Shell Grotto

From Underfoot

Q7493665




The Shell Grotto, sometimes called the Shell Temple, is an ornate underground shell grotto in the seaside town of Margate, Kent, England. The grotto, which has a passageway and main room, was dug out from chalk, a soft limestone common in this region. Almost all the surface area of the walls and roof is covered in mosaics created entirely of seashells, totalling about 2,000 square feet (190 m2) of mosaic, with approximately 4.6 million shells. Its age, creators, and purpose are unknown, which has inspired a wide range of speculation, although several other shell grottos in England were made in the 18th century. This grotto was rediscovered in about 1835 and first opened to the public as a privately-owned tourist attraction in 1837. The grotto is a Grade I-listed building and remains open to the public. Attached to the grotto is a modern museum room, cafe, and gift shop.

Website,  Wikimedia, Wikidata
Shell Grotto, Margate; The Grotto
shell grotto, United Kingdom, 

  • National Heritage List for England page@
  • Grade II* listed building page@
  • Grade II listed park and garden page@
  • Grade II listed building page@
  • Grade I listed building page@
  • British Listed Buildings page@
    • ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​


Location: 51.388, 1.3899, KML, Cluster Map, Maps,
15 places

Loading map...
  • Winchelsea Caves ⓘ
    chalk quarry in Dover, Kent
  • Dover Castle ⓘ
    medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England, UK  
  • Ramsgate Tunnels ⓘ
    railway tunnel used as air-raid shelter in Ramsgate, Kent, UK  
  • Fan Bay Deep Shelter ⓘ
    bunker in Dover, UK  
  • Margate Caves ⓘ
    cave in Margate
  • Shell Grotto ⓘ
    an ornate subterranean passageway in Margate, Kent, UK. Grade I listed building
  • Snowdown Colliery ⓘ
    colliery in Kent, England, UK
  • Tilmanstone Colliery ⓘ
    colliery in Kent, England, UK
  • Kent Mining Museum ⓘ
    museum in Deal, Kent, England, UK
  • Bourne Park Tunnel ⓘ
    railway tunnel in the UK
  • Lydden Tunnel ⓘ
    railway tunnel in the UK
  • Pegwell Bay Tunnels ⓘ
    tunnels through the cliffs in Pegwell Bay, Kent
  • Priory Tunnel ⓘ
    railway tunnel in the UK
  • Tunnel Railway ⓘ
    narrow-gauge railway in Ramsgate, Kent, England, UK
  • Tyler Hill Tunnel ⓘ
    architectural structure in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK
1179-01-01T00:00:00Z
1179-01-01T00:00:00Z
1863-01-01T00:00:00Z
1863-01-01T00:00:00Z
1941-01-01T00:00:00Z
1941-01-01T00:00:00Z
2022-01-01T00:00:00Z
2022-01-01T00:00:00Z
{"selectable":false,"showCurrentTime":false,"width":"100%","zoomMin":100000000000}
Frameless
2008-08-24 MargateGrotto2008-08-24 MargateGrotto
2008-08-24 MargateGrotto2008-08-24 MargateGrotto
The Altar Chamber of the Shell Grotto, MargateThe Altar Chamber of the Shell Grotto, Margate
The Shell Grotto, Grotto Hill, MargateThe Shell Grotto, Grotto Hill, Margate
Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 25 - 2011.09.17Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 25 - 2011.09.17
Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 5 - 2011.09.17Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 5 - 2011.09.17
Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 10 - 2011.09.17Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 10 - 2011.09.17
Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 6 - 2011.09.17Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 6 - 2011.09.17
Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 1 - 2011.09.17Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 1 - 2011.09.17
Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 2 - 2011.09.17Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent 2 - 2011.09.17
    TypeSubtypeDateDescriptionNotesSource
    linkpageNational Heritage List for England page@Wikidata
    linkpageGrade II* listed building page@Wikidata
    linkpageGrade II listed park and garden page@Wikidata
    linkpageGrade II listed building page@Wikidata
    linkpageGrade I listed building page@Wikidata
    linkpageBritish Listed Buildings page@Wikidata
    sitebunkerWinchelsea Cavesunderground limestone mine, air-raid shelterWikidata
    sitebunker1179Dover Castlehistory museum, castle, bunker, archaeological site, English Heritage, fortWikidata
    sitebunker1863Ramsgate Tunnelsrailway tunnel, air-raid shelter, museumWikidata
    sitebunker1941Fan Bay Deep Shelterartillery battery, National Trust, bunkerWikidata
    sitecaveMargate CavescaveWikidata
    sitecaveShell Grottoshell grottoWikidata
    sitemineSnowdown Collierycoal mineWikidata
    sitemineTilmanstone Collierycoal mineWikidata
    sitemuseum2022Kent Mining Museummining museumWikidata
    sitetunnelBourne Park Tunnelrailway tunnelWikidata
    sitetunnelLydden Tunnelrailway tunnelWikidata
    sitetunnelPegwell Bay TunnelstunnelWikidata
    sitetunnelPriory Tunnelrailway tunnelWikidata
    sitetunnelTunnel Railwayrailway line, tunnelWikidata
    sitetunnelTyler Hill Tunnelrailway tunnelWikidata
    commonsimage2008-08-24 MargateGrotto Commons
    commonsimage2008-08-24 MargateGrotto Commons
    commonsimageThe Altar Chamber of the Shell Grotto, Margate Commons
    commonsimageThe Shell Grotto, Grotto Hill, Margate Commons
    commonsimageShell Grotto, Margate, Kent 25 - 2011.09.17 Commons
    commonsimageShell Grotto, Margate, Kent 5 - 2011.09.17 Commons
    commonsimageShell Grotto, Margate, Kent 10 - 2011.09.17 Commons
    commonsimageShell Grotto, Margate, Kent 6 - 2011.09.17 Commons
    commonsimageShell Grotto, Margate, Kent 1 - 2011.09.17 Commons
    commonsimageShell Grotto, Margate, Kent 2 - 2011.09.17 Commons
    Retrieved from "https://underfoot.info/index.php?title=Q7493665&oldid=133644"