Herne Bay is a Victorian seaside resort with its roots stretching back to Roman times with the establishment of the fort at Reculver.
In later years the community focused around The Ship, one of the oldest buildings in Herne Bay and passenger and cargo ships often stopped off from London. Smugglers operated in the area up until the 1820's and not long after this investors from London built the first wooden pier and promenade along the seafront. The Clocktower, believed to be the first freestanding one in the country, was built in 1837 following a £4,000 donation by Mrs Ann Thwayte from London
The town developed in the mid 1800's with the railway and regular steamboats to London and Southend. Much of the grand Victorian architecture was built in this period, most of which remains today.
During the war the anti-aircraft forts were built in the Thames Estuary and these can be seen on a clear day together with the recent Wind Farm. The Barnes Wallis 'Bouncing Bomb' was tested off the coast in Reculver.
In the 1970s the pier was severley damaged by fire and the new sports pavilion was opened by Edward Heath in 1976. There are exciting plans afoot to rebuild the pier to resemble its former glory and relocate the sports facilities to the local school.
The seafront was extensively redeveloped in the 1990s with the creation of the Neptune Arm and the Waltrop gardens. The small harbour which has been created is the starting point for trips around the bay, to the Wind Farm and seal watching excursions.
The seafront has a two miles of shingle beach which has been awarded a European Blue Flag and the yellow and blue Seaside Award for its safety and cleanliness, with sections of the beach patrolled by the Lifeguards in the summer months. The seafront features a Victorian bandstand and gardens, amusement arcades, and children's play areas.
To the east the land rises up towards the Downs where the apartment is located. This is a beautiful area with far reaching views along the coast and across the water towards Southend and has been named a Site of Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area for Birds.