Shell Grotto

Shell Grotto is a mysterious underground passage in Margate, covered with a mosaic of some 4.6 million seashells. Discovered in 1835, this unique monument remains a mystery to this day - no one knows who created it, when or for what purpose.

The interior of the grotto is decorated with intriguing geometric patterns arranged from different types of shells, including clams, scallops and oysters. A 21-meter-long corridor leads to a central dome and rectangular chamber called the Altar Chamber, where one can admire patterns depicting suns, stars and other celestial bodies.

Theories about the object's origins are fascinating, ranging from an ancient pagan temple to an astronomical calendar to links to the Knights Templar or Freemasonry.