This was where Francis Austen was sent to command a troop of Sea Fencibles along the coastline in the summer of 1803, when war resumed between Britain and France following the breakdown of the Peace of Amiens.

The Sea Fencibles were a group of men, mainly made up of retired soldiers, fishermen and secret smugglers who were employed on a part time basis to keep a look out for the approach of enemy ships and report any suspicious activity.

Ramsgate harbour was a valuable target as it was a strategic embarkation point for troops setting off from the south coast.

You can read about their achievements on the Wikipedia page here

The Assembly Rooms for Ramsgate were located in the Albion Hotel overlooking the harbour. Today the building is a restaurant.

HOMES

Francis Austen lodged at 14 Albion Place when he was living in Ramsgate in 1803-4. This was in a fashionable part of town overlooking Albion Place Gardens. He was living here when he met Mary Gibson and asked her to be his wife. 

Jane Austen visited Frank here in 1803, probably during the Autumn along with other members of her family, whilst they were staying at Godmersham.

Frank's house was the middle one in the terrace.

Mary Gibson lived with her father and step mother in 51 High Street, which was demolished in the 1960s. 

Edward Austen became friends with the Gibson family and visited them here in 1804, staying at Nos. 7&8 Sion Hill overlooking the harbour. Unfortunately, those homes have also disappeared.

To learn more about Ramsgate today and its role in history, you will find lots of information on The Ramsgate Society website here.

Church of St. Laurence -in-thanet

Map

This is where Frank  Austen and Mary Gibson were married on 24th July, 1806.

A memorial to Mary Gibson's mother is inside the church, who died when Mary was an infant in 1785. 

You can learn more about the Parish of St Laurence-in-Thanet here.

extract

If you would like to read an extract from The Austens of Bath where events take place in Ramsgate, click here.