Westbrook, Kent

Westbrook is a Victorian seaside resort located on the Thanet peninsula in Kent, forming the westernmost part of Margate. It lies along the north Kent coast, with Westgate-on-Sea to the west. The main Canterbury Road runs through Westbrook, where the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital stands, a historic building now converted into apartments. Nearby, a chapel within the hospital grounds has planning permission for conversion into apartments as of 2024.

The parish church, All Saints Church, is a notable Victorian structure built in 1894 from ragstone by local architect T. Andrews. It features lancet windows, Geometrical Tracery, and a clerestoried nave with lean-to aisles. Additions include two-storey vestries designed by E. S. Prior in 1897 and a southwest tower added in 1909 by W. D. Caröe, known for its mix of Decorated and Perpendicular Gothic styles and a distinctive recessed tiled pyramid roof. The church contains stained glass windows depicting the Nativity and the Te Deum, installed in the early 20th century by artists G. J. Hunt and Percy Bacon.

Westbrook’s architecture reflects its Victorian heritage, with a blend of historic buildings and residential developments. The area’s coastal location and historic sites provide a glimpse into its past as a seaside resort on the Kent coast.