65-574: The Royal Military Canal is a canal running for 28 miles (45 km) between Seabrook near Folkestone and Cliff End near Hastings , following the old cliff line bordering Romney Marsh , which was constructed as a defence against the possible invasion of England during the Napoleonic Wars . The canal was conceived by Lieutenant-Colonel John Brown of the Royal Staff Corps of field engineers in 1804, during anti-invasion preparations , as
130-738: 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
195-489: 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 ,
260-570: A defensible barrier to ensure that a French force could not use the Romney Marsh as a bridgehead . It had previously been assumed that the marsh could be inundated in the event of an invasion, but Brown argued that this would take ten days to implement and would cause massive disruption in the event of a false alarm. At a meeting on 26 September 1804, the Prime Minister , William Pitt the Younger , and
325-612: 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
390-577: 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
455-411: 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
520-528: A threatened German invasion , the canal was manned by 31st Independent Brigade Group , who fortified each salient with a concrete pillbox and barbed wire entanglements; numerous pillboxes survive today. In the German invasion plan, codenamed Operation Sea Lion , the paratroopers of the 7th Flieger-Division were tasked with a parachute landing to secure crossing points across the Royal Military Canal on
585-581: 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,
650-534: 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 –
715-483: 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
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#1732848893597780-497: A year-round programme of concerts, talks and workshops. Saxon Shore Way The Saxon Shore Way is a long-distance footpath in England. It starts at Gravesend , Kent , and traces the coast of South-East England as it was in Roman times as far as Hastings , East Sussex , 163 miles (262 km) in total. This means that around Romney Marsh the route runs significantly inland from
845-582: 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
910-497: 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
975-548: Is an important environmental site, and passes through several Sites of Special Scientific Interest . The Environment Agency is the navigation authority and uses the waterway to manage water levels on Romney Marsh and Walland Marsh . It is important for fish and other wildlife, including kingfishers , dragonflies , and marsh frogs . 50°58′39″N 0°45′19″E / 50.977617°N 0.755215°E / 50.977617; 0.755215 Folkestone Folkestone ( / ˈ f ə ʊ k s t ən / FOHK -stən )
1040-568: 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
1105-545: 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
1170-478: 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
1235-579: 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
1300-796: 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
1365-557: The Commander-in-Chief of the Forces , the Duke of York , both enthusiastically endorsed the scheme. John Rennie was appointed consultant engineer, and Pitt personally persuaded the local landowners to agree to the new canal. Construction was started at Seabrook , near Hythe in Kent on 30 October 1804. By May 1805 only six miles of the canal had been completed; William Pitt intervened and
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#17328488935971430-550: 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
1495-588: 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
1560-479: The River Rother (Eastern) and River Brede . Artillery batteries were generally located every 500 yards (460 m), where the canal was staggered to create a salient, allowing the guns to enfilade the next stretch of water. A military road was built on the inland side of the canal, and crossings consisted of moveable wooden bridges. Any troops stationed or moving along the military road would have been protected by
1625-544: 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
1690-556: 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
1755-463: 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
1820-491: 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
1885-669: 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
1950-484: 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
2015-606: 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
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2080-584: 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
2145-583: 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
2210-831: 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
2275-534: 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
2340-586: 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
2405-461: 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
2470-402: 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:
2535-571: 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
2600-555: The contractors and Rennie were dismissed. The work was resumed by the Quartermaster-General ’s department with Lt-Col. Brown in command. Civilian navvies dug the canal itself, while soldiers built the ramparts. It was constructed in two sections: the longer section starts at Hythe and ends at Iden Lock in East Sussex ; the second, smaller section, runs from the foot of Winchelsea Hill to Cliff End. The two sections are linked by
2665-619: 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
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2730-534: 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
2795-511: The earthen bank of the parapet , which was piled up with excavated soil. The canal was completed in April 1809 at a total cost of £234,000; it was hoped that tolls for use of the waterway and road would help to defray the cost. In addition to these works, a number of Martello towers were built to protect the vulnerable sluices that controlled the water level in the canal, being towers numbers 22 to 27 and 30, three of which are still standing. Despite
2860-541: The fact that the canal never saw military action, it was used to try to control smuggling from Romney Marsh. Guard houses were constructed at each bridge along its length. This met with limited success because of corrupt guards. Although a barge service was established from Hythe to Rye, the canal was abandoned in 1877 and leased to the Lords of the Level of Romney Marsh. During the early stages of World War II , during preparations for
2925-461: The first day of the invasion. A public path runs alongside the entire length of the canal, forming part of the longer 163-mile (262 km) Saxon Shore Way . Aside from being historically significant in its own right, the path passes by numerous WW II pillboxes and the unusual acoustic mirrors , the historic cinque port towns of Hythe , Winchelsea , and Rye , the 12th century St Rumwold's church , and Lympne and Camber castles. The canal
2990-539: 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
3055-439: 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
3120-574: 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
3185-442: 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
3250-410: The modern coastline. The line of the Roman fortification that the route traces includes ancient forts, modern towns, nature reserves and coastline: four Roman forts built in the fourth century lie along the route, at Reculver , Richborough , Dover and Lympne . At Seasalter there is an internationally important area for geese, ducks, and waders. The diversity of scenery along the route includes
3315-593: 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
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#17328488935973380-406: 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
3445-612: 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
3510-424: 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
3575-422: 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
3640-406: 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
3705-404: The wide expanses of marshland bordering the Thames and Medway estuaries, the White cliffs of Dover , and panoramic views over Romney Marsh from the escarpment that marks the ancient coastline between Folkestone and Rye. The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended. It follows the coastline of the South East as it
3770-402: Was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence, when the cliff lines to the north and south extended further into the sea and when the Wantsum Channel provided a thoroughfare for boats between the Isle of Thanet and mainland England. The Way takes its name, the Saxon Shore , from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in
3835-510: 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
3900-418: 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
3965-419: 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
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#17328488935974030-420: 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
4095-496: 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
4160-408: 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
4225-404: 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
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