The Grotto

The Grotto is an early 19th-century subterranean structure located on Grotto Hill, Margate. Numerous theories regarding its origin have been proposed, ranging from Phoenician settlements to a Roman Mithraic temple, but it is most likely of early 19th-century origin, with evidence from a modern brick within a Gothic arch. The Grotto’s layout consists of two semicircular passages leading to a central dome, followed by a passage to a rectangular chamber. It contains approximately 2,000 square yards of shell mosaic, incorporating 28 different types of shells, many of them from foreign locations. The cement used to adhere the shells to the chalk walls closely resembles Roman cement and is reported to contain fish oil and crushed shells. The decorative motifs include common Egyptian, Greek, and Indian designs, with the rectangular chamber featuring representations of the rising sun, the moon, and stars. The modern buildings at ground level are not of historic significance.