Kent points of Interest

• For lovers of quirky stores and one-off boutiques, the Creative Quarter has dozens of places to browse and buy – and all just a stone’s throw from the sea.
• Gift shops and vintage stores sit alongside unique clothing stores and art galleries.
• Further into the town are more treasures, including gift emporiums, as well as the big-brand shops on the high street and in Bouverie Place shopping centre.
• Check the Folca directory.

• Fish and chips by the sea, gourmet cuisine, international dishes or a cosy pub meal; Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and the Kent Downs cater for all tastes.
• Check the Folca directory.

Three Hills Sports Park

• We welcome hosting groups from the private, public and voluntary sectors. Whether you want a venue for a meeting, training, support group or ‘knit and natter’, we can accommodate your needs. Set in extensive grounds with views of the Folkestone Downs, our venue is ideal for learning, relaxing or networking.
• Our venue is versatile and can accommodate schools, faith based groups, local charities, support groups, cultural groups and so much more! You can also take advantage of our menu and make it a social event! Our cafe and bar area is open to all.
• Opening hours
• MONDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM – 10PM
• SATURDAY: 9AM – 9PM
• SUNDAY: 9AM – 8PM

Three Hills Sports Park Cheriton Road Folkestone CT19 5JU

Royal Military Canal Path

• The 28-mile long Royal Military Canal Path runs along the entire length of this important military monument, from Seabrook to Cli End. The route is surfaced, with many benches along the way, making it ideal for walkers of all abilities including disabled people. The canal is a great place to walk amongst splendid scenery and wildlife and part of it is now a designated Site of Nature Conservation Interest.

Elham Valley Way

• This route stretches for 25 miles, from the coastal town of Hythe to the cathedral city of Canterbury, taking in a rich heritage of wildlife and history. The route can be tackled in smaller sections, each one meandering through hidden byways, ancient woodland and attractive villages surrounded by parkland, orchards and farmsteads.

Tolsford Trek

• Starting at Brockhill Country Park, this 7.8-mile circular route follows part of the famous North Downs Way. Enjoy impressive views across the Kent Downs AONB from the top of Tolsford Hill, look out for wildlife hidden in the chalk grassland and explore the beautiful village of Saltwood with its historic church.
• To find detailed guides for these routes and more visit ExploreKent.org

Cycle Routes

• This 13-mile circular cycle route o ers a wonderfully easy and relaxing cycle ride alongside the Royal Military Canal from Seabrook to West Hythe Dam. As well as being a unique military monument, the canal is a thriving wildlife habitat, making this a fantastic scenic route. Other things to look out for on your ride include the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and Lympne Castle.

Coast to Cathedral

• This is a challenging 50-mile circular route which can be tackled in three smaller sections: Folkestone to Dover, Dover to Canterbury and Canterbury to Folkestone. Excellent train links between these towns mean you can tackle as much of the route as you like and return by train. The route passes though leafy lanes, rolling hills and quaint country villages, as well as passing Dover Castle and Canterbury Cathedral, giving you the perfect taste of Kent.

• From overseas

• You can be in Folkestone just 35 minutes after leaving France if you travel by Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. Drive straight onto the train at Calais and drive off after crossing underneath the Channel.Trains run all day and night, with up to four departures an hour.

• You can also take your car on one of the ferries between Kent and Nord-Pas de Calais. P&O Ferries operate on the Calais to Dover route, while DFDS Seaways runs a service from Dunkerque to Dover. Join the A20 towards London on arrival and follow the signs for Folkestone and Hythe.

• Visitor Information Service

• Folkestone Town Council

• The Town Hall 1 – 2 Guildhall Street

• Folkestone

• CT20 1DY

• 01303 213173

• tourism@folkestone-tc.gov.uk

• Visitor Centres

• Use Kent Visitor Information Centres to help plan your visit – you’ll find them in all major towns and cities as well as some larger villages. The Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and can get all the help you need from local town maps and transport routes to finding the best accommodation for your trip. Many centres stocking a wide range of merchandise from local books, gifts, traditional postcards and souvenirs.

• FAS aims to promote the visual arts to the wider public through exhibitions, workshops and lectures. It also encourages excellence in the visual, creative and applied arts through providing its members with opportunities to exhibit and sell artworks as well as encouraging young people studying art and design through its annual Gloria Gordon Award. Full details of our aims and objectives can be found here.
• Members also meet one another socially and are active within Folkestone`s thriving arts community.
• The annual FAS Art Review, which is published in paper copy and on-line, provides the public with an opportunity to both see work by an artist and to understand something of the artists motivation and inspiration. For members it can also be a useful means of bringing their work to the attention of a wider audience.

• Over the past year the junior programme has grown and enjoyable grade 6 competitions have been run to challenge players of all ages. Folkestone Tennis Club strongly promotes the belief that tennis really is for all.

• Radnor Park Avenue Folkestone Kent CT19 5HX

• Telephone: 01303 850 222

• The club based at Folkestone Sports Centre is run entirely by volunteers. We have a strong committee who are passionate about what they do, whether in a teaching role or support role. Everybody is valued as being part of a team that strive to provide first class teaching / training to everyone who chooses to be a member.
• If you would like to get involved, either visit our website or come and talk to a volunteer during our training on Monday and Friday evenings from 6pm.

Radnor Park Avenue Folkestone CT19 5HX

• The First & Second XI play every Saturday in Divisions 1 & 2 of the Kent Cricket League. The Third team also play on a Saturday in the Kent Regional League and we also have a 4th team which will compete in the KRL next season. On Sundays we play in the Lords East Kent League where our team is made up by our seniors and colts. Colts Cricket
• We run Colts teams in the following age groups:- Under 11s, Under 13s and Under 15s.
• All teams play competitive cricket in the Saxon Shore League. The U11s and U13s play on Sunday mornings whilst the U15s play mostly on Tuesday evenings.
• Come and join us!
• New players young and old are welcome.
• Contact Alwyn Fernandes (Colts) 07516 811470 or Andy Bray (Adults) (abray@underarmour.com) for more details!

Sene Valley Golf Club

• A downland course, with stunning views of the North Downs and across the English Channel . Enjoy our excellent undulating greens and then the friendly service in Bar and Restaurant.
• Sene Valley G.C. is the nearest Golf Course to the Channel Tunnel either side of the water. So why not break your journey with a days golf and channel views that will amaze you. We are most fortunate in having one of the most picturesque golf course locations in Kent. Our course is kept in excellent condition and the fast undulating greens are a pleasure to putt on. We have some of the best putting surfaces around. Map and directions to the Club are in the 'Contact us' section of the website.
• There is ample car parking at Sene Valley Golf Club and when you have finished your round why not join the members in the bar for a drink and a bite to eat. If you would like to pre-book food then contact our caterer via the club and he will be happy to discuss your requirements.
• Our club regularly welcomes many visitors from all over the UK and Europe.
• 40 Blackhouse Hill, Hythe CT18 8BL

Hythe Imperial Golf Club

• Challenging 9-hole links course with views over the English Channel on one side and bordered by the Napoleonic Military Canal on the other. Easy-walking course.

Golf Club House, Princes Parade, Hythe CT21 6AE

Working Harbour

• Don’t be tempted to walk from Sunny Sands through to the inner harbour without wellington boots! The inner harbour sand becomes very oily and contains fish hooks and other debris that can cause injury. This is a working harbour and when the tide is in, fishing and leisure boats use the exit frequently. As a result, jumping from the harbour wall into the water is prohibited.

• Dogs are allowed on the beach between 1st October and 30th April, but not during the summer months. It has a 5-star water quality rating for 2019.

• To enjoy the only sandy beach in Folkestone you need to take account of the tide times.

Folkestone Mermaid

• The Folkestone Mermaid sits on top of the rocky outcrop on the sandy side of the harbour wall. She is an artwork from the 2011 Folkestone Triennial Arts Festival and a well-loved landmark of Folkestone.

Folkestone CT19 6RB

East Cliff and Warren Country Park

• Rich in wildlife and offering views of the famous White Cliffs, East Cliff and Warren Country Park is a dramatic landscape formed by landslides just outside of Folkestone. Of national importance both for wildlife and its geology, it is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and as a Local Nature Reserve. The side of the park closest to the town centre features wide open lawns overlooking the cliffs with a playground, bowls club and Pitch & Putt golf course, all watched over by three Napoleonic-era Martello Towers.

• Venture further east, however, and 200 years of landslides have created a steep, pockmarked landscape called The Warren covered in thick vegetation leading down to the sea below the cliffs. A series of relatively arduous walks maintained by the White Cliffs Countryside Project lead you along the coast, including the Four Seasons Walk, which has a series of interpretation panels showing the effect of the seasons on wildlife.

• Chalk grassland wild flowers grow alongside woodland plants here, while the sea air promotes the growth of rock sea lavender, wild cabbage and rock samphire. Around 150 different species of birds can be found in the Warren.

• The area is a great site for rockpooling when the tide is out – and is also one of the best sites in southern England to go fossil hunting. Easy access information

• This park and open space has at least one accessible route but otherwise is considered to be less suitable for visitors with pushchairs and/or wheelchairs.

East Cliff and Warren Country Park Postcode CT19 6BL - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

• The heart's electrical system
• The atria and ventricles work together, alternately contracting and relaxing to pump blood through your heart. The electrical system of your heart is the power source that makes this possible.
• Your heartbeat is triggered by electrical impulses that travel down a special pathway through your heart:
• SA node (sinoatrial node) – known as the heart’s natural pacemaker. The impulse starts in a small bundle of specialised cells located in the right atrium, called the SA node. The electrical activity spreads through the walls of the atria and causes them to contract. This forces blood into the ventricles. The SA node sets the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat. Normal heart rhythm is often called normal sinus rhythm because the SA (sinus) node fires regularly.
• AV node (atrioventricular node). The AV node is a cluster of cells in the center of the heart between the atria and ventricles, and acts like a gate that slows the electrical signal before it enters the ventricles. This delay gives the atria time to contract before the ventricles do.
• His-Purkinje Network. This pathway of fibers sends the impulse to the muscular walls of the ventricles and causes them to contract. This forces blood out of the heart to the lungs and body.
• The SA node fires another impulse and the cycle begins again.
• At rest, a normal heart beats around 50 to 99 times a minute. Exercise, emotions, fever and some medications can cause your heart to beat faster, sometimes to well over 100 beats per minute.

Restoration works

• Crofton Design, the consulting engineers responsible for the Leas Lift restoration, was appointed as lead consultant to provide structural engineering design.[9] Crofton won the ‘Building Structures’ award at the ACE Engineering Excellence Awards in May 2011 and won the ‘Restoration’ award at the ICE Engineering Excellence Awards in June 2011 for their work on the lift. G A Harpers were appointed as the main contractor to carry out the necessary construction work.
• The renovation involved replacing the mechanical and electrical wiring and ensuring that all necessary safety standards in the two cars, the control systems and stations, were met. There was also a focus on restoring the associated power pumps that control the lift at the top and bottom stations.
• The wheel bearings on the lift cars were all found to be damaged by corrosion so the wheels were re-machined to provide the correct running profile. Additionally, the corroded steelwork support structures within the buried water storage tanks, which were leaking, were inspected and replaced.
• The operation of the Folkestone lift was then taken over by 'The Folkestone Leas Lift Community Interest Company'. The company operated the lift on behalf of the community as a non-profit-making organisation and has opened the attraction as a living museum.
• In January 2017, the lift again closed temporarily, following an HSE inspection which determined that a secondary fail-safe braking system must be installed before the lift could be re-opened. £80,000 was raised to conduct the preliminary works required to reinstate the lift, including a full engineering survey. A new company, the Folkestone Leas Lift Company (FLLC) was set up and with funding from the Radnor Estate and the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust. The FLLC's aim is to raise funds to help repair the lift, and to create and implement a sustainable long-term plan for its operation.

Pulhamite

• Pulhamite was a patented anthropic rock material invented by James Pulham (1820–98) of the firm James Pulham and Son of Broxbourne in Hertfordshire.
• Pulhamite, which usually looked like gritty sandstone, was used to join natural rocks together or crafted to simulate natural stone features. It was so realistic that it fooled some geologists of the era. The recipe went to the grave with him. Modern analysis of surviving original Pulhamite have shown it to be a blend of sand, Portland cement and clinker sculpted over a core of rubble and crushed bricks.
• Following the successful construction of Pulhamite features in Ramsgate and other seaside towns over the previous few years, the contract was awarded to James Pulham and Son. Fred Hitching, was Foreman, and his brother, John Hitching, worked with him – perhaps as Joint Foreman. Another Pulham ‘Rock Builder’ who worked on this project was Fred Rickett. - Work began in June 1920, and it opened in June 1921.
• The path is in five sections, and covers a substantial vertical area of about 75 metres across and 50 metres high. It incorporates steps, seats, plant pockets, low walls, and with tunnels, arches and caves at each turn. It is still in remarkably good condition, although some of the Pulhamite facing to the top sections of the path have by now been badly affected by the erosion of the sea air.
• Look carefully, and one can even find one or two ‘Pulham faces’ inscribed into the facing of the ‘rocks’.

• In the 1960's the Pavilion Theatre became home to the Arthur Brough Players, founded by Arthur Brough, perhaps better known today as Mr. Grainger in TV's 'Are you Being Served'. The Theatre closed in 1984 and was converted into a Pub and entertainment venue but this was also closed in 2007 and the building has since fallen into disrepair. The Grade II Listed Building is currently owned by Developers who plan to build flats either side of it and above its entrance.
• However, a local campaign to restore and reopen the Theatre itself, which attracted 31,000 signatures in a petition launched in 2016, and was still active at the time of writing in November 2017, hope that they will eventually be able to return the building to theatrical use.

• Situated at the western end of Folkestone’s famous Leas Promenade, the Metropole, along with the neighbouring Grand Hotel, stand as imposing sentinels of the town’s fashionable past.

• Close to the Arch there is a fine RFC and RAF Memorial to the airmen and women who served in both wars. Poppies adorn the railings nearby.

• Prince Harry has unveiled this monument in Folkestone, where millions of men marched to boats taking them across the Channel to fight on the Western Front.

• The steel Memorial Arch was built as part of the commemorations marking 100 years since Britain joined World War 1.

• The arch is at the top of a hill leading down to the harbour where boats awaited the troops.

• Hundreds of people walked along the route before the memorial was dedicated by the prince.

• The prince also laid a wreath at the nearby war memorial.

• An estimated 10 million troops passed through Folkestone on their way to war.

• The steep downhill street is now named Road of Remembrance.

• The parade was organised by Shepway District Council and the charity Step Short, which is named after the order given to the marching men to shorten their stride as they went downhill.

• It included 100 military personnel supported by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas and more than 800 civilians.

Coastal Park

• In May 2000, the first phase of the £1.2 million 11-hectare Coastal Park was opened by celebrity weatherman Ian McCaskill. The park regeneration was funded by SEEDA, Shepway District Council and the European Union.
• In 2003, Phase II was funded by a £1.4 million grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund of the National Lottery. This provided funding for ground works to be carried out in February 2005. Then planting of the pine avenues, flower gardens and picnic sites could take place. Then park furniture and information signs were erected. In May 2006, this phase of the park was officially opened.
• This also included a stone labyrinth designed by Clare Danstead for Shepway District Council for the park in May 2008. 'As a contribution to peace and harmony within the ever-changing environment and community of Folkestone. The labyrinth is a uni-cursal pathway leading to a centre and back out again. This is used as a form of walking meditation or prayer.
• During 2007, the Coastal Park received four awards, including the Green Flag,[9] best regional and best overall Regeneration Project from the Royal Town Planning Institute 2007 and winner in the Landscape category of the 2007 Kent Design Awards.
• In 2008, an International Sculpture Triennial took place in Folkestone, with some works being displayed in the park. This art initiative was promoted by a board of trustees including Roger De Haan, Dr Stephen Deuchar (Former Director of Tate Britain), Timothy Llewellyn (Director of the Henry Moore Foundation and the Viscount of Folkestone).

Other Park notes

• National Cycle Route 2 runs along the Lower Sandgate Road (through the park) and cyclists are asked to dismount through the play area during busy periods.
• Special steel plates have been fitted onto the wooden tables in the specific picnic areas where barbecues are permitted within the park.
• On the promenade beside the seafront is a small seasonal-opening cafe (the Mermaid Cafe). This fireplace was designed by the Adam brothers, and made in 1793. Robert and James Adam were architects who are best remembered for their use of straight lines ornamented with garlands in furniture and architecture. The Banner of the Cinque Ports which is displayed over the fireplace, was presented to Hythe by John Hosgood, whilst serving as Mayor in 1980.

William Cubitt

• Engineer and inventor
• Cubitt became known for the accuracy and finish of his patterns for the iron castings of machines. Self-regulating windmill sails were invented and patented by him in 1807, at which period he settled at Horning, Norfolk, in business as a millwright. He in 1812 sought and obtained an engagement in the works of Messrs. Ransome of Ipswich, where he soon became the chief engineer. For nine years he held this situation, and then became a partner in the firm, a position which he held until he moved to London in 1826.
• Already Cubitt was concerned with the employment of criminals; and for the purpose of using their labour he invented the treadmill, with the object, for example, of grinding corn, and not at first contemplating the use of the machine as a means of punishment. This invention was brought out about 1818, and was immediately adopted in the major gaols of the United Kingdom.
• From 1814 Cubitt had been acting as a civil engineer, and after his move to London he was fully engaged in important works. He was extensively employed in canal engineering, and the Oxford canal and the Liverpool Junction canal are among his works under this head. The improvement of the River Severn was carried out by him, and he made a series of reports on rivers.The Bute docks at Cardiff, the Middlesbrough docks and the coal drops on the Tees, and the Black Sluice drainage were undertakings which he successfully accomplished.

• The Victoria Pier, ‘A graceful structure on iron columns, with a wide promenade deck’ opened in 1888, is described decorously by the Folkestone Advertising Committee as having ‘a spacious concert hall at its southern end, in which a constant succession of entertainments is provided during the season.’ During the war years these entertainments included beauty contests and the screening of Charlie Chaplin and patriotic films in the Pier Pavilion.
• On fine days, visitors were encouraged to enjoy the surrounding beach on the grounds that ‘the water is generally beautifully clear, and the bathers are not inconvenienced by the sand, as they are when there is not so much shingle.’ Perhaps more realistically, ‘Near the Victoria Pier, at low tide, there is a delightful stretch of firm sand, which is a favourite resort for children. At both the eastern and western bathing grounds “mixed bathing” is permitted, as it is on the Continent, and visitors appreciate it greatly.’
• In 1910, the ‘Olympia’ roller-skating rink was added on the shore to the west of the pier. The pier was sectioned in 1940 for defence purposes. A temporary bridge was installed in 1943, but a fire on Whit Sunday wrecked the pavilion and badly damaged the seaward end of the pier. The remains were demolished in 1954.

• The grounds were re-landscaped and were laid out for various gentile sports, including tennis, croquet and skating. Military tournaments and displays were held there, along with performances by military bands. The main exhibition building itself was converted in 1888 into a theatre, known originally as the Exhibition Palace Theatre, it was better known under its later name The Pleasure Gardens Theatre. The new theatre could seat over 1,000 people and held a varying programme of weekly performances targeted at well-to-do Folkestone residents. Its programme included revues, musical shows, Shakespearian productions, operas and plays.
• The Theatre was the first venue to show Moving Pictures in Kent in June 1896, and in its later years was home to Pantomimes, Opera, Variety, and some of the biggest touring productions from London, it would later be converted for Cinema use.
• Eventually the building became very rundown and was in urgent need of renovation, but the costs for this were deemed too high, and sadly it was eventually closed and demolished in 1964.

Accessing the gardens

• There are three entrances:
• near the college on Kingsnorth Gardens
• Castle Hill Avenue
• Shorncliffe Road
• The nearest public toilets are a short walk away at Radnor Park on Cheriton Road.

The history of the gardens

• Origins of the site

• John Kingsnorth (once a tenant farmer at Ingles Farm) excavated the former site of Kingsnorth Gardens to produce material for bricks for local building projects.

• The kilns were near the railway arch that spans Cheriton Road.

• Later, the site became allotments and then an area where rubbish was dumped.

• Regeneration as possible site for a town hall

• People started to complain to the town council, which began to think of ways of developing the area, perhaps as a site for a town hall.

• The town hall idea proved too costly, so the idea of an ornamental garden started to emerge.

Development of the gardens

• The Parks Committee received instructions to proceed with the creation of a garden.
• The work was planned by Mr G E Roden, parks superintendent at the time.
• Work began in 1926 with a workforce of unemployed men and a budget of £3,500.
• The gardens were opened on June 27th 1928, by the Viscountess of Folkestone and the mayor, Alderman R G Wood.
• Kingsnorth Gardens, still a popular and secluded haven for many, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2003. Much of the garden has seen little change since 1928, only improvements and re-planting.

• Family events such as the fun fair, circus and Donkey Derby
• Tea Room
• Toilet facilities (including RADAR access and baby changing)
• Picnic tables (and grass areas for picnics)
• Fenced dog run
• Floral displays
• The upper Radnor Park play area was redesigned and installed in July 2017. It now offers an exciting range of play equipment for youngsters of all ages, with a railway-themed zone for toddlers featuring a climbing train and carriage, tunnels and tracks, a roundabout and a train station.
• A 20 metre long zip line, a raised hill, and climbing equipment including a six metre high pyramid net are in place to keep any eight to 12 year olds occupied.
• Funding for the renovations came from many different bodies including Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Radnor Park Community Group, The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, Folkestone Town Council and East Kent College.
• Radnor Park was donated to the people of Folkestone by the Earl of Radnor in 1886. Original features included fishing and boating ponds, a mock-Tudor Lodge, tree avenues and a drinking fountain.
• Many of these features still exist on the park and following extensive renovations in 2016 and 2017, the drinking fountain is again working with a new statue of St Eanswythe (the Patron Saint of Folkestone) watching over the park. The lodge is now a popular tea room.Radnor Park Radnor Park Radnor Park Radnor Park

• The newly restored Harbour Arm will be open to the public every weekend with a programme of live music, delicious food, bars, events and activities. Hang out al fresco at our communal tables and enjoy the amazing views, stroll down to the lighthouse, or watch the world go by from the window-side counter seating inside.

• Folkestone Quarterhouse is a Creative Foundation project, run alongside the Folkestone Triennial, Folkestone Artworks, Creative Quarter and home venue for Folkestone Book Festival.
• Quarterhouse shares the Creative Foundation's dedication to enabling the regeneration of Folkestone through creative activity. We are based moments from the harbour, at the bottom of The Old High Street.
• Quarterhouse is run by a passionate and knowledgeable team made up of both permanent and casual staff.
• Quarterhouse is a beacon for arts programming in East Kent that supports the regeneration of Folkestone. The venue provides a space at the heart of the Creative Quarter for artists and audiences with a programme that develops artists in the region, that adds to the reputation of Folkestone, that brings people to the town and makes Folkestone a more enjoyable place to live. At its heart is the engagement with the young people of the town from childhood to higher education. It is driven by a clear artistic vision.
• This iconic building houses a creative team that is key in supporting the delivery of the Creative Foundation ambitions as well as establishing the venue as an inviting, inspiring and exciting place that is a vital part of its community. We aspire to becoming a venue where you can experience, enjoy and take part in a diverse high quality arts programme.
• Our greatest passion is about providing opportunities for children, their families and for young people.

• Folkestone Artworks is the new name for the collection of works originally commissioned by the Creative Foundation for the Folkestone Triennial that are now on permanent display in public spaces around the town. The collection after the first two Triennials boasts 16 high calibre artworks by an impressive array of young, emerging talent as well as more established artists.
• It is envisaged that Folkestone Artworks will continue to grow after each new Triennial, helping to further develop Folkestone’s reputation as a unique destination in the UK for those who enjoy contemporary art. Experiencing art outside the confines of a gallery or institutional setting encourages different ways of seeing, learning and thinking about contemporary art.
• The aim remains that when people think about Folkestone they think about the collection. The size of the collection now warrants a trip to Folkestone by itself and we would like the people of the town to be aware of it, proud of it and to talk about it.
• Folkestone Artworks includes work by artists as celebrated as Turner Prize nominee Tracey Emin, whose seven-part sculpture Baby Things is a tender, subtle yet poignant response to her perception of the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the town. 2007 Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger’s ‘Folk Stones’ has a profound underpinning, 19,240 numbered stones, the exact number of soldiers killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and can be found close to the Leas Cliff Hall. It even includes a dog’s play park, Pae White’s Barking Rocks, situated just off The Leas in Pleydell Gardens. Internationally acclaimed Kent-based artist Hamish Fulton has created a metal sign in the Harbour area, mapping the 31 water-related walks he has made from coast to coast, river to river, coast to river, across the British Isles and Western Europe over his 40-year career.

• The Folkestone Triennial takes place every three years and is one of the 5 key projects of the Creative Foundation, which is an independent visionary arts charity dedicated to enabling the regeneration of Folkestone through creative activity. Working with the people of Folkestone, partners and other stakeholders, the Creative Foundation is transforming the town making it a better place to live, work, visit and study.

Shepway Sports Trust

• Shepway Sports Trust will manage the site, which will also provide a new home for Folkestone Amateur Boxing Club. As well as several floors of sporting activity, there will be a cafe and a function space that can be hired for special events. Shepway Sports Trust is a not-for-profit sports charity, funded principally by The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, that promotes high-quality competition, sporting and coaching opportunities. Its key aim is to connect schools, sports clubs within the district with the purpose of inspiring all generations to lead healthy and active lifestyles.

• Despite the passing years today's visitor can still savour the atmosphere of the airfield's past with the landmarks and buildings that remain, acting as points of reference, whilst beyond can be seen the English Channel and the French coast.
• The Museum is entirely self-supporting and stands or falls by the number of visitors it attracts. It is run by eight enthusiasts and volunteers.
• We are always pleased to accept donations of relevant items of the period for display.
• Kent Battle of Britain Museum
• Aerodrome Road Hawkinge, Folkestone, Kent CT18 7AG
• Telephone: 01303 ​893140

• Parts of the outer expanses have been lost to the sea over the centuries, but the circular keep survived at the top of the beach. This was converted into a sort of Martello Tower, and meant that a tower did not need to be built on this lower stretch of the coast, the local towers all being high up on the cliffs slightly inland.

• The first castle was built in the 1080's for the Archdeacons of Canterbury on the edge of a cliff looking over the Romney Marshes. It was rebuilt in the 14th century by a building with a tower at each end, and it is thought that the square tower may be on the site of a Roman watch tower. After being used as a farm it was restored in 1908 and is now available for conferences and weddings.

• Below the castle, at the foot of the cliff, lies the remains of a Roman Shore fort, Stutfall Castle.

• Despite the site’s undoubted Norman origins there is no evidence to suggest any serious fortifications were actually built until the licence to crenellate was granted to Sir John de Criol by Edward III in 1343. Before this date there probably stood a large hall or palace with perhaps a surrounding moat and possibly a wood pallisade. What is certain is that the defensive towers and high curtain wall were not built until around 1400.
• In 1509 the two manors of Ostenhanger and Westenhanger which stood here were merged into one ownership by Sir Edward Poynings and we know from historic papers that he began to build magnificently. Unfortunately he died with the work incomplete in 1522 but his son, Sir Thomas Poynings, went on with the building, later exchanging Westenhanger with King Henry VIII for other lands.
• By 1544 we know that the house was extensive and incorporated separate suites of rooms for the use of royalty. Later Queen Elizabeth I visited ‘her house at Westenhanger’. Soon after Westenhanger became home to Thomas Smythe and his descendants, the Lords Strangford, who further enlarged it. By the mid 17th Century it was one of the largest houses in Kent. However, in 1701 much of it was taken down and the history since has been a sad tale of depredation and neglect but, as we progress in the 21st Century, you can see the efforts being made to save what remains for future generations

• Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards.
• They stand up to 40 feet (12m) high, with two floors, and typically had a garrison of one officer and 15-25 men. Their round structure and thick walls of solid masonry made them resistant to cannon fire, while their height made them an ideal platform for a single heavy artillery piece, mounted on the flat roof and able to traverse a 360 degree arc.
• A few towers had moats for extra defence. The Martello towers were used during the first half of the 19th century, but became obsolete with the introduction of powerful rifled artillery. Many have survived to the present day, often preserved as historic monuments.

19th century and later

• In parts of the present building, the earlier church (before the 19th century) is still visible: the arcade of the chancel is of the 13th century; the lady chapel (north of the chancel) and St Eanswythe's chapel (south of the chancel), and the arches of the tower, are of the 15th century.
• During the incumbency of Canon Matthew Woodward, vicar from 1851 to 1898, the church was largely rebuilt.[5] The nave and north aisle were rebuilt by R. C. Hussey in the 1850s. The west window and porch were created by Stallwood in 1872. The south chancel aisle and transept were rebuilt in 1869, the south aisle in 1974.[1]. The three altar windows, and the windows in the Lady Chapel, were created by C. E. Kempe.

Discovery of reliquary

• During renovation of the church in 1885, a reliquary was discovered in a niche in the walls near the altar. From the ornamentation it was judged to be of the 12th century. It contained the bones of a young woman who died in the 7th century; from the position of the reliquary, it was concluded that they were the remains of St Eanswythe. They were re-interred in the same place, the niche covered by a brass door and grill.

Organ

• It is known there was an organ in the church in 1528. It was rebuilt several times in the 19th century; further history from earlier centuries is little known. The present organ was built in the South Transept by William Hill & Sons of London in 1894 and then rebuilt and enlarged in 1930 by Hill, Norman & Beard, so that it had 39 stops.

• Culpin & Bowers were well known through the 1920s for their public housing projects. Ewart G. Culpin, the senior partner, was both a successful journalist and an active member of the Labour Party; he was later an MP and chair of the London County Council. As secretary of the Garden City Association from 1906, he revolutionised the Garden City movement (founding the International Garden Cities and Town Planning Association) and extended its influence into all aspects of contemporary town planning, particularly the housing estates built in the years after the First World War in response to Lloyd George’s ‘Homes for heroes’ programme.

Presentation of the Tank as War Souvenir

• On 29th July 1919, the town of Folkestone was presented with a Mark IV female tank. It was given to the people of Folkestone by the war savings committee, as a recognition of their efforts in financing the war.
• The previous week it had arrived at the Junction Station and was driven through the streets to its chosen resting place.
• It was presented by Major-General Sir E.D. Swinton K.C.B, and was sited in the playground of St Peters School on The Durlocks. The band of the Royal Irish Regiment played, and speeches were given, in which Major-General Swinton said that the tank would serve in years to come as a reminder of the sacrifices that had been made by the country.
• The tank was christened “Lady Penfold” with a bottle of wine being smashed against it. Sir Stephen Penfold had served as Mayor of Folkestone throughout the War.
• Unfortunately, in April 1937, it was reported that Folkestone Council had accepted 22/6 per ton for its war souvenirs, including the tank, to be used as scrap metal.

• In the 1970s, services were scaled down, with the focusing of regional hospital care in East Kent on the town of Ashford, Kent. In 1973 maternity services were moved to Ashford's Willesborough Hospital. In 1979 the new William Harvey Hospital opened in Ashford (ironically, named after Folkestone's William Harvey), and many other services were transferred here over the following years. The accident and emergency department at Royal Victoria Hospital was closed at that time, leaving it with a minor injuries service. The hospital was the base for a large general practice and, although the accident and emergency department has closed, there is still an operational minor injuries unit. The hospital provided gynaecological, otorhinolaryngological and urological outpatient services, diagnostic services, mental health care, and general outpatient facilities.
• The hospital had a day-time walk-in centre for non-critical patients without appointments, financed in part from a £2 million Government grant in 2014

• In 1924, lots of people came to see the Roman villa at Folkestone’s East Cliff when it was being excavated. There were articles in the newspapers in England and France. In the Daily Express the reporter wrote this!
• “Folkestone has become the scene of an archaeological boom such as no fashionable watering-place has ever before experienced. Gaily attired girls, escorted by youths in flannels, sedate, elderly professional men, and enthusiastic schoolboys jostle in the queue awaiting admission”.

• The two running tunnels are directly linked every 250 m (820 ft) by 2 m diameter pressure relief ducts (PRDs) that pass over the top of the service tunnel and do not connect to it. The PRDs alleviate the piston effect of trains by allowing airflow from moving trains to pass into the other running tunnel. Additionally, there are two enormous caverns situated about one third of the distance from shore to shore containing a rail crossover between the main tunnels. These crossovers permit sections of the tunnel to be closed to traffic for maintenance, using single-line working in the other tunnel. The UK crossover at 156 m long, 18 m wide and 10 m high is the largest subsea cavern in the world and, when being constructed, required extensive monitoring via almost 200 separate instrument stations.
• At each portal there is a major facility allowing for trains to disassemble and turn around, including customs, maintenance, and other necessary services.

• Small, independent businesses along the pier give it its unique flavour, and its reputation is growing as restoration continues along the platform and across the railway bridge and beyond, with the addition of an onsite bakery and brewery, a regular farmer’s market and other seasonal events. Folkestone’s Harbour Arm has swiftly become the beacon for the regeneration of Folkestone as a destination town.

Sunny Sands

• Children love the fountain, the seafood stall provides a tasty snack and restaurants offer a choice of menus. A walk through the arches takes one to Sunny Sands overlooked by Folkestone's own 'Little Mermaid'.

The Bayle

• The Bayle retains a village-like atmosphere and is the setting for the 13th Century church of St Mary and St Eanswythe. This very church has been used regularly as a venue to hold the Sacconi Chamber Musical Festival.
• The Old High Street is an ancient route connecting The Bayle with The Harbour and Stade which is now at the heart of Folkestone’s Creative Quarter. On this historical walk you may stumble upon one of Tracey Emin’s public artworks titled ‘Baby Things’, one of many tiny sculptures spread across the town.

Leas Lift

• The Leas Lift opened in 1885 to improve access between the seafront and the upper Leas. The park and seafront with their new pier, switchback ride, and beach amusements were so popular that a second lift was added in 1890. The remains of a further lift serving the Metropole can still be seen, and yet another lift connected the western end of the Leas with Sandgate.

William Harvey Statue

• This bronze statue to the memory of William Harvey, sculpted by Albert Bruce-Joy in 1878, can be seen on the seafront promenade (on the corner of The Leas and Clifton Gardens) of Folkestone, his native town.

The Arch

• Beautiful arch stands on the Leas on the cliffs to the west of Folkestone harbour.

Leas Pavlion

Lower Leas Coastal Park

• The coastal park is a wonderful Place to walk and explore. The playground is brilliant, well maintained, safe and lots of fun! Good places to picnic.

Metropole Steps

Attractive walk from Folkestone to Sandgate, close to the sea. There is a small arena where bands often play and the grounds alongside the walk are well planted.

Amphitheatre

• A 350-seat amphitheatre

• In June 2011 Folkestone Town Council purchased the Town Hall. Consultants were then appointed to undertake a feasibility study to evaluate the viability of using the Town Hall as a Museum.
• From spring 2017 the museum opened its doors to the public to provide a gateway to Folkestone’s fascinating heritage with interactive displays, workshops suitable for all ages and opportunities for people to become more involved with the presentation and preservation of the Town’s past.
• Folkestone Museum aims to provide a wide-ranging, exciting and challenging programme of temporary exhibitions, designed to stimulate, intrigue and involve audiences, both old and new across all sections of our community.
• The Town Hall, 1-2 Guildhall Street, Folkestone, CT20 1DY
• 01303 257946
• Open Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm

• Folca directory is the place to find businesses and services across Folkestone, Hythe, Lyminge, Romney Marsh and all towns and villages inbetween. Search by category, A-Z, enhanced listings or town.