Folkestone’s name dates back to the 7th century. In 630AD King Eadbald of Kent built an abbey for his daughter and her nuns. This was probably the first Christian community for women in England.
A 1st century cemetery was found in a village called Cheriton just west of town.
In 1920 a large Roman villa was found complete with bathroom, two kitchens, 2 fireplaces, a mosaic floor and a courtyard, this was found due to a landslide. It was covered again in 1957 and is now being gradually lost to the sea.
Up to the 10th century Viking attacks, of which there were many, left the settlement badly damaged.
By 1066 Folkestone was a small hamlet of farmers and fishermen. It has a value of £100, 6210 acres, 5 churches and 600 people according to the Domesday Book.
It was given a licence to build a port in 1629. In the reign of Elizabeth I there were still only 129 houses in Folkstone.
The army had a large area in 1794, a few years later the wooden garrison was extended. It was rebuilt in stone in the early 1800’s and used by the artillery and cavalry. The present day Sir John Moors Barracks houses the Gurkha Regiment of Great Britain.
In 1807 Folkestone was granted permission to build a harbour and a pier. The harbour was finished 1820. It proved difficult to sail into the harbour because of very thick silt. Folkestone Harbour Company tried hard to get rid of the silt but went bankrupt. The government sold the harbour to the Southern Eastern railway Company and Folkestone soon became the main town for traffic to Boulogne on the ferries that used to run to Boulogne and Calais.
Folkestone was damaged badly in both World Wars because of being so close to the Continent.
A road in the town is called Road to Remembrance and this is where the soldiers were marched on the way to the harbour when being shipped out to France during WWI.
Since the ‘package holidays’ became popular and with the closing of the Folkestone – Boulogne ferry service Folkestone has seen a decline, like many other resorts, of their tourist trade. Recently redevelopment has started to hopefully make the town more welcoming to tourists and its residents.
A new shopping centre, Bouverie Place, is due to open this year and expectations are that it will bring back some wealth to Folkestone.
The Creative Foundation is a charitable organisation which is acquiring run down properties in the old part of town and are to renovate them and let them for an affordable rent to artists and creative businesses, some will have living accommodation. One hundred have been let with others to follow. The idea being, when finished, it will become a vibrant area with galleries, studios cafes and restaurants creating an attractive part of town.
Folkestone is situated towards the eastern end of the M20 motorway linking the town to Ashford, Maidstone, London and the M25 and is also close to the A20 and A259. The town has two railway stations Folkestone West and Folkestone Central.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s the Channel Tunnel construction employed a great many of the local population. The service still does provide employment for quite a large workforce. Insurance Companies are employers of a good many people and several have businesses in Folkestone. They were originally involved in shipping but have had to change their businesses to other types of insurance. It is also home to Saga, a major company that deals in holidays including cruises and finance plus other services to people over the age of 50 years.
On the 28th April 2007 at 8.18am a small earthquake was felt in Folkestone. People said they could feel their houses shaking for around fifteen seconds. Some chimneys fell through roofs, power supplies were cut but only one person was injured.
There are plenty of properties for rent in and around the town of Folkestone with prices averaging £400pcm for a one bed flat, £540pcm for a 2 bed flat, £660pcm for a 2 bed house and £700pcm for a 3 bed house.
Shops in the town include MKl, New Look, Top Shop, Bay Trading, Top Man, and Chemistry together with some larger department stores such as Marks and Spencer and Woolworths.
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