town, Thanet district, administrative and historic county of county of Kent, England. It lies on the east coast and is the reputed landing place of the invading Anglo-Saxon warriors Hengist and Horsa (449 CE) and of the Christian missionary St. Augustine (597). The fishing hamlet of Ramsgate developed as a port in the middle of the 18th century, and the opening of the Kent coalfield in the 20th century brought additional trade. Ramsgate also became noted as a popular seaside resort. Charter flights are available from the town's airport, and a regular Hovercraft service to France is operated from Pegwell Bay. Pop. (2001) 37,967.