Misplaced Pages

#885114

81-925: The Machine Gun Corps Memorial , also known as The Boy David , is a memorial to the casualties of the Machine Gun Corps in the First World War . It is located on the north side of the traffic island at Hyde Park Corner in London , near the Wellington Arch , an Equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington , the Royal Artillery Memorial , the New Zealand War Memorial , and the Australian War Memorial . The central column of light grey marble

162-738: A harbor was built, though the coming of the railways in 1843 had a greater impact on its development. Dover Hill, the highest point in Folkestone, was a sighting point for the Anglo-French Survey (1784–1790) , which measured the precise distance between the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Paris Observatory . The hill provided a sight-line to the east along the line of the Folkestone Turnpike to Dover Castle , one of

243-489: A benefit football match following the flood. Folkestone was at one stage a resort town with a developed shipping trade. With the decline of those industries others have filled the gap. The Dormobile works, car conversion manufacturers were based in the town. Church and Dwight , the US company famous for Arm & Hammer baking soda -based consumer products, has its UK headquarters in the town. Silver Spring Mineral Water Company ,

324-515: A front line fighting force. In the latter part of the war, as tactics changed to defence in depth , it commonly served well in advance of the front line. It had a less enviable record for its casualty rate. Some 170,500 officers and men served in the MGC, with 62,049 becoming casualties, including 12,498 killed, earning it the nickname 'the Suicide Club'. While the undeniable bravery and self-sacrifice of

405-639: A machine gun school was established near the site of both demonstrations and machine gun barrages were successfully employed used by the French forces Meuse and Verdun . At the end of hostilities, the MGC was re-organised in a smaller form as many of its soldiers returned to civilian life. However, the Corps continued to see active service notably in the Russian Civil War ; the Third Anglo-Afghan War , and

486-612: A more luxurious one in about 200 AD. The villa was abandoned during the 3rd or 4th century for unknown reasons. In 597 AD, monks, led by Augustine of Canterbury , arrived at Ebbsfleet on the Isle of Thanet , on a mission from Pope Gregory to re-Christianise Britain. He was greeted by the Anglo-Saxon pagan King of Kent, Æthelberht , and his Christian Queen, Bertha . Augustine was granted land in Canterbury, where he built his church and, outside

567-577: A new academy that opened in September 2015. Martello Grove Academy moved to new buildings on its campus in Warren Way in autumn 2016. Footballer and army officer Walter Tull attended the town's Mundella Primary School when it was North Board School. The town is situated at the foot of the North Downs , with views of the surrounding countryside and the coast of France, 24 mi (39 km) away. The area

648-411: A recreational space and promenade to which the public has access, including bars and restaurants, with entertainment at weekends and on some evenings. The former railway station and harbour viaduct have been reconstructed as a successful public walkway and promenade following the full closure of the branch railway in 2014. The governance of Folkestone lies in both national and local government. Insofar as

729-518: A single battery of machine guns per army corps was a sufficient level of issue. Despite the evidence of fighting in Manchuria (1905 onwards) the army went to war with each infantry battalion and cavalry regiment containing a machine gun section of just two guns. This was soon increased to four guns per section. These organic (embedded) units were supplemented in November 1914 by the formation of

810-581: A variety of courses including Apprenticeships, Hairdressing and Construction. From 2007 to 2013, the University Centre Folkestone (a joint initiative of Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Greenwich ) was located in the town providing a specialism in Performing Arts. There are a number of primary schools in the town. State primaries include Folkestone Primary, Sandgate Primary, Morehall Academy and Martello Grove Academy,

891-534: A visitor centre. The Folkestone White Horse is carved on Cheriton Hill above the Channel Tunnel terminal. The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty includes part of the town area. The nearby Brockhill Country Park , to the west, with footpaths around a lake and in a valley, links with the Royal Military Canal at Hythe . Folkestone is near to two important Battle of Britain landmarks –

SECTION 10

#1732854929886

972-619: A war memorial in Folkestone , near the Corps' barracks at Shorncliffe . Machine Gun Corps At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the tactical potential of machine guns was not appreciated by the British Armed Forces . The prevalent attitude of senior ranks at the outbreak of the Great War can be summed up by the opinion of an officer expressed a decade earlier that

1053-483: A wide variety of locations around the town. Many of the commissioned works remain permanently in the town. The 2011 Triennial 'A Million Miles From Home' was launched on 24 September 2010 and commissioned 19 international artists to develop new works for Folkestone's streets, squares, beaches and historic buildings. Folkestone has an annual Chamber Music Festival each May curated by the Sacconi Quartet . The festival

1134-623: A wreath after a dedication by the Chaplain-General to the Forces Alfred Jarvis . The memorial was controversial, as some interpreted the beautiful statue with its accompanying Vickers guns, and the reference to slaying hundreds and thousands, as glorifying war. There were letters in The Times and discussion in the House of Commons. Despite these interpretations, Derwent Wood wanted to depict

1215-582: Is a coastal town on the English Channel , in Kent , south-east England . The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal resort for most of the 19th and mid-20th centuries. This location has had a settlement since the Mesolithic era . A nunnery was founded by Eanswith , granddaughter of Æthelberht of Kent in

1296-497: Is a magnet for passing migrating birds and the Warren (woodlands adjoining Wear Bay) and the cliffs above are of particular interest during the spring and autumn periods. These are now part of East Cliff and Warren Country Park . Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charities are lands which were donated to the people of Folkestone for perpetual recreational use by the Earls of Radnor during

1377-568: Is based in the town's 13th century Parish Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe in the Bayle and comprises concerts of chamber and ensemble music with guest performers. The church also hosts a series of Sunday afternoon concerts under the auspices of Bayle Music presenting local, national and international performers as well as occasional concerts by visiting choirs and ensembles. Folkestone New Music promotes concerts of contemporary music and Folkestone Early Music explores music, from medieval to baroque, through

1458-650: Is held by the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. A variant sculpture of the Boy David by Edward Bainbridge Copnall , inspired by Derwent Wood's statue, was erected on another memorial to the dead of the Machine Gun Corps at Cheyne Walk on Chelsea Embankment . The original statue was stolen in 1969, and a fibreglass replica unveiled in 1975. The Machine Gun Corps had several branches. The Cavalry Branch has

1539-545: Is represented by Dylan Jeffrey (Conservative). Folkestone East is represented by Jackie Meade (Labour). The second tier of local government is the non-metropolitan district . Folkestone forms a part of Folkestone and Hythe district, which was first established by the Local Government Act 1972 as Shepway. Folkestone elects 10 of Folkestone and Hythe District Council's 30 Councillors. The third and lowest tier

1620-478: Is the biggest entertainment and function venue in Folkestone with a large choice of concerts, comedy and theatre. An earlier venue the Pleasure Gardens Theatre opened in 1886, later converting into a cinema before closing in 1964. The first Folkestone Triennial art event took place between June and September 2008 with artists such as Christian Boltanski and Tracey Emin making site specific work for

1701-400: Is topped with a 9 feet (2.7 m) high bronze statue of a nude David by Francis Derwent Wood . The beautiful youth stands in a classical contrapposto pose, with one hand on his hip and the other resting on Goliath 's oversized sword. To either side, on a lower flanking plinth of the same marble, is a bronze model of a Vickers machine gun , wreathed in laurels (some sources state that

SECTION 20

#1732854929886

1782-579: The Annual General Meeting and Mayor-making ceremony to appoint both a Town Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from their number for the coming year. Folkestone is located where the southern edge of the North Downs escarpment meets the sea. In contrast to the white cliffs at Dover further to the east, the cliffs at Folkestone are composed of greensand belonging to the Folkestone Formation and gault clay . A small stream, Pent Brook, cuts through

1863-796: The Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne and the Kent Battle of Britain Museum . The Old High Street is an ancient route connecting the Bayle with the Harbour, and is now at the heart of Folkestone's Creative Quarter. The narrow, cobbled slope was one of Charles Dickens' favourite streets. Together with Rendezvous Street, this part of Folkestone is now thriving, with independent businesses and restaurants surrounded by colourful restored buildings. Folkestone developed because of its transport links. With France visible across

1944-612: The British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front, who insisted all his Corps commanders attend. French observers were treated to a similar demonstration, after which the concept was swiftly introduced into the French Army where it was embraced as a means to economise on artillery shells with the extraordinary assertion the results were more demoralising 'by means of continuity' than the result of shelling. Subsequently

2025-550: The Kent Battle of Britain Museum and the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne . Folkestone has been home to many galleries over the years. The long-established Metropole Galleries, located in the one-time Metropole Hotel on the Leas, staged year round exhibitions until it closed in 2008. Its place has been largely taken by the Creative Foundation. The Foundation has opened a medium scale theatre, conference and music venue in

2106-588: The M25 . The A20 is motorway-standard to Dover and runs locally towards Ashford and London, following the M20 but runs locally via Sellindge , Ashford, Lenham , Maidstone, Aylesford , Wrotham and Swanley where the A20, M20 and M25 meet and the A20 continues through Sidcup and Lewisham to Central London . Folkestone marks the eastern end of the A259 although this is no longer part of

2187-671: The Motor Machine Gun Service (MMGS) administered by the Royal Artillery , consisting of motor-cycle mounted machine gun batteries. A machine gun school was also opened in France. After a year of warfare on the Western Front some commanders advocated crewing them with specially trained men who were not only thoroughly conversant with their weapons but understood how they should be best deployed for maximum effect. To achieve this,

2268-544: The South Eastern Main Line . Venice-Simplon Orient Express passengers now change at Folkestone West for road coaches and the onward journey through the Channel Tunnel . High Speed 1 (HS1) is a high speed railway built to French 'LGV' (Ligne à Grande Vitesse) standards, connecting the Channel Tunnel to London. Since December 2009, high speed commuter services from Dover have called at Folkestone and then, using

2349-556: The Strait of Dover , the town became an important transit point for those travelling from the UK to the Continent. Plans to restore ferry traffic to Boulogne , following termination in 2001, were discussed in 2005, but they did not come to fruition. The Channel Tunnel northern entrance is located at Cheriton. The railway reached Folkestone on 28 June 1843 and a temporary railway station was built while

2430-517: The War Office began to dispose of the many buildings. In 1922 the Machine Gun Corps was disbanded as a cost-cutting measure. The following members of the Machine Gun Corps have been awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. A memorial to the 15,552 wartime fatalities of

2511-463: The 1970s). There are two selective state secondary schools – Folkestone School for Girls (formed by the merger of Folkestone Technical High School for Girls and Folkestone Grammar School for Girls in the 1980s) and the Harvey Grammar School for boys; the latter was founded in 1674. These two schools have a common sixth form timetable. East Kent College have a Folkestone campus providing

Machine Gun Corps Memorial - Misplaced Pages Continue

2592-491: The 19th century is true of English place names generally). Folkestone is often misspelled with variants including Folkston, Folkstone & Folkestone. The area of Folkestone has been occupied since at least the Mesolithic era. In 2010, worked flints were discovered below the remains of the Folkestone Roman Villa . The East Cliff area was excavated in 1924 and most recently from 2010 to 2011, producing artifacts from

2673-669: The 19th century. The lands are administered by Shepway District Council, with the Cabinet members forming the Board of Trustees . Previously, the Charter Trustees were also Trustees of the Charities, but that arrangement lapsed upon the parishing of the Folkestone and Sandgate area. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the transfer of the lands to Folkestone Town Council and Sandgate Parish Council. There are two major long distance footpaths through

2754-484: The 7th century, who is still commemorated as part of the town's culture. During the 13th century, it developed into a seaport , and the harbor developed during the early 19th century to defend against a French invasion. Folkestone expanded further west after the arrival of the railway in 1843 as an elegant coastal resort, thanks to the investment of the Earl of Radnor under the urban plan of Decimus Burton. In its heyday – during

2835-598: The Annual Observance is held on the second Saturday in May at the Memorial, which is organised by the Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades' Association. On Remembrance Sunday , the second Sunday in November, there is also a wreath laying ceremony held in conjunction with the ceremony at the nearby Royal Artillery Memorial . Folkestone Folkestone ( / ˈ f ə ʊ k s t ən / FOHK -stən )

2916-606: The Channel Tunnel, is in the Folkestone suburb of Cheriton . The Leas Lift , a Victorian water lift that opened in 1885, connects the Leas with the beach. There were two other lifts on the Leas in Folkestone history: the Metropole Lift (closed in 1940) and the Sandgate Hill Lift, which closed in 1918. The town is located at the eastern end of the M20 which provides fast access to Ashford , Maidstone , London and also to

2997-463: The Corps, nearly 30%, arose from the exposed position from which it typically fought, leading to its nickname, "The Suicide Club". The memorial was originally erected next to Grosvenor Place , near Hyde Park Corner , and unveiled on 10 May 1925 by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn . Four former members of the Corps who received the Victoria Cross – Arthur Henry Cross , Reginald Graham , Allan Ker , and William Allison White – placed

3078-584: The Edwardian era – Folkestone was considered the most fashionable resort of the time, visited by royalties – amongst them Queen Victoria and Edward VII and other members of the English aristocracy. The town's architecture, especially in the West End part, is a testimony of this period, with many impressive buildings, townhouses, villas, private squares, and large hotels built to accommodate the gentry. After two world wars and

3159-494: The Hythe musketry school... However, it was 1915 before such fire was successfully carried out in the field..." Cornish goes on "To conduct such fire the proposed target would be located... the relative position of the machine gun relative to it would be determined with ruler and protractor.. calculations would be made to determine the gun's potential cone of fire and the trajectory of its bullets (an important consideration if firing over

3240-726: The Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 – by Command of Brigadier H.B. de Lisle to Captain Ross McGillycuddy ( 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards ) with Infantry, Cavalry, and Motor branches, followed in 1916 by the Heavy Branch. A depot and training centre was established at Belton Park near Grantham , Lincolnshire , and a base depôt at Camiers in France . Captain, then Major, McGillycuddy attended an earlier Machine Gun School at Hythe. He formed there, as an ex-Gunner, certain theories on

3321-458: The Machine Gun Corps was unveiled on 10 May 1925 by the Duke of Connaught , at Hyde Park Corner in London. It features a bronze statue by Francis Derwent Wood in the Renaissance style , depicting the youthful David after his defeat of the giant Goliath , an event described in the Book of Samuel ; on lower plinths flanking the figure are two bronze models of Vickers machine guns, wreathed in laurels. A short service of remembrance known as

Machine Gun Corps Memorial - Misplaced Pages Continue

3402-426: The Mesolithic period through to the Roman era . On the East Cliff, an extensive Iron Age oppidum existed, which produced quern-stones on an almost industrial scale. Those quern-stones, which were used for grinding cereals into flour, were traded for continental exports such as pottery and wine. A modest Roman-style villa was constructed over the Iron Age settlement sometime during the 1st century AD, followed by

3483-660: The South Coast Trunk Road east of Brenzett, although it remains a primary route. The road gives access to the Romney Marsh , Hastings , Eastbourne and beyond. To the north, roads connect Folkestone to Canterbury and the nearby villages of Elham and Lyminge . Stagecoach in East Kent operates local buses from the town. It is served by The Link services to Canterbury , The Wave service to Dover , Romney Marsh and Hastings . Other bus routes run to Hythe , Ashford and Maidstone. National Express runs coaches to Ashford, Dover, Hythe, Maidstone and London. Schools and colleges in Folkestone include Folkestone Academy (formed by

3564-422: The South Eastern Main Line to Ashford International , the services join HS1 for the journey to Ebbsfleet , Stratford International and London St Pancras . The journey time to London via this route has been reduced to under 1 hour; some trains from Folkestone West take as little as 52 minutes to reach the capital by High Speed Train. The Eurotunnel Shuttle terminal, for car transport to Calais by train using

3645-434: The Vickers guns are real examples, cased in bronze, but the official English Heritage listing casts doubt on that suggestion). The inscription on the main column reads: ERECTED TO/ COMMEMORATE/ THE GLORIOUS/ HEROES/ OF THE/ MACHINE GUN/ CORPS/ WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT/ WAR , and then below, a Biblical quotation from 1 Samuel 18:7: "Saul has slain his thousands/ but David his tens of thousands". The plinths to either side bear

3726-428: The West Cliff and The Bayle to the West, and the East Cliff on the other side of the stream. The Pent Stream now runs through a culvert from the fire station, at the junction of Radnor Park Road, Park Farm and Pavilion Road, until it reaches the inner harbour. Remains of a quay, dating to the 17th century, were discovered under what is now a public car park, between the Old High Street and the railway viaduct, adjacent to

3807-411: The boom of the overseas holiday package, the town quickly declined. The harbour's trade diminished following the opening of the nearby Channel Tunnel and the ending of ferry services from Folkestone, but it still remains in active use. Although Kent was the first part of the British mainland to be conquered and settled by the invading Angles, Saxons and Jutes from the middle of the 5th century AD, after

3888-402: The cliffs at this point, and provided the original haven for fishermen and cross-channel boats. The cliffs are constantly under attack from the sea, and the original headlands, which once protected the port, long ago ceased to do so. Artificial protection, in the form of breakwaters and piers, have been necessary since the 17th century. The town is now built on both sides of the original valley:

3969-523: The construction of the line to Dover continued. This started with the Foord viaduct, designed by Sir William Cubitt , completed in 1844. Folkestone Junction railway station was then opened and construction through the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone commenced. Once the line was opened to Dover , the town began to prosper (which meant growth westwards), further stations were opened at Folkestone West (originally named Shorncliffe Camp ) in 1863, and Folkestone Central in 1884. Folkestone Harbour station

4050-408: The corps stands testament to the men and their regimental esprit de corps it is also a symptom of the fixed belief on the part of senior commanders that machine guns were confined to a marginal if useful role, that of an adjunct to massed rifle fire, ignoring the proven potential of this weapon in the indirect role (in effect rifle-calibre fire employed as ultra-short artillery.) By correctly setting up

4131-452: The current harbour. Included in the town is Cheriton , where the Channel Tunnel 's northern exit is located; Newington ; and Peene . In August 1996 a one-in-600-years storm left homes and businesses in Black Bull Road, in the Foord Valley, under two metres of water. Heavy rainfall combined with inadequacies in the Pent Stream and local drainage caused the flooding. A crowd of 2,332 saw Folkestone Invicta play hosts to West Ham United in

SECTION 50

#1732854929886

4212-402: The dates MCMXIV and MCMXIX . A further inscription on the rear records that the Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 and disbanded in 1922; in that time, some 11,500 officers and 159,000 other ranks served in the Corps, of whom 1,120 officers and 1,671 other ranks were killed, and 2,881 officers and 45,377 other ranks wounded, missing or prisoners-of-war. The high casualty rate of

4293-439: The departure of the Romans, the name Folcanstan did not appear until the late 7th century. There is general agreement that this means Folca's stone , the stone possibly marking the meeting place of the local hundred . It was not until the mid 19th century that the spelling of "Folkestone" was fixed as such, with the Earl of Radnor requesting that the town's name be standardized (although this tendency towards standardisation in

4374-444: The front lines while uselessly firing into the air, making a show instead of dying beside riflemen whose weapons used practically identical ammunition. This conviction may explain–from both sides–the persistence with which machine gunners were placed in exposed positions where their fire was only marginally effective but enemy troops could be seen to fall victim to it, and the great personal bravery with which those same men fought when

4455-452: The guns cool" . And in that 12-hour period the ten guns fired a million rounds..." Towards the end of the Great War some if not all deeply-entrenched attitudes were changing, and not only on the part of British and Commonwealth personnel. Following the extensive barrage fire at Vimy Ridge and Battle of Messines a demonstration was held on the dunes at Camiers by request of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig , Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of

4536-449: The head of friendly troops). A clinometer, combined with a graduated elevation dial fitted to the tripod would be employed to set the gun to the correct elevation..." The obvious complexities and the exacting preparations - in effect identical to those of artillery gunners - may have seemed arcane and pointless to those who carried - or whose men carried - rifles firing the same ammunition but could neither see (or more importantly imagine)

4617-415: The heart of the Creative Quarter named Quarterhouse. It offers a year-round programme of live music, comedy, film, talks, theatre and children's entertainment. George's House Gallery and Googie's Art Cafe hold frequent exhibitions by local artists and the Folkestone Art Society, established in 1928, holds three annual art exhibitions and publishes an annual art review of work by local artists. Leas Cliff Hall

4698-439: The high altar, found a battered lead casket immured in a niche in the north wall of the chancel. Examination by archaeologists at the time, and again in 1981, confirmed that the casket was of Anglo-Saxon origin and the few bone fragments were those of a woman in her early thirties. The relics are still housed in the church, close to where they were discovered, flanked by a pair of small brass candlesticks. St Eanswythe also appears on

4779-455: The merger of Hillside School for Boys and Holywell School for Girls in the early 1970s, and formerly known as Wyndgate Secondary School in the 1970s, the Channel High School in the 1980s, and the Channel School in the 1990s); and Turner Free School (opened in 2018 on the site of Pent Valley Technology College, formerly Pent Valley Secondary Modern, formed by the merger of Harcourt Secondary School for Girls and Morehall Secondary School for Boys in

4860-442: The mid-1800s by Decimus Burton who also worked on Regent's Park , London and St Leonards-on-Sea . The promenade along the sea includes many crescents, hotels, private parks and alleys. A Martello Tower (No 3) stands on the cliff above Copt Point. Built in 1806 as a defence against Napoleon , it has also been a Coast Guard lookout, a family home, a golf clubhouse and a Second World War Naval mine control post. It now houses

4941-472: The national government is concerned, Folkestone is part of the constituency of Folkestone and Hythe , which is currently (2024) represented by Tony Vaughan (Labour). Before Brexit in 2020, Folkestone was part of the South East England constituency in the European Parliament . The local government consists of three tiers. In the first tier, Kent County Council , Folkestone is divided into two divisions each returning one County Councillor . Folkestone West

SECTION 60

#1732854929886

5022-403: The ongoing conflict in the Northwest Frontier of India . The MGC also served prominently in the British force that occupied parts of Germany in the period between the Armistice of 1918 and the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919 as its equipment and training made it possible for a relatively small garrison to control a large population but by 1920 the headquarters in Belton Park was closed and

5103-408: The same enemy concentrated their forces against the greater threat represented by an unsupported sandbag emplacement. As stated by Paul Cornish in Machine Guns and the Great War: "The theory behind this technique had long been understood... as early as 1908... the mathematical work required to provide a reliable basis for the conduct of such fire was carried out by a group of British enthusiasts at

5184-402: The same weapons more commonly used in the direct role (over open sights) the delivering of accurate and sustained fire at high elevation became less an art than a science that could reliably deliver plunging fire at approximately twice the maximum effective range of hand-held weapons of identical calibre, but not so convincingly a belief to hold that the machine gunners were in effect hiding behind

5265-406: The shipping trade but have since diversified into other fields. Saga plc has its headquarters in Folkestone. Along with other Kent seaside towns, there has been a resurgence in domestic tourism linked to a growing arts scene. The major landmark in Folkestone, apart from the harbour, is The Leas, the cliffs above the beach. Located in the west part of the town, it is a unique promenade designed in

5346-446: The terminal effect of a long-range barrage. When properly employed it was unarguably a devastating deterrent, as witnessed by those who took the trouble to seek out the areas interdicted but for those who took the trouble to do so were often regarded uncritical advocates of novel, untried tactics. While in the more sustained direct fire role, properly supported: The 100th Company of the Machine Gun Corps at High Wood on August 24, 1916

5427-453: The town's seal, along with William Harvey , the Folkestone-born 17th-century physician who discovered the blood circulation. A Norman knight held a Barony of Folkestone, which led to its entry as a part of the Cinque Ports in the thirteenth century and, with that, the privilege of being a wealthy trading port. At the start of the Tudor period , it had become a town in its own right. Wars with France meant that defenses had to be built, and

5508-424: The town. The North Downs Way , starting its course in Surrey , reaches the coast at Folkestone and continues through Capel-le-Ferne , and to its end at Dover , some 8 mi (13 km) away. The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend , Kent and traces the Kent coast as it was in Roman times , via Folkestone, as far as Hastings , East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. Nearby places of interest include

5589-415: The true nature of war, and in particular the solitary conflict of the machine gunner. Although already in his 40s, he had enlisted in 1915 to serve as an orderly in the Royal Army Medical Corps ; he designed masks to be worn by soldiers with facial disfigurements caused by their wounds, and was fully aware of the horrors of modern mechanical warfare. The memorial was dismantled due to roadworks in 1945, and

5670-422: The two principal cross-channel observation points, the other being Fairlight Down in Sussex. Until the 19th century, Folkestone remained a small fishing community with a seafront continually battered by storms and encroaching shingles, making it hard to land boats. In 1807, an act of Parliament , the Folkestone Pier and Harbour Act 1807 ( 47 Geo. 3 Sess. 2 . c. ii), was passed to build a pier and harbour, which

5751-446: The use of the Machine Gun from which he was able to turn to good account in the war of 1914 to 1918. There was also a Canadian Machine Gun Corps . The MGC saw action in all the main theatres of war, including the Western Front in France and Belgium, Sinai and Palestine Campaign , Mesopotamian campaign , Egypt, Salonika, East Africa campaign and Italian front . In its short history, the MGC gained an enviable record for heroism as

5832-406: The walls, founded the monastery of St Peter & St Paul, now known as St Augustine's . Æthelberht was succeeded as Anglo-Saxon king of Kent by his son Eadbald , whose daughter Eanswythe refused all offers of marriage. In 630, Eanswythe founded a nunnery on the site of her father's castle near Folkestone by the present parish church of St Mary & St Eanswythe . Eanswythe died around 640 and

5913-769: Was bought by the South Eastern Railway (SER), which was then building the London to Dover railway line. George Turnbull was responsible in 1844 for building the Horn pier. Dredging the harbour, and the construction of a rail route down to it, began almost immediately. The town soon became the SER's principal packet station for the Continental traffic to Boulogne . The last ferry ran in 2001. The Harbour Arm, formerly used solely for port activities, has been extensively restored and developed as

5994-472: Was built by Thomas Telford in 1809. By 1820 a harbour area of 14 acres (5.7 hectares) had been enclosed. Folkestone's trade and population grew slightly, but development was still hampered by sand and silt from the Pent Stream. The Folkestone Harbour Company invested heavily in removing the silt but with little success. 1842, the company went bankrupt, and the government put the derelict harbour up for sale. It

6075-466: Was established as the civil parish : in Folkestone's case, because it held a Town Charter , and when the then Folkestone Borough Council was abolished, councillors elected to represent Folkestone's wards were designated as the Town's Charter Trustees , responsible for electing a Town Mayor. This role has since passed to Folkestone Town Council which is based at Folkestone Town Hall . Folkestone Town Council

6156-420: Was established in 2004, comprising the area of the former Borough of Folkestone less Folkestone Sandgate ward, which was separately parished. Folkestone Town Council comprises eight wards: Cheriton; Morehall; Park; Harvey West; Harvey Central; Harbour; East; and Foord. Each ward returns two or three members, for a total of 18 councillors elected to four-year terms. Each year, Folkestone Town Councillors attend

6237-465: Was not reconstructed for many years. It was rededicated at its present location, in the central section of Hyde Park Corner, in 1963. It received a Grade II listing in 1970, and was upgraded to Grade II* in July 2014. The Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades' Association holds an annual observance in May and a memorial service on Remembrance Sunday in November each year. A bronze cast of the statue by Derwent Wood

6318-408: Was ordered to "give sustained covering fire for 12 hours onto a selected area 2000 yards away in order to prevent German troops forming up there for a counter-attack while a British attack was in progress" The ten machine guns of the company used 100 new barrels and "every drop of water in the neighbourhood, including the men's drinking water and contents of the latrine buckets, went up in steam to keep

6399-591: Was quickly made a saint. Her remains were moved into the chancel of the current church on 12 September 1138, which has since been commemorated as the Feast of St Eanswythe. They became the focus of prayer and pilgrimage, so Eanswythe was quickly adopted as the town's patron. The religious community grew and developed into a monastery until it was dissolved by Henry VIII , and St Eanswythe's remains disappeared. They were rediscovered in June 1885 when workmen, carrying out alterations to

6480-510: Was the largest independently-owned soft drinks manufacturer in Britain, based in Park Farm, but closed down in 2013. During the 1980s and 1990s the construction of the Channel Tunnel provided employment, as well as bringing many people to the area, and on completion the running of services still provides work for many. Several insurance firms are based in Folkestone. Some of them used to be involved in

6561-525: Was used to transfer passengers from specific trains; the line from the junction was very steep and needed much additional locomotive help. A local group, the Remembrance Line Association, is actively seeking to retain the harbour branch as a tourist/heritage railway operation, though as at 2019 the future was uncertain. Today the domestic services from Folkestone use the Central and West stations on

#885114