THE FOLKESTONE FAMILIES PAGE

FOLKESTONE TODAY

Folkestone, with a population of about 50,000, lies on the south coast of Kent about 10 miles SW of Dover. It is easily accsessible, surrounded by some beautiful countryside and is at the foot of the North Downs. There are wonderful views from the Downs and the clifftops of the surrounding countryside, the town and across to France. The cliffs have gradually been eroded and many parts of ancient Folkestone have long disappeared. There were much wider grassy areas on the East Cliff before WW2. The Warren was a favourite play area and camping ground for local children then, and it is still a camping and caravan park and a lovely part of the area.

The fishing boats and bustling fishmarket I remember along the Stade as a child on holiday have all but disappeared. There was the sandy beach with the arches to shelter under and a boatman rowing up and down keeping an eye on the bathers. The sands are just as good now although the boatman has long gone. A Mermaid Statue now presides over the bathers.

I always wanted to walk down the Zig–Zag path and go up the lift which is now closed. It is hoped that this closure is temporary but £80,000 is needed to install a new breaking system. It is good to see the new gardens below providing a very pleasant waterfront area. The Leas is still popular and pleasant to walk along, but many old buildings in the town were damaged or destroyed during WW2 and their replacements do not all have the same appeal.

At present the old railway line across the arches which took so many soldiers to the boats headed for the Western Front and brought men back from Dunkirk is being converted into a cycle and walkway which extends past the harbour railway station and out along the outer harbour wall. The Station is being refurbished and amidst all the building work and chaos there is a very interesting new Museaum, The Fishing and Maritime Museum. The seafront also seems to be being remodelled with tons of sand brought into the area on the far side of the harbour (once shingle).

For The Genealogist

A LITTLE HISTORY

The exact origin of the town is unknown but it is likely to have begun in Celtic times. The foundations of a Celtic Villa were found beneath those of a Roman Villa on the East Cliff. Celtic coins and swords have also been found in the area and the name Folkestone may well be Celtic. The oldest spelling, Folcanstan (696) and Folcanstanae (824) could be Saxon and Roman words derived from an ealier Folgensdon indicating the British prince Folgens′ don (hill fort) where there was a ceremonial “stone”.

In Saxon times King Eadbald founded a Nunnery for his daughter Eanswythe in 630 A.D. It was built in a remote spot close to the edge of the West Cliff. She died 640 and was later canonized. The work of the nunnery continued until the sea undermined the cliffs and the nunnery transferred to St Peter′s Church nearby. In 927 King Athelston restored the church and nunnery and the religeous relics were transferred to the new church where work continued until 1052 when it was attacked and ruined by Earl Godwin. In 1095 a new church and Benedictine Priory were founded and this continued until it was considered unsafe in 1138 when the new Priory and Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe was built. This was destroyed 1216 and rebuilt about 1220. This is the origin of the present Parish Church which was extended in 1236. The priory surrendered to Henry VIII in 1535 and it was pulled down and the stone used to build Sandgate Castle. The Parish Church building was restored in the second half of the 19th century by which time several other Churches and Chapels had been built in the Town: Baptist Meeting House 1729, Society of Friends Meeting House 1790, Christ Church 1850, Weslyan Chapel 1852, Congregational Church 1856, St Peter′s Church 1862, St Michael′s Church 1865, Holy Trinity Church 1868, St John the Baptist Church 1889.

The settlement of Folkestone probably began about 630 under the protection of the Nunnery and Castle. It would have been a small gathering of fishermen and farmers along the shore and Pent Stream. The Manors of Folkestone and Walton, given first to the Nunnery passed to Christ Church Canterbury, Earl Godwin and after the Conquest to Bishop Odo. In The Domesday Book Fulchestan belonged to William D′Arcy, held by knight′s service.

The Manor and the Town grew and prospered. It became a Market Town by charter in 1215 and was given its Charter of Incorporation 1313. By this time Folkestone was a farming, fishing and quarrying centre. The local fishermen were prone to attack foreign merchant ships and take their cargo. For this piracy the French raided and burnt the town in 1378. During 1400′s Folkestone sailors became known for their skill, courage and ruthlessness and the fortunes and wealth of the town and its inhabitants grew.

By 1500 the population had risen to about 700 and by 1565 there were 120 inhabited houses and 25 fishing boats. It is about this time that the Parish Records begin and I can start to trace my Folkestone Families. There were many fishermen amoung these. They had to be prepared to resist attacks from pirates, the French, Dutch, Spanish and Scots throughout the 15–1600′s. They were heavily taxed and a scarcity of fish caused restrictions to be placed on the use of boats for trawling. Perhaps as a result smuggling increased and was a well organised business.

Smuggling

The Fashionable Holiday Destination

Folkestone became a fashionable holiday resort as these old postcards show clearly.

After the war came the Zigzag path, the Marine Gardens Pavillion, The Leas Cliff Hall, Kingsnorth Gardens a cinema and a swimming pool. Memories from between the Wars.

Then came WW2. Residents left the town if possible and they were not needed. The population fell to just 12,000 and businesses closed. The town suffered heavy bombing and shelling. Many people never returned and Folkestone was changed forever. Wartime Memories.