The seaside town of Broadstairs lies on the Isle of Thanet in East Kent. Situated on the cliffs above the bay, the town gained its name from the stairs that were cut into the chalk cliffs down to the shore. Fishing and smuggling were the mainstays of Broadstairs until much-improved transport connections to London in the nineteenth century led to the development of Broadstairs as a modern seaside resort, though still retaining its historical character. In this book author Andy Bull delves into the fascinating history of Broadstairs, including characters associated with the town such as the scandalous eighteenth-century politician Charles Fox, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Oscar Wilde, as well as the creators of Billy Bunter and The Clangers. The tales of the town include the country’s oldest lighthouse, the smuggler presented to Queen Victoria and the preserved German shell hole in the house of the proprietor of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, which was intended for Lord Northcliffe himself, and many more remarkable stories.

Secret Broadstairs explores the lesser-known episodes in the history of the town through the years. With tales of remarkable people, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, it will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this seaside town in Kent.