The Origins of Deal Carnival

The history of the Association can be traced back to 1826.  After the closure of the Naval Dockyard in Deal the towns people started to become restless. A great number of dock workers and sailors with very low spirits living locally became a worry to the local Council, they saw a need to raise interest and attract people into the area and came up with the Deal and Downs Regatta. At this time, all the events were water borne and the press of the time reported that they were a tremendous success, with what was described as 'a very colourful display out on the sea'.

Royalty became associated with the Patronage starting with the last Naval Commander of the former Dockyard, the Duke of Clarence, who later became William IV. Followed years later by Queen Victoria.

Sailing and rowing events were the mainstay of the celebrations, usually over just one weekend in August, or in later years, September.

The title 'Royal Regatta' appears on many Programmes from earlier this Century, right up to the Second World War when the title was dropped and became just 'Deal Regatta"