insideKENT Magazine Issue 37 - April 2015 | Page 107

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
T O W N

S P O T L I G H T

DEAL

O N

BY LISAMARIE LAMB

Photos © Visit Kent, www.visitkent.co.uk

In the 13th century, Deal was the busiest port in England, and today it is a picturesque and historically
important town on the Kent coast with a population of around 30,000. Deal has a long military
history associated with it – particularly regarding the Royal Marines – and was pivotal in protecting
Britain’s coastline during World War II. Tragically, the IRA bombed the Royal Marines School of Music
in Deal on 22nd September 1989, but the stoicism of the town rallied, and a memorial to those who
died was soon erected.
Explore Deal, and discover some truly surprising delights.

HISTORY IN BRIEF
In the Domesday Book, Deal is referred to in 1086 as
Addelam, which becomes Dela in 1158, and Dale in
1275. The name has an Old English root, and means
‘valley’ (as in the modern term for Dale today). By the
end of the 13th century, Deal as it would come to be
known, was a thriving, busy port town, even though
there is no harbour. It was thanks to the Goodwin
Sands that the town was able to become so important
to industry, shipping, and the military; the Downs (the

107

area of water between Deal and Goodwin Sands) was
and is a perfectly natural shelter for ships to anchor in.
Deal was in such an ideal position that Henry VIII was
worried it would be attacked during any sea battles,
which is why he constructed Deal Castle. As an added
safety feature, he also added Walmer and Sandown
Castles to his coastal security measures.