Margate Railway Station

Margate Railway Station, built in 1926, is an example of monumental classic architecture. The station was designed by Edwin Maxwell Fry, who was the chief assistant to J R Scott, with engineering by A W Szlumper. The building is constructed of brown brick with stone dressings, and features a hipped tiled roof. It consists of a tall, central booking hall flanked by lower, five-bay wings that terminate in higher pavilions. The central block has a very deep entablature and a giant round-headed arch with a Diocletian opening to light the booking hall. Below the arch are four columns with rectangular fanlights between, and modern aluminium doors. Two projecting, single-storey, one-bay pavilions flank the arch. These incorporate stone Doric pilasters and architraves, with nine-pane sash windows to the front, and round-headed sashes with moulded stone architraves to the sides. The lower wings have a deep stone cornice and five round-headed windows with top opening lights in a moulded stone architrave, separated by stone roundels with busts. A modern double door has been inserted in the last bay of the right-hand wing for buffet access, while the left-hand wing has a central doorcase in the original entablature, leading to what was the luggage hall. The pavilions have deep entablatures with stone panels and Doric pilasters. The right-hand pavilion has a large door with a grille above, and the left-hand pavilion has a nine-pane sash window. This station replaced an earlier station demolished during the rationalization of railway lines in 1926. The booking hall is in a grand manner, featuring an elliptically vaulted ceiling with pendant lights. The design reflects Fry’s Classical training and demonstrates his expertise in classical detailing and planning. Ramsgate Station, also designed by Fry and built in the same year, is comparable.