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Folkestone
Photo of Folkestone harbour taken from the golf course Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Fstone. ...
Folkestone shown within Kent
Population	53,411[1]
OS grid reference	TR218361
- London	71.3mi
District	Shepway
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FOLKESTONE
Postcode district	CT19, CT20
Dialling code	01303
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
European Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Folkestone and Hythe
List of places: UK • England • Kent

Coordinates: 51°04′52″N 1°09′58″E / 51.081, 1.166 Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Red_pog2. ... For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... Shepway is a local government district in Kent, England. ... Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of English administrative division used for the purposes of local government. ... For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... South East England is one of the nine official regions of England. ... Constituent countries is a phrase used, often by official institutions, in contexts in which a number of countries make up a larger entity or grouping, concerning these countries; thus the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has used the phrase in reference to the parts of former Yugoslavia... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... The CT postcode area, also known as the Canterbury postcode area[1], is a group of postal districts around Birchington, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Deal, Dover, Folkestone, Herne Bay, Hythe, Margate, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Westgate-on-Sea and Whitstable in England. ... +44 redirects here. ... There are a number of policing agencies in the United Kingdom. ... Kent Police is the police force covering Kent in England, including the unitary authority of Medway. ... A Fire Appliance belonging to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service The fire service in the United Kingdom has undergone dramatic changes since the beginning of the 21st century, a process that has been propelled by a devolution of central government powers, new legislation and a change to operational... Kent Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the county of Kent covering a geographical area south of London, to the coast and including major shipping routes via the Thames and Medway rivers. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... As of 1st July the NHS Ambulance Services Trusts of Kent, Surrey and Sussex are being joined together to form a new South East Coast Ambulance Service . ... This is a list of Members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom in the 2004 to 2009 session, ordered by name. ... The constituency within England. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Folkestone and Hythe is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places within counties List of places in Bedfordshire List of places in Berkshire List of places in Buckinghamshire List of places in Cambridgeshire List of places in Cheshire List of places in Cleveland List of places... This is a list of cities, towns and villages in the ceremonial county of Kent, England. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Folkestone (IPA: /ˈfoʊkstən/) is a resort town on the south coast of Kent, England, traditionally known as "The Garden Coast". Situated at the foot of the North Downs, the town has stunning views of the surrounding countryside as well as the coast of France. For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Geology of the South East, Chalk is light green (6) A cross-section , showing the Wealden Dome, and relating it to the towns of Kent The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills located in south east England that stretch for 120 miles (190 km) from Hampshire through Surrey...

A hundred years ago the town was a Royal holiday destination and nowadays the Channel Tunnel connects Folkestone to mainland Europe. The British terminal at Cheriton in west Folkestone, from the Pilgrims Way. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

The Member of Parliament for Folkestone & Hythe is Conservative Michael Howard, the former Home Secretary and Leader of the Conservative Party. The current Viscount Folkestone is heir to the 8th Earl of Radnor. The Rt Hon. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ... The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is currently the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... Earl of Radnor is a title which has been created several times, first in the Peerage of England in 1679 for Lord Robartes, a notable political figure of the reign of Charles II, and then in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1765. ...

Currently the town is undergoing an artistic renaissance thanks to local millionaire philanthropist & former owner of SAGA, Roger De Haan CBE. The annual Folkestone Literary Festival is internationally renowned. Roger De Haan CBE is the son of the late Sidney de haan, who created the Saga group of companies. ...

History

Archaeological finds from a 1st century cemetery were discovered in 1948 at Cheriton, to the West of Folkestone, and in about 1920 a landslip on the East Cliff at Folkestone revealed the remains of a large Roman villa complete with bathrooms and hypocausts, a courtyard with a mosaic floor and a kitchen with two fireplaces. The excavations were undertaken by Mr. S. E. Winbolt. The site was eventually recorded and covered over in 1957. It is now being lost to the sea. The 1st century was that century that lasted from 1 to 100 according the Gregorian calendar. ... Cheriton is a district of Folkestone, Kent, England, best known as the site of the Channel Tunnel terminal. ... A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman Empire. ...

Nevertheless the name of the town of Folkestone in Kent has its origin in the late 7th century as 'Folcanstan', in all probability referring to the 'stone of Folca', a common old English name. In about 630, King Eadbald of Kent built an abbey on the western cliff at Folkestone, for Eanswith, his daughter, and her nuns. This is believed to have been the first Christian community for women in England. Her name lends itself to the parish church of St Mary and St Eanswythe where her mortal remains are believed to be interred. Events Muhammad captures Mecca (January). ... Eadbald (died January 20, 640) (Means roughly Kindly Bold) was the King of Kent from 616 until his death. ... Folkestone Priory was a pre-Reformation Benedictine monastery at Folkestone in the English county of Kent. ... A parish church is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches. ...

Viking raids were common to the area and left extensive damage to the settlements at Folkestone up until the 10th century, and even after Edward the Confessor came to the throne in 1042, the village was again put to the torch by Earl Godwin of Wessex, after being exiled by the king. For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... St Edward the Confessor or Eadweard III (c. ... For the helicopter, see Westland Wessex. ...

By 1066, at the time of the next great invasion, Folkestone was a mere hamlet occupied by fishermen and farm workers who cultivated the arable lands that had been cleared in the heavily wooded countryside. At this time the manor of Folkestone was in the ownership of the church at Canterbury. After William became king he took the barony and made a gift of it to his half brother Bishop Odo. By 1086, the year of Doomsday the barony was held by William D'Arcy. It was given a value of £100 and consisted of about 6240 acres, 5 churches, about 600 people of whom 209 were villains and 83 bondsmen.

Subtenants of the Barony included Hugh Fitzwilliam, Walter de Appeville, Bernard de St. Owens, Walter FitzEnglebert, Eudo, Baldric, Richard, Alured, Wesman and Alured Dapifer. In 1095 the lord of the manor was Nigel de Muneville. Nigel de Muneville built the town a new church to replace that which was destroyed by Earl Godwin. He did not rebuild the nunnery but built the Folkestone Priory for Benedictine Monks instead. In 1138 a new church and priory were again built, this time by William D'Averanches and dedicated to St. Mary & St. Eanswythe

The French took the opportunity of attacking Folkestone in 1216 and also laid waste much of the settlement. The village even at this early period in its history was significant enough to have a Mayor and a Corporation, and in 1313 it received a charter as a Corporate Limb of the Cinque Ports. Folkestone was thus obliged as a "limb" of the Cinque Port of Dover, until in 1629 the local inhabitants obtained a licence to build a port. Flag of the Cinque Ports Formally, in Kent and Sussex there are five Head Ports making up the Confederation of the Cinque Ports, often pronounced as the anglicised sink ports, and meaning five ports (cinque in French means five and ports is to be connected to the Italian word porto...

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I Folkestone contained about 120 houses. This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ...

Town development: 18th/19th centuries

In 1794 the Army purchased over 229 acres (930,000 m²) of open land to the West of Folkestone on the heights overlooking Sandgate and in 1796 and 1806 Shorncliffe Garrison was further extended. Troops were stationed here before being sent off to the Peninsula Wars. During these later developments in 1804 the original wooden barracks were replaced with building of stone construction and were used to house cavalry and artillery brigades. The present Sir John Moore Barracks are the home of Gurkha Regiment in Britain. Sandgate is a village near Folkestone in England. ... Cheriton is a one-time village, now a part of the urban area of Folkestone, Kent, England. ... For the 1862 American Civil War campaign, see Peninsula Campaign. ... A barracks housing conscripts of Norrbottens regemente in Boden, Sweden. ... Gurkha, also spelled as Gorkha, are people from Nepal and parts of North India, who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. ...

Folkestone Harbour development

Until the 19th century Folkestone remained a small fishing community whose seafront was continually battered by storms and encroaching shingle, making the landing of boats difficult. In 1807 an Act of Parliament was passed to build a pier and harbour; and by 1820 a harbour area of 14 acres (57,000 m²) had been enclosed. At this time trade and consequently population of Folkestone grew slightly; although the development was still hampered, with sand and silt continuing to choke the harbour. The Folkestone Harbour Company invested heavily in removing the silt but with little success. In 1842 the company went bankrupt and the Government put the harbour up for sale. It was bought by the South Eastern Railway Company (SER), which was then building the London to Dover railway line. Dredging the harbour, and the construction of a freight route down to it commenced almost immediately, and the town soon became the SER’s principal packet station for the Continental traffic to Boulogne. The London and Greenwich Railway (LGR) and the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway (CWR) in East Kent were the earliest railways to serve the then county of Kent: eventually both became parts of the South Eastern Railway (SER). ... Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city and commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département of which it is a sous-préfecture. ...

Folkestone railways

The railway reached Folkestone on 28 June 1843, although the building of the Foord viaduct delayed further extension until the following year, when what was to become Folkestone Junction station was opened. Once the line was opened to Dover, and the town’s prosperity (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 was used to trans-ship whole trains; the line from the junction was very steep and needed much additional locomotive help. The entire line closed in 2002; Folkestone Junction station had closed 6 September 1965. The line has since reopened to "special" trains such as the British Pullman (VSOE) which is a regular visitor and other rail tours. The line, and the Harbour station, are likely to close completely in the near future to make way for a comprehensive development of the harbour and sea-front areas. is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... , Dover is a major channel port in the English county of Kent. ... Folkestone West railway station is one of two stations in Folkestone in Kent. ... Folkestone Central railway station is the more central of the two stations in Folkestone in Kent. ... Folkestone Harbour station is a railway station built to serve the port of Folkestone in Kent, and is one of three stations in the town. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Venice-Simplon Orient Express is the name given to the private railway company operating luxury train services across Europe using the name Orient Express. ...

Folkestone: 20th century

During the First World War Folkestone was host to some 65,000 Belgian refugees and from 1915 was the main embarkation point for soldiers leaving to fight in the trenches of France and Belgium. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, including many Canadian troops, left from Folkestone, marching from the Town to the Harbour along the route now called the "Road of Remembrance".

Folkestone was seriously damaged during both World Wars, as its proximity to the Continent allowed shelling to take place which gave rise to the name of "Hellfire Corner". The town had suffered great damage and was to be changed forever. 123 people were killed, and 778 injured. 550 houses had been destroyed, 10,000 properties damaged, and 37,000 people had left the area (see population below). A world war is a war affecting the majority of the worlds major nations. ...

On May 25, 1917 low cloud over London caused a 21 strong wave of Gotha bombers to abort a raid on London. The Luftstreitkräfte aircraft turned for home and detached their bombs mainly in the Folkestone district, killing 95 people and injuring more. This daylight attack revealed the inadequacy of Britain's defensive capabilities and aroused deep feeling across the country. is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Gotha may refer to: A district in the German state of Thuringia A town in the District of Gotha (its capital) A former Thuringian Dukedom, see Sachsen-Gotha the Gothaer Waggonfabrik Company. ... For other uses, see Bomber (disambiguation). ... The Luftstreitkräfte or Imperial German Army Air Service (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches), was the over-land air arm of the German military during World War I (1914–1918). ...

Folkestone post-World War II

Folkestone has suffered much deprivation since the end of the Second World War. The rise of foreign holiday destination, aided in no small way by the package holiday, damaged Folkestone tourism business, as with most British holiday resorts. Although the tourist industry was still maintained, the closure of the ferry services between here and Boulogne seemed to spell the town’s demise. The opening of the Channel Tunnel hastened that closure. Recently (2004) talks have begun between the leaders of the two towns: Boulogne (Folkestone's Twin Town) also had similar problems. And rebuilding of the town's infrastructure has begun. There has been significant physical redevelopment of the local town centre in a bid to make it more acceptable to the local community and tourists. A package holiday or package tour consists of transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. ...

High speed commuter services are planned to operate from Dover, Folkestone and Ashford to London in 2009 using the High Speed Rail Link. This will place Folkestone about one hour from London by High Speed Train, making it one of the closest (in terms of time) coastal towns to London. This is likely to make the town very attractive to commuters. An in-town shopping centre, Bouverie Place, opened on 26^th November, 2007, and is also expected to contribute to a revival of Folkestone's fortunes; and the Creative Quarter (see below), proposed university, and Master Plan (see below), all point to a bright future once more. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Folkestone Creative Quarter

The Creative Foundation is a new charitable organisation which is acquiring a large number of run-down properties in the Creative Quarter of Folkestone (the oldest part of town, including the Old High Street and The Bayle), renovating them and letting them at long-term affordable rents as work-spaces for artists and creative businesses (some with living accommodation).

100 creative individuals are already in residence and more are taking up space as the renovation work is completed.

The Strange Cargo Arts Company is central to the creative quarter, and Georges House Gallery holds frequent exhibitions by local artists.

The vision is to attract people to live, work and visit, creating a vibrant and exciting environment buzzing with life and ideas, bustling with studios, shops, galleries, street art, festivals, cafes and restaurants providing a long term sustainable future for Folkestone as a centre for creativity.

The inaugural Folkestone Triennial art event will take place in the Kent town from June until September 2008 with artists like Tracey Emin confirmed as submitting work. Tracey Emin RA (born 3 July 1963) is an English artist of Turkish Cypriot origin, one of the group known as Britartists or YBAs (Young British Artists). ...

Schools

Folkestone is home to a number of schools/college's including:

• University Centre, Folkestone (associate college of University of Greenwich)
• The School of English Studies is a private language school in Grimston Gardens accredited by the British Council and a member of EnglishUK.
• SES Tutorial College (private college for GCSEs, A Levels & University Foundation Courses in Grimston Gardens)
• Westbrook House Preparatory School (Private)
• The Folkestone School for Girls (FSG)
• The Harvey Grammar School (HGS) was founded in 1674.
• The Folkestone Academy (formerly known as The Channel School)
• Pent Valley Technology College
• St Eanswythe's Primary School
• Sandgate Primary School
• Cheriton Primary School
• Stella Maris Primary School
• Park Farm Primary School
• Mundella Primary School
• All Souls Primary School
• Christ Church Primary School
• St Mary's Primary School

In recent years HGS and FSG have moved towards co-operation and sharing of resources. The two schools have a common sixth form timetable which greatly increases the number of subjects on offer to the 450 students aged 16-19. These close ties are scheduled to expand, making two successful schools even stronger. The Head of FSG is due to leave in 2007 to take up the Headship at The Marsh Academy in New Romney (sponsored by Microsoft). Pent Valley now have a brand new sports hall opened by Olympic Athlete Colin Jackson. Statue of George II in the Grand Square of the University, with the dome above the Chapel entrance to the left. ... Folkestone School for Girls (FSG) is an all-girls grammar school in Folkestone, Kent. ... // The Harvey Grammar School Schools website is locatedin Folkestone, Kent, England . ... Pent Valley is a secondary school in Cheriton, Kent. ... Sandgate Primary School is found in Sandgate and is located between the Folkestone School for Girls (FSG) and Eversley College. ... St. ...

The Academy

The Folkestone Academy is a coeducational secondary school that opened in September 2007 and replaced the Channel School. The School currently has 1050 students on roll of which 160 are in year 12.

The School of English Studies (SES)

The School of English Studies in Folkstone is a private language school that has been providing pioneering and proven methods of teaching English since it was founded in 1957. It was the first school in the UK to launch an Executive English language course and the first in the world to open a dedicated listening centre.

SES is accredited by the British Council, is a member of EnglishUK, and is part of the Oxford-based OISE Group.

In 2007, SES celebrated its 50th anniversary.

SES Tutorial College

SES Tutorial College opened in April 2007 and offers personalized, individual and small-group GCSEs, A Levels, university foundation courses and Easter revision courses in a quiet, residential area of Folkestone.

The college is part of the long-established School of English Studies which, in turn, is owned by the Oxford-based OISE Group.

Museums

Near Folkestone is the 'Battle of Britain Museum' on Aerodrome Road at Hawkinge. (Tel: 01303 893 140). It is claimed to house the "most important collection of Battle of Britain artifacts on show in the country: aircraft, vehicles, weapons, saucepans, flying equipment, prints, relics from over 600 crashed aircraft." , Hawkinge, (IPA: or hawkindge), once a village and now a rapidly expanding commuter dormitory in southeast Kent. ...

"The Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge and the Memorial at Capel, the Martello Towers at Folkestone and Dymchurch and the sound mirrors at Greatstone demonstrate the area's rich "frontline" heritage." Capel is a town and shire in the South West region of Western Australia. ... Martello towers (or simply Martellos) are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards. ... Dymchurch lies on the Kent coast, south of Hythe and on the Romney Marsh. ... The acoustic mirrors at Denge. ...

Further, items associated with the wreck of the 'Benvenue', are on display in the local history museum. A Russian submarine(U-475) was on display at the harbour but was moved in 2002.

Folkestone-with Rotunda amusement park on beach

There is a Eurostar available to load cars and coaches at Folkestone, that leads out to Calais. Folkestone with the Rotunda amusement park. ... Folkestone with the Rotunda amusement park. ...

People connected with Folkestone

William Harvey, discoverer of the circulation of the blood, was born here in 1578. Through his will, the town's Harvey Grammar School was founded in 1674. George Grossmith (1847–1912), collaborator with Gilbert and Sullivan on many of their operettas, died here. HG Wells (1866–1910) lived at Sandgate to the west of the town, and brought many famous authors of the day to the town. Charles Dickens lived at Albion Villas in the 1850s while writing Little Dorritt, and had previously been a visitor to the town. Wilkie Collins stayed with Dickens during this time, according to wilkie-collins.info. Fr. Arthur Tooth, the Ritualist priest, was a curate of St. Mary's from 1865–1868. Other people who have connections with Folkestone are June Brown of EastEnders fame who not only lives in Folkestone but also performed in the Folkestone Repertory Theatre, David Tomlinson, the actor famous for appearing in several Disney films (Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins), Midwife Stephen Rayner, who is currently at the forefront of the fight to find a medical cure for stupidity, and Michael Bentine, one-time Goon and presenter of Potty Time. Comic actress Hattie Jacques of Carry On fame was born in Sandgate. Arthur Brough, actor who was in Are You Being Served? set up the Folkestone Repertory Company here. Eamon Everall, Artist & Educator and founder member of the Stuckism Art Movement lived here and attended the Harvey Grammar school and Folkestone School of Art. Noel Redding, bass player of The Jimi Hendrix Experience was born and lived here, likewise Pete Kircher, a rock drummer whose career has included stints with Redding, and later The Honeybus and Status Quo. Yet another, heavy rock/metal musician Folkestone area based since the mid-nineties, is the ex (IRON MAIDEN), (SAMSON) Drummer Thunderstick Infamous for wearing a mask and playing in a cage. Not only did King Edward VII and his mistress Mrs Alice Keppel (great-grandmother of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall & Rothesay) regularly enjoy the luxury (and discretion) of the Grand Hotel on The Leas, the lesbian author Radclyffe Hall and her lovers did too. This article is about William Harvey, the English doctor. ... George Grossmith, as illustrated in The Idler magazine, 1897 George Grossmith (December 9, 1847 - March 1, 1912) was an English actor and comic writer, best remembered for his work with Gilbert & Sullivan. ... W. S. Gilbert Arthur Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian era partnership of librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). ... H. G. Wells at the door of his house at Sandgate Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 - August 13, 1946) was an English writer best known for his science fiction novels such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. ... Sandgate is a village near Folkestone in England. ... Dickens redirects here. ... Little Dorrit is a serial novel by Charles Dickens published originally between 1855 and 1857. ... Wilkie Collins William Wilkie Collins (8 January 1824 – 23 September 1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and writer of short stories. ... Father Arthur Tooth SSC (1839–1931), a Ritualist and clergyman in the Church of England, and a member of the Society of the Holy Cross, is most famous for having being prosecuted in 1876 under the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874 for using proscribed liturgical practices. ... In general, the term, Ritualism can be used to describe an outlook which places a great (or even exaggerated) emphasis on ritual. ... This article is about religious workers. ... From the Latin curatus (compare Curator), a curate is a person who is invested with the care, or cure (cura), of souls of a parish. ... June Brown (born 16 February 1927) is an English actress and director, best known as Dot Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. ... EastEnders is a popular BBC television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 on 19 February 1985[4] and continuing to date. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Disney redirects here. ... Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a 1971 musical film produced by Walt Disney Productions, which combines live action and animation; it premiered on October 7, 1971. ... For the 2004 stage musical, see Mary Poppins (musical). ... Michael Bentine (January 26, 1922 - November 26, 1996) was a comedian, comic actor, and member of the Goons. ... The Goon Show was a popular and influential British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1951 to 1960 on the BBC Home Service. ... Michael Bentines Potty Time was a long-running childrens show made by Themes TV. Categories: Television stubs ... Josephine Edwina Jacques (7 February 1922 – 6 October 1980), better known by the stage name Hattie Jacques, (pronounced Jakes) was a British comedy actress born in Sandgate, Kent. ... The Carry On films were a long-running series of British low-budget comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. ... Arthur Brough was born (as Frederick Arthur Baker) 1905 at Petersfield, Hampshire and died May 28, 1978. ... Are You Being Served? was a long-running British sitcom broadcast from 1972 to 1985. ... Eamon Everall Artist & Educator. ... The logo on the Stuckism International web site Stuckism is an art movement that was founded in 1999 in Britain by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art. ... Noel David Redding (25 December 1945 – 11 May 2003) was a rock & roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience. ... The Jimi Hendrix Experience was a highly influential, though short-lived, English/American rock band famous for the guitar work of frontman Jimi Hendrix on songs such as Purple Haze, Foxy Lady, Fire, Hey Joe, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), All Along the Watchtower and Spanish Castle Magic. // Hendrix arrived in... Peter Kircher, born 21st January 1948, Folkestone, Kent, is a rock drummer who played out the last few years of his professional career in the rock band Status Quo. ... Honeybus were a 1960s pop group formed in April 1967, in London, who, since their heyday, have often been pigeonholed as one-hit wonders, a tag which many say belies the rich legacy of material left behind by the band. ... This article is about the English rock band. ... Thunderstick (aka Barry Graham or Barry Purkis) was a drummer for the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden briefly in the late seventies. ... Edward VII King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India His Majesty King Edward VII (9 November 1841–6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth realms, and the Emperor of India. ... Image:Radclyffe-hall-190x274. ...

Transport

Folkestone developed because of its transport links. With France visible across the Straits of Dover, the town became an important transit point for those travelling from the UK to the Continent. While there is no ferry traffic any more from the town, it all being concentrated at Dover, the Channel Tunnel enters the ground a couple of kilometres north of the town centre. The Dover Strait is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, but there is very little commercial shipping traffic using the small harbour.

The town is located at the eastern end of the M20 which provides fast access to Ashford, Maidstone, London and the M25. The A20 is motorway-standard to Dover. Folkestone also marks the eastern end of the A259 South Coast Trunk Road with access to Hastings, Eastbourne and beyond. To the north, roads connect Folkestone to Canterbury and the nearby villages of Elham and Lyminge. The M20 motorway is a major road in England. ... , The town of Ashford lies on the River Great Stour, M20 motorway, South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways, in the borough of Ashford, located just south of the North Downs, in Kent, England. ... For other uses, see Maidstone (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The M25 motorway looking south between junctions 14 and 15, near Heathrow Airport. ... The A20 is a two-digit major road in south-east England, carrying traffic from London to Dover in Kent. ... , Dover is a major channel port in the English county of Kent. ... The A259 is a major road in England, running along the south coast parallel to the A27 road. ... For other uses, see Hastings (disambiguation). ... For other places with the same name, see Eastbourne (disambiguation). ... Canterbury is a cathedral city in east Kent in South East England and is the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of All England, head of the Church of England and of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... Elham, Gholam-Hossein is the official spokesman of the government of Iran. ... Tayne Field, Lyminge, with the Coach & Horses pub and the church in the background Lyminge is a village in southeast Kent which lies about five miles from Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel. ...

The town is served by two railway stations, Folkestone West and Folkestone Central, as described in the "Folkestone Railways" section. Folkestone West railway station is one of two stations in Folkestone in Kent. ... Folkestone Central railway station is the more central of the two stations in Folkestone in Kent. ...

High Speed 1 (previously known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link) is a high speed railway built to French 'LGV' (Ligne a Grande Vitesse) standards, that connects the Channel Tunnel to London. There is no link or station onto HS1 at Folkestone, other than to/from the tunnel. The International Station at Ashford is the closest (in the UK) station for the high speed trains to the Continent. In 2009 High Speed commuter services from Dover will call at Folkestone and run along the old lines to Ashford before joining HS1 for a 37 minute dash to Stratford (East London) and London St Pancras. 0 km London St Pancras Temple Mills Eurostar Depot 9 km Stratford International 10 km 21 km 27 km 30 km 32 km 37 km Ebbsfleet International 39 km 50 km 54 km 88 km 89 km 90 km Ashford International 91 km 106 km Dollands Moor Freight terminal 108...

Sports

Folkestone Invicta Football Club was formed in 1936 and played in the East Kent Amateur League (now the Kent County League), taking over the Cheriton Road ground in early 1991 after the demise of the old Folkestone club which had a long history in the Southern League. They currently compete in the Ryman League Premier Division, finishing mid-table in 2005-06, under the long term guidance of Neil Cugley, formerly a pupil at The Harvey Grammar School, which is located next to the football ground. They have focussed heavily on youth development with 5 of the current first team squad coming through the youth system overseen by Mick Dix. Folkstone Invicta F.C. are a football club based in the town of Folkestone, Kent, England. ...

The 2006 season drew to a close very successfully for the youth section with the reserve squad (all under 21) and the under 18's winning their respective titles. The under 18's also successfully defended the Kent County FA Youth Cup.

Folkestone hosted the 5th Chess Olympiad in 1933. The renowned artist Marcel Duchamp took part as a member of the French team. The Chess Olympiad is a chess event which has been officially organised by FIDE since 1927 and takes place in even years. ... Marcel Duchamp (pronounced ) (July 28, 1887 – October 2, 1968) was a French artist (he became an American citizen in 1955) whose work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post-World War II Western art, and whose advice to modern art collectors helped shape the tastes of the...

Folkestone Cricket Club currently competes in the first division of the Kent Cricket League. It was formed in 1851. Current Kent players such as Robbie Joseph , Neil Dexter , and Geraint Jones have all represented the club. Most notably James Tredwell who came through the youth academy and still heavily involed with the club. Folkestone C.C. currently has a Colts section, set up by Nobby Clark who has attracted new coaches such as Stuart Ingleston, Neil Taylor, John Hughes and Nathan Ingleston. The current under 13A side went the whole of the 2007 indoor and outdoor season undefeated. Robbie Joseph (born January 20, 1982) is a West Indian-born English cricketer. ... Neil Dexter (born August 21, 1984) is a South African-born English cricketer. ... Geraint Owen Jones MBE (b. ... James Tredwell (born February 27, 1982) is an English cricketer. ...

Industry

As alluded to above Folkestone was at one stage a resort town with a developed shipping trade. With the decline of such industries others have filled the gap.

During the 1980s and 1990s the construction of the Channel Tunnel provided employment for many, as well as bringing many to the area, and on completion the running of service still provides work for many. It is hoped that High Speed 1 will give the area an additional economic boost.

Folkestone is also the home of several insurance firms, some of which used to be involved in the shipping trade but have since diversified into other fields; and is the home to Saga, a major company providing financial services, holidays (including cruising on Saga's three cruise ships) and various other services to the over-50s.

Nature

The town is situated at the foot of the North Downs, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside and the coast of France, a mere 24 miles away. 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 miles away. Many walkers enjoy this fabulous scenic route and the Folkestone White Horse, which has been carved into the hill side of the Downs. The area 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. Geology of the South East, Chalk is light green (6) A cross-section , showing the Wealden Dome, and relating it to the towns of Kent The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills located in south east England that stretch for 120 miles (190 km) from Hampshire through Surrey... The North Downs Way is a long-distance path in southern England. ... This article is about the English county. ... Capel-le-Ferne[1], situated on the B2011, between Folkestone and Dover on the South East Coast of England ... , Dover is a major channel port in the English county of Kent. ...

The Downs are characterised by 'chalk grassland' habitat. This habitat is one of the richest for biodiversity, but is becoming very rare, being found in only a few places in Europe. Chalk grasslands have thin (often virtually non-existent) poor-quality soil, and require grazing to prevent scrub and trees from taking hold. They are a man-made environment, but are thousands of years old and have a distinct ecology. Most of the UK's species of orchids, and half of the butterflies thrive on this habitat. Conservation work is being carried out on some areas, this involves felling trees and clearing scrub, and then introducing cattle (e.g., the docile Dexter breed).

The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in Roman times, via Folkestone, as far as Hastings, East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. // Kent 802AD Kent - NASA satellite 2005 The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in Roman times (note the changed coastline around Romney Marsh) as far as Hastings, East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. ... Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. ... For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Hastings (disambiguation). ... East Sussex is a county in South East England. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... “km” redirects here. ...

Nearby is Brockhill Country Park, an area with footpaths around the lake and in the valley, linking with the Royal Military Canal at Hythe. Brockhill Lake Brockhill Country Park was previously part of a large estate dating back to Norman times. ... The first sod of the Royal Military Canal was dug at Seabrook, near Hythe in Kent on 30th October 1804. ... Hythe (pronounced ) is a small coastal market town on the edge of Romney Marsh, in the District of Shepway (derived from Sheep Way) on the south coast of Kent. ...

Bold plans for the future

Folkestone Harbour Company commissioned Foster Associates to produce a masterplan for Folkestone which was published in April 2006. The plans envisage rebuilding the harbour as a marina, a "Green Wave" along the sea front linking countryside west and east of the town, new housing, shops, a performance area and small university campus. The plans link in with the new Creative Quarter. Folkestone Harbour Company belongs to Roger De Haan, former owner of Saga Insurance (see above) and Chairman of the Creative Foundation.The plans take in the land that was previously the Rotunda Amusement Park which has now been cleared. Roger De Haan CBE is the son of the late Sidney de haan, who created the Saga group of companies. ...

Art

In September 2007, Emin announced she'll be exhibiting new sculpture work in the inaugural Folkestone Triennial which will take place in the Kent town from June until September 2008. Emin said her contribution would be different pieces placed around the town,

Eamon Everall, Artist/Educator and founder member of the Stuckism, art movement attended the Harvey Grammar school and Folkestone School of Art and still maintains a base here. He is currently working on a series of twenty portraits of artists associated with Stuckism including one of Billy Childish, he plans to exhibit them in the town at the end of the current year Eamon Everall Artist & Educator. ... The logo on the Stuckism International web site Stuckism is an art movement that was founded in 1999 in Britain by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art. ... The logo on the Stuckism International web site Stuckism is an art movement that was founded in 1999 in Britain by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art. ... Billy Childish (real name Steven John Hamper) or William Charlie Hamper (born December 1, 1959) is an English artist, author, poet, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist. ...

In February 2008, Strange Cargo Arts Company[http:strangecargo.org.uk] installed the public art piece 'Other people's photographs'Other peoples photographs

Theatre

Folkestone along with Hythe, Kent have an amateur dramatics and operatics society called Folkestone & Hythe Operatic & Dramatic Society. They own The Tower Theatre (Folkestone, Kent) which is located in Shorncliffe. They are a charitable organisation that produces and performs several different shows a year at their own theatre. Hythe (pronounced ) is a small coastal market town on the edge of Romney Marsh, in the District of Shepway (derived from Sheep Way) on the south coast of Kent. ... For the 1994 film, see Amateur (film). ... The Tower Theatre. ... The Tower Theatre. ... Shorncliffe can refer to: Shorncliffe railway line, Brisbane Shorncliffe railway station, Brisbane Shorncliffe (Brisbane suburb) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A charitable trust is a trust organized to serve private or public charitable purposes. ...

Local media

Newspapers Folkestone Herald (paid) and Adscene (free) - DMGT Folkestone Kentish Express (paid) and Extra (free) - KM Group Your Shepway (free) - KoSMedia

Local radio

kmfm for Shepway & White Cliffs Country broadcasting to Folkestone on 96.4FM and Dover on 106.8FM. The station was founded in Dover as Neptune Radio in September 1997 but moved to Folkestone in 2003 consequently being rebranded as KMFM for Shepway and White Cliffs Country after a takeover by the Kent Messenger Group.

Internet/online communities

• The Folkestone Forums Local Community
• Folkestone Gerald Gig and event listings, local entertainment history and community.
• Folkestone Magazine

Earthquake

Main article: 2007 Kent Earthquake

On 28 April 2007, an earthquake with its epicentre 1km East of Folkestone occurred at 8:18am. The earthquake was felt for up to 15 seconds, and many residents in Folkestone and surrounding areas said they felt their house shake. Folkestone was damaged the worst with power out to thousands of homes and some houses being evacuated due to chimneys falling through houses. One person was injured. Landsat image of the earthquakes epicentre, based on USGS location data which was later revised. ... is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

The earthquake was registered at 4.2 on the Richter scale. It was reported as being felt as far away as Essex.^[3][4] The Richter magnitude scale, or more correctly local magnitude ML scale, assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake. ... For other meanings of Essex, see Essex (disambiguation). ...

External links

The external links in this article may not comply with Wikipedia's content policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links.

• Folkestone Official Website
• White Horse of Folkestone
• The Tower Theatre website
• Folkestone Invicta Football Club
• Folkestone Park Bowls Club
• Folkestone Running Club
• Folkestone Rugby Club
• Folkestone Racecourse
• Folkestone Library
• Folkestone Then and Now
• Battle of Britain Museum Aerodrome Website
• Russian Submarine at Folkstone Website
• Shepway District Council
• Folkestone Town Council
• Folkestone Harbour Festival
• Folkestone Triennial website
• Park Farm Primary School

• Folkestone is at coordinates 51°04′44″N 1°10′37″E / 51.079, 1.177

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

References

1. ^ National Statistics Total of 11 wards in the Census 2001
2. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7012916.stm
3. ^ USGS Data for Kent Earthquake 28 April 2007. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
4. ^ BGS Report for Kent Earthquake 28 April 2007. British Geological Survey. Retrieved on 2007-05-03.