bay.!!!
What happened to the camp, does anyone know? (Let us at goCoastal.co.uk know and We'll pass it on to the writer of this intersting little story!)
KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: Fond memories of St. Mary's Bay
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