The Whitstable Giant

Captain Sam, the Whitstable Giant, was awakened in the picturesque grounds of Whitstable Castle's Victorian gardens on a warm and sunny Bank Holiday Sunday. Hundreds of people, young and old, gathered at the gates to witness this historic event.

Jeanne Harrison, the Sheriff of Canterbury, led the crowd of curious onlookers through the wisteria-filled gardens in search of the Giant, accompanied by musicians and the Giant's constant companions—a Horse and a Diver. Gasps of delight filled the air as the procession entered the beautiful Rose Gardens, where the magnificent 15-foot-tall Giant stood waiting to welcome his visitors.

In a special ceremony to awaken and name the Giant, Jeanne Harrison expressed gratitude to Roger Annable and his staff at the Castle for their invaluable support during Strange Cargo’s residency, which led to the creation of the town's newest and largest resident. She also thanked the local community for sharing their knowledge and providing practical assistance in bringing the Giant to life, with special thanks to Whitstable artists Emily Firmin and Justin Mitchell, who crafted the Diver and Horse Big Head characters.

Names for the Giant and his companions were selected from hundreds of suggestions made by locals during visits and Open Days. The Big Heads were named Bobbin and Dollar Dan. Dollar Dan references Whitstable’s Dollar Row, a street built from the proceeds of salvaged American dollars from shipwrecks off the coast, which could only be recovered thanks to the diving helmet invented in Whitstable during Victorian times. Bobbin combines references to the horse that emerged during research, including the seahorse, Whitstable’s Hooden Horse, the white horses on the waves, and Invicta, the symbol of Kent.

When the Giant's name was finally revealed, he seemed to awaken with a great shudder, as if shaking off centuries of sleep. Captain Sam, as he was named, sprang to life. Reflecting the town's long and important association with the sea, Captain Sam has the appearance of a handsome, bearded fisherman. He wears a coat encrusted with oyster shells and a fisherman’s apron adorned with reminders of his Whitstable home. Draped in fishing nets and with a twinkle in his blue eyes, Captain Sam was clearly delighted to greet his many new friends.