The assistance by Nigel Wheal with new photographs for the site is very much appreciated.

A short bio from Nigel:

Born and raised in Maidstone I have alway had an infinity with the the great outdoors, activities from caving right through to just plain of walking. Gone are the days of me exploring the deep dark caverns that are scattered around the country. 

Photography has taken over from the thrill seeking exploits of my youth and I now wander the south of England trying to capture in the viewfinder what we all take for granted.

I spend all my spare time seeking out vantage points with great views, and looking for everyday vistas that can be turned into something special with the right light or something special happening within the scene.

Essex to Sussex, Kent to Cornwall I try to venture to new places all the time.

I have recently set up a new Website to display some of my images as well as starting a new online blog where I can show what I am doing at present. If you see any image on the site that you are interested in, and would like to find out a little more about sizes and framing please feel free to get in touch with me via the Website ,

Nigel Wheal

Dungeness today

Another power station or an Airport

Uproar because this weird government have ruled out Dungenss for a further nuclear power station.   And the anti airport expansion lobby have been deafening in their silence over the matter.   They must be in a dilemma not knowing which to shout about.   They produced loads of misinformation to stop the airport expansion and when it looked like a lost cause suddenly found a little slug - designated as of European importance to hang their hat on.   Proof if proof were needed that they wanted to stop the expansion at all costs and with nor real reason except that it was in their backyard.   Mind you some complainers aren't even local and seem to have other agendas.   And now a new power station that would destroy a far greater area of local fauna and insects than the extension to the runway - and not a peep.

There has always been an airport here and exceptionally busy one in the 'fifties' and the first of the power stations were constructed with the airport in mind.   Opposition to the runway extension was also based on the close proximity to the power stations - ruled out.

Lets put human beings first.   Jobs in the area are desperately needed and no-one should put the livelihood of local community at risk just for the sake of the 'lesser spotted green eyed slug)

Complaints about the state of the road.   Getting dangerous.  Many large potholes that could easily throw a motorcyclist to his doom.   Maybe we have to have a death before work is carried out.   The estate are aware of the deterioration and we understand 'things will be done'.   In the past the cost of repair of repairs were borne by the gravel extractors, who were blamed for the damage in the first place.   They haven't been running for the past two years so now cannot be held responsible.   But who should pay?  - the residents (probably less than forty reside permanently), the local traders (pub, light house, railway)? -  the hundreds of tourists who regularly visit.   OR the estate who derive some income from the many film shoots held here?  Failing that a toll booth at the entrance gates.   It is a private estate after all and 'not dedicated to the public!

Snowy Dungeness...................

Not a lot to report - except snow again today. Twice in a fortnight and at least half an inch! I can see a national emergency being declared. How will we get to the shops?

Mind you Dungeness does aquire a certain magic - covered in a soft white blanket - and the erie grey power station merging into the lighter grey sky looks like a film set awaiting its cast and crew to bring it to life.

Still snowing so must go and awake the Huskies and get the snow plough warmed up!

Todays scenes:

Help Wanted

We get many emails through the website requesting assistance in tracing long lost relatives associated with Dungeness and for the most part relate to the turn of the century (20th).   The problem is life comes to an end (for most of us at some time) and the numbers of elderly 'local' resident diminishes each year.   The eldest resident went to a nursing home many years ago and apart from one elderly lady there is no one else with the history to even pre war days (WW2).   So if she doesn't know and younger generations have not inherited the history of past inhabitants then there is a problem in helping enquires.   However there may be someone out there who does have some history in their memory banks and therfore a precis of a couple of recent enquires follow:-

A Mr King from Hampshire has enquired about the property 'Retreat', where his grandmother resided, possibly as a tenant, from 1928 to 1932.   He is trying to establish the history of the building - who built it/owned it etc.   Anyone there who can help?

A second enquiry from Hampshire - looking for anyone with history on Peter (Percy) Steward born in/on Dungeness in 1917 and a property called Seagull Cottage.

2010

Happy New Year to all our reader!

Since creating the blogg facility last year have simply not been able to comprehend the method of attaching anything new!    But  2010 New Year resolution will be 'to master it!'  Cannot even find the spill chiker!

Well all the hype of 'global warming' has been tempered recently with the onset of the first significant snow at Dunge for many years but only a sprinkle - not like the old days.    25 miles away - blizzards but sunshine and beautiful sunrises here.

Just before Christmas we saw the departure of Ken and Sylvia Oiler, ex local councillors and stalwarts of 'keep Dungenss unspoilt' brigade.   Members of one of the oldest 'original' Dungeness fishing families they put a great deal of time and effort into ensuring things 'got noticed' here - wish them well in their continued retirement.  

Recently a lot of publicity, national newspapers and tv, regarding the sale of a 'shack' with panoramic views of the east wall of the nuclear power station.   The agents neglected to inform potential purchasers that this 'unique' little property with magnificant views across the beaches was also bathed in the shadow and radiant glow of the now defunct 'A' Station.   Up for around a quater of a million pounds it finally sold to a local family!   The chap who complained bitterly that he had been mislead by the agents details and wasted a journey to Dungeness would seem to be a bit of a trouble maker or just dim.  Who in the world doesnt know that Dungeness does not have nuclear power stations or indeed travelled down without first checking on the internet??

If you have £1.5 million to spare there is quite a nice place available!!  Details upon request (brown envelpoe and £ notes please)

There was a recent, well attended, meeting (makes a change) of the local 'Residents Association' to discuss, with Shepway District Council, the vagaries of planning applications and consent for rebuilding/modernising shacks on the beach.   Alas I was not able to attend the meeting and alas no feedback was made available to the rest of the populace who could not attend.   Word has it  there were the usual gripes from the usual gripers but overall the meeting was, evidently,  a success albeit lacking in any firm outcome or positive decisions.   The main area of concern seems to be the 'wierd and wonderful' structures now being created and 'definately not in keeping with the area'   I think what is ovelooked is that part of Dungeness's uniqueness has always been the variety of buildings/shacks and that they have evolved over the years.   Half of the estate started life as railway carriages and the other half small purpose built bungalows, albeit timber framed for the most part.   The railway carriages had bits added to them and the reult an assortment of shapes and sizes.   The 'Rubber House' was probably the first to break the mould and become something a little out of the ordinary and was accepted.   The 'Wine Glass' is slated for being 'not in keeping.'    It is different yes but if all were reconstructed as per my neihbours' properety (very well done I might add) in wood shiplap painted white (or black as the last dictat indicated) the estate would end up as a twee little village - which it isn't, wasn't and never should be!  Some of the loudest critisisms come from neglected eyesore owners.