Information
Hood’s memories of Ramsgate
Even ten years after what was probably his last visit to Ramsgate, Hood retained a very clear impression of the place when writing to John Leech, an illustrator and fellow contributor to Punch, who was holidaying there. As ever, he could not resist using the occasion to pepper his recollections with puns, some of them less subtle than others, including one on his correspondent’s name.
Quotations
11th September 1843 I suppose you are at Ramsgate. It is a nice place. If you shut your eyes you can walk right over the Pier – or bang against the cliffs, or off them, - whichever you like. You may treadmill yourself for exercise up & down Jacob’s Ladder - & if you relish such sea insects – peg well at the shrimps. On a clear day, if you understand French, you can see their coast: and it may concern you to know that a vast number of leeches are imported from France … some curious people ascend the Pharos on the pier, but it is light-headed - & therefore, like a monomaniac, ought not to be trusted. …Many persons are very ill on the sea-voyage, & if you were sick in going down you may be sure of sickness coming up. A coach and horses is the best preventive. NB. Talking of the Preventive – the Coast Blockade is not for drawing on – as you may imagine: but there is a great Bank called the Goodwin which you may draw on, if you have any cash in it – the head partner is Mr.David Jones.
Jacob’s Ladder – a series of stone steps leading down to the harbour
Pegwell - the name of a bay west of Ramsgate, known for its shrimps
Pharos – lighthouse
Preventive – contemporary name for the coastguard
Goodwin – a large and dangerous sandbank off the coast of Ramsgate
Place | Extract |
| Ramsgate | Of these, ‘The Song of the Shirt’(1843) with its biting attack on worker exploitation, received immediate widespread acclaim... |
| Ramsgate | Hood’s memories of Ramsgate
Even ten years after what was probably his last visit to Ramsgate, Hood retained a very clear impression of the place when writing to John Leech, an illustrator and fellow contributor to Punch, who was holidaying there... |
