Deal (also
previously known as Daele, Dale, Dele) is
located on the South East shoreline of
England, approximately 8 miles from the busy
port town of Dover.
Historically linked
with the defence of the realm, until 1997,
Deal was home to the Royal Marines. It is
also one of the port towns that make up the
ancient defences of the cinque ports.
(although not technically a port town, Deal
benefits from the natural harbour provided by
the Goodwin Sands in the channel).
In earlier times, Henry
VIII saw fit to construct three castles along
its shoreline, stretching from Walmer (in the
south), through Deal, and up to Sandown (in
the north). Today, two of these fortresses
survive - unfortunately Sandown castle
slipped into disrepair in the early 1900's
when the sea encroached on its position, and
was finally lost to the water. Today, only
one small part of the castle remains at the
end of the seafront pedestrian boulevard.
Walmer - the closest
village, is the supposed first landing point
of Julius Caesar in 55BC.
Throughout its history,
Deal has been associated with the smuggling
trade. On more than one occasion, the British
authorities of the day tried to stamp out the
trade, only to be met by fierce opposition
from the local townspeople, and as such, Deal
remained a smuggling town up until the late
19th Century - long after it had been
effectively eradicated across the UK. Today,
a great many secret tunnels, and haunts of
smugglers remain within the town.
Although Deal is a
quiet town by nature, there are plenty of
activities to partake in, with a good many
bars and restaurants, 
traditional high street, public
buildings and sports facilities - including
ten local Golf Courses, including the Royal
Cinque Ports Golf Club, Princes and the Royal
St Georges which are all just minutes away
from Wellingtons Lodge.
Additionally, Deal
boasts a very popular pier, built in 1957 on
the site of two previous piers, which is a
popular retreat for anglers, locals and
tourists alike.
And with its location
between four major ports in the UK (Dover
Ferry Port, Folkestone Channel Tunnel,
Ramsgate Ferry Port and Kent International
Airport), traveling around the local area or
indeed, trips to France and Belguim are easy
to arrange and do!
In 2004, The town had a
population of approximately 26,000.
