childhood memories of south coast in the 70's- can you help?

[Loriycs]

Didnt really know where to put this thread, so chose this as its about beaches. probably wrong place but this has bugged me for years so if you can help i'd be grateful. When i was a little girl i went to the coast with my parents and cousins. It was on the southeastcoast, probably kent.we played in a replica castle (grey stone i recall)that was quite big and had a dungeon and everything. Next to it was a sand pit. It was right on the coast and overlooked the sea. Not on a hill but flat and near the coastline.i loved that castle.Always wanted to go back but my mum said i dreamt it. I didnt. Ive been to most places in kent with my kids and always hoped i'd find it again but never have. Even my cousins dont remember it. Has anyone else been there??? did i dream it???!?!?!?

[MegBusset]

When you say 'replica castle' what do you mean? An actual castle or a play castle?

[Loriycs]

i remember it being like a mini actual castle. Looked just like a real one. Quite big, had two floors, walkways, turrets that you could go up into and a dungeon. It was right on the seafront. I recall it too clearly to have dreamt it.

[MegBusset]

I thought immediately of Deal Castle, could that be it?

[Loriycs]

no, sorry, it was a mini 'real' castle for kids. There were other things for kids near it, sand pit nad some of those bouncy springy things kids sit on ( like rocking horses). Thanks anyway.

[MegBusset]

Oh right, sorry. Hope someone else can help!

[Minkychunky]

Oh it sounds lovely, the kind of place I would love to take my children too!

[PortAndLemon]

Do you know/could you find out where your holidays were based? If you went to this castle several times it was probably reasonably close to where you were staying. And when were you a little girl? 60s, 70s, 80s?

[Loriycs]

70's. I never went on holiday with my cousins it so must have been a day trip. Weve always lived in kent, and i dont recall going anywhere further for the day. Ive been to all the kent coats ( i think0 with my own kids and still never found anywhere that resembled this place???

[Loriycs]

excuse the mistakes - getting tired!

[mazzystar]

for some reason it is sounding very familiar - it was when you mentioned the springy things....
it wasn't eastbourne was it? the wish tower?

[Loriycs]

dont know, i@ll have to look that up on the net- its still there is it?

[Loriycs]

sorry getting too tired now and were off on hols 2moro so goodnight all and I will check thread when we get back, and hopefully someone might also remember?!?

[TheRealPhartiphukborlz]

you dreamt it

[TheRealPhartiphukborlz]

any of these?

[PortAndLemon]

Based on memories of Kent in the 70s, not Broadstairs or Dymchurch or Dumpton Gap.

[janeashersbookofspacecakes]

It feels familiar to me too. I immediately thought Eastbourne, even though I only went once as a small child.

[LittleMissNorty]

could it be here?

[janeashersbookofspacecakes]

We were always in Sussex and this does sound fami;iar. I think Eastbourne or Hastings. Perhaps it was a realistic play castle. the sandpit seems familiar too.

[Loriycs]

hi, i'm back from hols. Have checked out web pics of the wish tower eastbourne and its not it - anyone else help out here???

[southeastastra]

blackgang chine has a little castle and is right by the sea.

[southeastastra]

here

[laidbackinengland]

Re you sure it wasn't Peter Pan's playground in Worthing. It is on a flat piece of land just in front of the beach. It used to have a big castle just as you described, sanpits, a helter skelter with mats to sit on and trampolines ? The castle isn't there any more - but the playground is.

[NoNickname]

Here's a photo of Peter Pan's playground in Worthing

[laidbackinengland]

Well done no nickname...I couldn't find one !

[Loriycs]

That castle looks wonderful southseastastra, but its not the one i remember- i would love to take my kids there though x