Week 15 Final Crits

Friday 20th May Final Crits
Critics: Michael Chadwick, Sean Griffiths & Charles Holland


Georgia Chatzimichali

Dimitros Sinos


Adam Hiles

James Williams


Adam Freestone


Pedro Santos


Matt Parnham


Chris Simmons


Simon Jones

& Ottile Yip

White Chalk

Mayor of Dover visits exhibition

The 'This is England' exhibition today received a surprise visit from the Mayor, Lady Mayoress and Town Sergeant of Dover. They said they had heard very enthusiastic and positive reports from invited guests who attended the event Friday evening and earlier today. All were very impressed with the exhibits and enjoyed the variety of approaches. All three appreciated the potential and aspirations in the schemes and research on show.
Councillor Mrs Susan Jones, Mayor of Dover, was very interested on matters addressing the People's Port, linking the town to Port and the economic viability of the prospective solutions.
The Mayor, Lady Mayoress, and Town Sergeant, wished us every success in our studies and congratulated everyone involved on a very successful and engaging exhibition.

Preparations underway for This Is England show at the OSO

'This is England' Group Show 6-8th May 2011

Castle converted into flats

I took a trip to Kingsgate and Joss Bay yesterday, (in between Margate and Broadstairs)and walked along the beach contained by towering chalk cliffs and the enormous concrete, neo-classical sea defence propping up the Kingsgate castle, built in 1760 for Lord Holland.
It appears as though the concrete squares, on the sea defence wall, are blocking what were once windows? I can't see whatother purpose these concrete extrusions to the facade serve? The exterior walls of the castle are constructed entirely of flint.



The bay provides some of the largest sea formed chalk caves in the country. One even has an air or light shaft carved through the cliff to the surface. You can really appreciate why bays like these were notorious for smuggling.

Kingsgate castle has been converted into 31 flats with stunning views.

I recently learnt that English Heritage are struggling to make any profit on tourism at Dover Castle. Its an interesting thought if the Castle was to be converted into residential accommodation.

Dover Transport Museum Networking Evening

Last night's networking event at the Dover Transport museum, in Whitfield, was an enjoyable, and very nostalgic look back into the past. We were greeted at the door by the Dover Princesses and some of the tour guides and then shown into the main exhibition room, a large and high hanger construction. The guided tour was informative and the recreated shop fronts and businesses, that lined the larger exhibition rooms like small streets, once traded in Dover town, were very accurate if scaled down a bit. The exhibits were lovingly curated although some lacking detail simply proved charming. I was disappointed with the Maritime room as this seemed insignificant in importance to the cars, coaches, trains and motorbikes, all of which once, in some way, served the nautical industries. The collection of fire engines, undergoing full restoration, were impressive as were many of the pre-war and post-war vehicles. I was rather taken by a 1936 black Humber Snipe, owned by the Brett Family, of Brett aggregates.

The main purpose of the evening was to raise as much funding as possible, through guests paying an entrance fee as well as optional donations, in order to complete unfinished exhibits, in particular the model railway room.

I hope that our small contribution will help with what is for many a labour of love.

Our main purpose was to learn and experience some of Dover's history in objects, but also to meet people who have influence within the town regarding tourism, many of whom are also business owners as well as residents. I was very pleased to have met Mandy who, only the day before, had kindly replied to a post regarding my rdp presentation and provided me with valuable information. It was good to speak to these people in person and in the process formally invite them to our subsequent show on the 6th May. We also handed out flyers for the event and many seemed interested.