"Health and Safety hadn't been invented, so they dropped a child there" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@ShengTheCraftsman

4 жыл бұрын

oy kid, git in there

@jackiebayliss

4 жыл бұрын

I know the good old days. 👍🏽

@123spleege

4 жыл бұрын

"so they simply dropped a schoolboy into it" classic!!!!!!

@ericjamieson

4 жыл бұрын

Edwardian/Victorian children were basically semi-disposable.

@SofaKingShit

3 жыл бұрын

These days we wouldn't irresponsibly simply drop a kid down there. No, we'd have to lower the child down carefully in a properly secured safety harness.

Aliens were once bored with building pyramids. One said: "Let's build a Seashell Temple to mess with people". Mystery solved.

@MyRegardsToTheDodo

2 жыл бұрын

Boredom had something to do with it. But not bored aliens. Back in the 16th century (or so) somebody was REALLY bored when quarantining because of the black plague. So he built this thing. So he was basically the Colin Furze of his time.

Well, there we go, Cthulhu confirmed...

@Saint_nobody

4 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/aWmcs9mMeqnbiMo.html

@richard_n

4 жыл бұрын

Damn, you beat me to it LOL

@mikhailchuev8715

4 жыл бұрын

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!

@JasonJason210

4 жыл бұрын

Looking for this comment

@izayaorihara7059

4 жыл бұрын

Gothik Extravaganza No. You didn't.

"Maps available in French, German and Large Print."

@spelcheak

4 жыл бұрын

*NOW THEY'RE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE!*

@ApemanMonkey

4 жыл бұрын

GREAT! I'M FLUENT IN LARGE PRINT!

@derauditor5748

4 жыл бұрын

Large Pint you say?

@fredygump5578

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, but can you speek in Large Print???

@berthold64

4 жыл бұрын

large? you mean american?

I discovered this channel barely 48hrs ago but it’s now my favorite. I’ve made it a mission to watch every single one of his videos

@TheTimTraveller

4 жыл бұрын

Good luck on your heroic mission!

"Nobody knows why they built it" Hey john, let's build temple of seashells for no reason!

@Quotenwagnerianer

4 жыл бұрын

It's obviously a place to worship Dagon.

@allangibson8494

4 жыл бұрын

Let's build a tourist trap.....

@lincolnnoronha4128

4 жыл бұрын

Quotenwagnerianer r’lyeh Cthulhu f’tagn

@WG55

4 жыл бұрын

Amazing masonry. It must be the Freemasons!

@volkerwendt3061

4 жыл бұрын

Seems to be the proper explanation.

It is from a seashell collector, whos wife says "Throw them away or be a bit creative." So he dug a hole in the ground to preserve them, but then I realise that he could do more than that. And this is the result of it.

I love the cheeky “keeping up appearances” theme in the the background 😂

I'll say with high certainty that this grotto isn't older than the mid- to late medieval ages at best, as the ancient world did not build gothic arches. Furthermore, it's definitely not from that time, as in that case there would be some other indications. It's probably, like you said in the video, a folly, a grotto. This particular man who did this, probably liked the idea of having a secret place. Location could be due to there having been a preexisting natural grotto (area seems to be made of chalk, which is where these kinds of holes often appear), which would have made this cheaper. It was most likely commissioned by a rich man, since building it yourself in your spare time seems a bit impractical (especially if everything had to be dug out). Or, perhaps, it was a scam right from the start, people building it and then "discovering" it to make money off showing it to others. Margate was already a leading seaside resort by that time. Those are my guesses.

@samchen9951

Жыл бұрын

In the below video at 33 seconds in, there is a heart shaped symbol. kzread.info/dash/bejne/Y4GOvKZsabicl7A.html&ab_channel=GreatBigStory While symbols looking like this were known in ancient times, that kind of hearts weren't really used as symbols until late middle ages, and that is telling that it definitely wasn't before the middle ages. If Margate wanted to truly get to the bottom of the mystery they would've weeded out silly theories like the 12000 years ago one.

@gladtobeangry

Жыл бұрын

The scam seems quite likely. Or perhaps it is a piece of genuine outsider art. There are modern examples of intricately decorated buildings and structures built by lone eccentric people. There is no reason that couldn't have happened in the early 19th century. Common characteristics include : intricate decoration, use of found objects (in this case sea shells), and a certain consistent alienating style unique to the artist. Could also be both. When I was a kid my parents would take me to what they just called "the mad garden" whenever we were on holiday on the Costa Brava. It was just a garden owned by a weird old Spanish hippie dude who created sculptures and structures out of concrete and glass representing all sorts of weird fantasy creatures or just fun abstract shapes. He built it because that was his passion, but he also charged admission fees for visitors to come and see his creations. Or in my case: climb his creations, which was allowed, and in many cases the intended purpose of the things he made. This could be something like that, just with a bit of a spicy backstory to attract more visitors.

@katrinabryce

Жыл бұрын

My guess is that it was dug out in the late 1820s-early1830s, and "discovered" shortly after completion.

@jakecavendish3470

10 ай бұрын

It was likely created around 1800. It was in the grounds of a cottage called Belle Vue which was a small house owned by Lady Holland who spent her summers in Ramsgate (at Holland House). Belle Vue was a sort of afternoon excursion house for entertaining friends for tea. Guess what one of Lady Holland's favourite pastimes was when in Ramsgate- having shellwork follies built in the gardens. So when the cottage was bought off her family in the 1830s I can see why the new owner would make up a story in order to turn the place into a tourist attraction. The public wouldn't have known about it and "mysterious discovery" would, and still does, pull in more people than "early C19th garden feature."

@iankemp1131

9 ай бұрын

@@jakecavendish3470 That sounds pretty plausible. There are similar grottos around the country, such as Scott's Grotto at Ware (late 18th century). The owner was quite open about it and showed lots of visitors around, and had a visitors book. For the Margate one, at least they didn't have to take the shells so far!

Imagine how beautiful it must have looked when it was new and the shells still retained their colors...

They found a grotto under Grotto Hill? I mean, what were the chances of that happening?

@SecretSquirrelFun

2 жыл бұрын

Ha ha , yup your comment is still funny even 2 years later.

@rogerkearns8094

2 жыл бұрын

@@SecretSquirrelFun Yay, nice one squirrel. Cheers ;)

@tdolan500

2 жыл бұрын

Bumping an old comment but I shit you not they recently found a large 17th century castle in Clones Co. Monaghan Ireland. Where? Castle street….

@danielpotter8957

2 жыл бұрын

The clue was staring them in the face!

@rachelcookie321

2 жыл бұрын

@@tdolan500 how do you just find a large castle? Was it just like the foundation of one hidden underneath layers of dirt?

Someone was going to explain why much of the ceiling was covered in bivalves, but they were told to clam up.

@toomanymarys7355

3 жыл бұрын

Hi dad

I love that you add info about the accessibility. I laughed when you clarified when it wasn't accessible because no shit but I have had times where I've been watching, assuming I could never do any of it myself and you'll surprise me by mentioning that it's accessible. The greatest surprise is that you even mention it at all honestly, I'm so used to being ignored it shakes me awake a little to be acknowledged.

If you fancy doing another video about interesting underground structures etc, there's always the City of Caves in Nottingham.

@rhodesianwojak2095

4 жыл бұрын

Hm

@stelley08

4 жыл бұрын

Similar to Cappadocia in a way, mustve been the trend back then..

I am a Phoenician (AZ). Wasn't me

@DaveP1991

4 жыл бұрын

Well that's the one solved. Cross Phoenicians off the list.

@fifthmoon4478

4 жыл бұрын

I'm descendant of the other kind (LB), and it also wasn't me. My vote's ancient Mexicans

@im.not.typical91

4 жыл бұрын

Im mexican and in Phoenix

@rhodesianwojak2095

4 жыл бұрын

Lol

@nomenestomen8952

4 жыл бұрын

Phoenician Culture is located in todays Tunisia and Nort African Coastline

Me and my mates built it one time after a night out

@paulabraham2550

4 жыл бұрын

Are you ancient Mexicans?

@CheshireTomcat68

4 жыл бұрын

@@paulabraham2550 No they're Phoenicians, That's the name of the Pub they frequent! :-)

I have much love of your adventures and all the things that I learn. Today I see you in my town. I first saw the shell grotto 50 years ago. I took a friend 6 months ago. The caves have just opened once more too. Thank you so.

@thinkcentre2974

Жыл бұрын

So, 50 years ago... was the time of Hippies and Flower Power culture... perhaps they did this decorations?

They are concerned that dating would destroy the mystery. But it could also add to the mystery...

@TheGoukaruma

4 жыл бұрын

Unless it's only 150 years old and build to lure tourists.

@pyalot

4 жыл бұрын

Just date it, if its a good dating, you are set, if it is an invonvenient one, say you didnt date it.

@eyebook8887

4 жыл бұрын

@@pyalot Maybe that is what happened

@pyalot

4 жыл бұрын

EyeBook888 dangit

@Ramog1000

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheGoukaruma I mean even for 150 years ago that thing is an extreme accomplishment.

Has there ever been a big country house on the land? For a while there was a craze for follies built like hermitages, (sometimes including an actual decorative hermit). Hermit caves were not unusual.

@lqr824

Жыл бұрын

lol at hermit

@iankemp1131

9 ай бұрын

There was a small house on the land owned by Lady Holland who liked to build decorative features in the gardens - info from @jakecavendish3470 under another comment. So that would seem a highly likely origin!

As well as the sheer number of shells, I found it fascinating to ponder that, at some point, the shells must have been graduated / graded for size, in order to make the decorative shapes..…………. And Tim didn't tell of the midsummer's day light event inside The Grotto so you'll have to visit to check that one out

One of the quirks of the North-East Kent Coast that fascinates me are the giant concrete bathing pools sunk into the sand so they can filll with seawater at high tide and remain filled as the tide goes out. I've seen people swimming in them, but they always frighten me, since I cannot even begin to imagine what's lurking at the bottom of them 😳

As always: The way you tell your story is amazing.

Damn! I live in Margate and on that road and not once have I been in there. May go visit it now ☺️

Judging by the shape of the arches it's at least post-gothic so i wouldnt expect it to be more than 500 years old and definitely not more than 800. And we know it was re-discovered about 200 years ago so there's about half a millenium of time it could've probably been built in

My first thought when I went there many years ago was that is clearly 18th Century - probably, as has been mentioned already, a local equivalent of the Hellfire Club. That was the era when oddities like this were being made, and if it's underground you can get up to whatever you want to get up to! It does seem to have deteriorated over the last 20 years or so.

no matter how old ... it looks so pretty! Thanx for showing. I have never seen it before!

I visited Margate many times during the 1980s and 90s. My visits were usually a short walk from the car park or train station, to Dreamland, where I spent the entire day. Sometimes, a walk on the beach or a fish and chip meal in one of the cafes. I did once venture in town to visit McDonalds, And until now, i didn't have a clue that this place existed.♥

What a fantastic mystery! Always a joy when a new one of your videos pops up!

It reminds me of the Coral Castle in Florida. We know who built the Castle and when, we just don’t know *how* he did it. It’s all very creepy and mysterious, which is the vibe I’m getting from this grotto... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle

KZread algorithm: "You need to see an underground seashell temple in Margate."

Fascinating thank you Tim!!

10 year old me finding a Minecraft Desert Temple:

The kindest and the warmest travel channel I know. Thanks for your work, and good luck!

This is really one of the most unusual videos I have ever seen on your channel. Now sou really made me interrested in this incredible structure.

Beautiful! Thx Tim

I have no more than three KZread channels I eagerly await for updates. This gentleman’s is one of them. His sense of humor is always a pick-me-up. Thank you!

My girlfriend just asked me this morning why you don’t watch the “HELLO “ video I told her I watched them all already thanks for new one

What a strange building. Thanks for video it was intriguing.

Another great video, keep them coming!

She sells seashells by the seashore, and makes a bloody fortune.

Just recently found this channel, wow magnificent content and awesome narration

@derauditor5748

4 жыл бұрын

one of us! one of us! one of us! one of us!

It reminds me a bit of the : Hellfire caves . Near west Wycombe in Buckinghamshire

Remembered visiting this as a kid. Made mine visit as an adult. Such a weird place.

Thanks for making this video a couple months after I went to margate

Give this man a show already. Those narrating skills are so unique and fresh. They make your videos very enjoyable.

Looks fantastic! Somewhere to visit when things get back to normal!

Well done. Thank you for making this video. So interesting.

60k subs already. you are growing man! Keep it up!

I've only just found this channel, but I love it! Especially the music choices 😂

@TheTimTraveller

4 жыл бұрын

Cheers ZT742!

Your channel is criminally under-subscribed. Interesting places and an excellently humourous presentation. Glad to have found it.

That is a fantastic piece of workmanship. It must have taken years to dig and decorate.

The architectural style dates it to sometime during or after the 12 century. As no artefacts have been found, the symbols seams generic and given that similar shell grotto were follies it is likely that it is just a folly, the reasons they given for not being a folly are weak, not all follies were built on estates as a show of wealth, follies such as the Williamson Tunnels were built on land that were not part of estates and thought to be built to fulfil eccentric interests and provide employment. People not remembering something being built does not mean that it is old, just that it is not talked about which not surprising given that follies were very common back in the 18th-century.

@UnitSe7en

Жыл бұрын

Exactly. 400-or-whatever years ago some folk were doing a project in a small town by the sea miles from anywhere else. It wouldn't have been so unusual and there wasn't anyone else to tell about it anyway.

The theme from Keeping Up Appearances! You should do some more piano videos if you get time. Maybe make a channel. There's also an old rug that someone has left unattended in front of my place, if you want it. ;)

@TheTimTraveller

4 жыл бұрын

What I good idea, I'll note that down

Great video again!

Absolutely amazing

its no wonder how your popularity is rising, perfectly nuanced humour with some very interesting subjects....happy 60k mate

Really loved the video!

Hi Tim. Great entertainment, as usual I would say. Thanks for that. By the way, having Kevin Shelley (CountryHouseGent), Jay Foreman (Unfinished London), Matt Stephens, Daniel Lloyd and Simon Richardson (GCN) and of course yourself, I wonder if you learn this humourous style in british schools. I love it and hope all of you don't stop doing your stuff too early. Thank you very much!

I wish I knew what it looked like when the shells were still colorful.

@lizvickers7156

4 жыл бұрын

I remember when they were colourful but this is going back 50yrs ago. My mum was from Margate so as a family we would travel back to Margate every year from Cheshire for 2 weeks to stay with my nan and grand dad. The grotto was lovely then and it was colourful but I was 11.

@MyRegardsToTheDodo

2 жыл бұрын

@@lizvickers7156 Sorry, but I doubt that. The pre-WWII photo already showed the seashells to be white.

@rachelcookie321

2 жыл бұрын

@@MyRegardsToTheDodo you mean the blank and white photo that shows any light colour as white?

If you decide to come to Texas I urge you to visit Houston for things right up your alley, for example the Beer Can House completely covered by flatten cans personally emptied by the owner of the house. He's dead now, no wonder. There's the world's largest funeral museum, the Orange Show built by a similar eccentric in a shout-out to his favorite fruit and the art car museum which consists of automobiles decorated by those who surely do not have enough to occupy themselves. If you come you may stay in the Barbie/Lego room in our flat so named for the grandchildren now college age who used it for those purposes. It's now mostly vacant although the grandson occasionally sneaks in to fool with the Legos. Don't tell his friends!

nice work. Thanks for this content

Not sure why KZread recommended discount Simon Pegg here, but so far I'm digging it.

Wow, that’s cool and fascinating!

Went there a couple of weeks ago, and it was just amazing. Such a shame though that many places in Margate close quite early

You are awsome.... keep going. We are here to support you. Cheers!

I love your channel! You always have unique destinations and interesting history, with a witty narrative. Nicely done!

Thank you for the video need to see it for myself

Damn your KZread channel ist literally exploding. So many new subscribers in that short time. Amazing! Keep continuing doing this awesome content. And come to Munich I will show you around. :-)

@TheTimTraveller

4 жыл бұрын

Cheers Schlafanzugmen!

What an impressive place i‘ve never heard of! Nice and funny video too.

What is it? A world-class work of art. Thanks for showing it to me.

good work man

Its very HP Lovecraft.

Okay, yeah, just binge watched all you vids...HI! One of your 10,000s of new subs. Well done. XD Make more vids! Also keep your intro, I love the hello. I want to like say hello back.

@TheTimTraveller

4 жыл бұрын

Helloooooo!

@LadyLexyStarwatcher

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheTimTraveller Hellooo and Salut, I am so glad to see you over 250K now! Congrats! Been on a bit of a binge watching your old videos. Might get twice the views on them if you call them vintage.

Hi Simon, nice to see you again

My theory is that it was build by some regular guy or people just out of fun. Many similar great pieces of art were built for only two simple reasons: spare time and devotion. There doesn't always have to be a god or a rich person behind it. If it was, they surely wouldn't have used shells only.

Cheers Tim! Great stuff. Fancy doing Hull next? They've got a weird telecoms company with white phone boxes... If there's any left. And a big port if that tickles your fancy.

Looking forward to watching your channel racing past 100k subscribers.

The background score shifts were 🔥

This video is over three years old as I write this, on which basis it is vanishingly unlikely that anyone will even notice, much less care, but ... the Casino at Marino Dublin is most assuredly *not* a folly. It was built by William Chambers in the mid-18th century to function as a summer home for James Caulfield, the First Earl of Charlemont. Designed to appear as a single room from the outside, both in its dimensions and its scale, it is actually a sixteen-room mansion, with receiving areas, bedrooms, and an elaborate underground structure that ends in a room with several grated skylights to the outside. It's exactly the sort of place that should be catnip to this channel, so it was a genuine spit-take moment to hear it described as a folly.

I'd like to see your take on the Sedlec ossuary in the Czech Republic!

I’ve been to see this twice and “fake” or not it’s still breathtaking to see the effort made to construct it wether it’s relatively modern or made in antiquity .....for £4.50 entrance who cares? One of the reasons I was given for not carbon dating the shells was that it was once gas lit that gave off a lot of smoke which in turn would have corrupted any test done on it as the shells would have absorbed the carbon in the smoke? I’d happy go and see it again if I were ever in Margate again

And I thought I had spare time on my hands.

In India, these kind of undiscovered structures would have nothing but snakes 🐍..... There are still lot of underground structures in India, nobody is willing to go because of snakes

Hey! What happened to the scream when you are falling in intro? Love the content btw :)

God dam .... I Love this......

Nice video, thanks :D

Fascinating

I see the KZread algorithm hath smiled down upon thee. Congratulations.

It was clearly built by an elusive shell company to hide offshore assets from the pilfering Pearly King.

Hey, I once were there and I made a presentation in school about it. Cool video!

New video, yay!!!!

good video

Reminds me of the cave underneath the Notts shopping centre. I must see this.

I live in Kent, a much nice part may I say. This is the go to attraction to bring family or friends that come to visit. I must have been there about 20 times so far.

@petertaylor4980

4 жыл бұрын

I grew up in north Kent and didn't know there was anything worth visiting in Margate. TIL.

This is so cool

Small British seaside town, hidden nautical shrine, I'm getting some serious shadow over innsmouth vibes.

Maybe that temple was build by a farmer who just wanted to surprise his wife and/ or children. Usually facts are boring comparing all the speculated storys around it :D Awesome informative video again as you always make!

Great interesting video Guess whoever built it did it for themselves and enjoyed every minute of it

I have watched all your videos and have just now noticed the "thump" in the intro music is not a weird drum beat but your hand knocking the E off of time.

I have been there, 20 years ago. I was told it was more brilliant, but the gas lamps soot, took away much of the brilliance.