The Haunted Tower

Dominating the Ramsgate skyline, the Granville Hotel is now a (mostly) restored and beautifully unusual landmark. To those of us who grew up in the 80s, however, it will always be that half-collapsed old ruin with Dracula’s Castle rising out of the end, sticking one MASSIVE middle finger up at the sky. I’m serious, back in the 80s, the rumours were strong: there were things in the basement at the Granville that would snatch you out of the dark and wicked old ladies in the tower offering you tea and biscuits before hitting you over the head with a twenty-pound lump-hammer.

‘My dad was once chased around the Granville for TWO HOURS.’

‘By what?’

‘EVERYTHING.’

‘Shit!’

I’d heard the rumours: I actually had an auntie who lived there. Well, I say Auntie, but in the 80s your auntie was basically whoever your nan last went drinking with. I had an uncle Len who once helped my nan out of a taxi, and apparently that was the only time they’d ever met.