If things had worked out differently, Hampton-On-Sea could have become a major destination for UK holidays. It had all the elements of a great seaside resort, from a pier to a shingle beach on the Kent coast.

However, all that remains nowadays of  Hampton-On-Sea is part of the pier, which is exposed when the tide is out, and some of its old sea defences. The rest has washed away, and the dreams of building a beautiful seaside resort are long gone.

Sitting between Herne Bay and Whitstable, Hampton had long had a thriving oyster industry. Since Roman times, oysters had been pulled from the Thames Estuary and delivered to the streets of London where they were sold as a street snack. 

A pier and a tramway were built to help build the town’s oyster industry, but sadly, it couldn’t compete with nearby Whitstable. However, in 1879, Thomas Kyffin Freeman the owner of local news outlet Herne Bay Argus, formed the Hampton-on-Sea Estate Association Limited with the aim of turning Hampton into one of the seaside resorts that were beloved by Victorians.

Construction began with a bandstand, and there were plans laid out for tennis courts, miniature golf, recreation grounds, and much more to attract holidaymakers. Herne Railway Station even erected a Hampton-on-Sea. However, a year later, Thomas was dead, and the land was snapped up cheaply by another entrepreneur. 

While auctions attracted Londoners, who were promised free cups of tea and lunches alongside the chance to bid on plots of land, problems were brewing at sea. After the collapse of the oyster industry, the pier had become derelict and a great storm in November 1897 left it severely damaged. Waves lashed the houses in Hernecliffe Gardens, issuing an eerie warning to residents. 

Unfortunately, the ruined pier didn’t just look bad; it also interrupted the strong currents of the estuary, contributing to coastal erosion. The soft, permeable clay was no match for the tides, and soon it began to wear away at an alarming rate. 

There were attempts to limit the damage. Parts of the pier were removed, and a wall was added to try to stop the erosion. However, many locals simply left the area. By 1901, the local population was just 42 people and falling.

The homes at Hernecliffe Gardens were demolished due to their foundations becoming too unstable, and then properties at Eddington Gardens, further from the sea, were eventually taken down. The only remains of the never-to-be seaside resort still standing is The Hampton Inn, once known as The Hampton Oyster Inn.

Sitting opposite the pier’s ruins, you can still visit The Hampton Inn today, and while it has been modernised inside, it proudly displays old photos of Hampton-On-Sea, allowing visitors to imagine how different this area could have been. 

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