Folkestone is a coastal resort town in the Shepway district of Kent, England. Hovercraft and ferry services formerly connected the town to both Boulogne and Calais in France, together with the still present Channel Tunnel. Satellite towns include Capel-Le-Ferne, Cheriton, Hythe and Hawkinge
Archeological finds from a 1st Century cemetery were discovered in 1948 at Cheriton, between Folkestone and Dover, but the name of the town of Folkestone in Kent has its origin in the late 7th Century as 'Folcanstan', in all probablity referring to the ‘stone of Folca’, a common old English name. In about 635 AD, King Eadbald built a convent/nunnery on the East Cliff at Folkestone, for Eanswythe, his daughter. Her name lends itself to the parish church of St. Mary's and St. Eanswythe where her mortal remains are interned.
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.
The French took the opportunity of attacking Folkestone in 1216 and also laid waste to much of the settlement. The village, albeit of place some consequence even at this early period in its history was significant enough as 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.
In 1794 the Army had purchased over 229 acres 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 Peninsular 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.
At the beginning of the 16th Century Folkestone recorded a population of about 700, but by the time of the 1801 census the population had risen to 3257. By 1871 the population had risen to over 11,000. From about 1940 the population had risen again to over 35,000.
At the end of the 18th century the town became prosperous because of an increase in the fishing and shipping industries and in the middle of the 19th century
Folkestone was one of the chief resorts of southern England, much added by the construction of the railway line from London which reached Folkestone in 1839, the service was expanded during the 1840's offering direct access to the docks. Numerous victorian Hotels, including "The Grande" and "Metropole" are testament to this, together with no less than three railway stations.
The now closed Folkestone East train station was used almost exclusively for shipping, indeed the Orient Express still runs through Folkestone, though no longer are the trains lifted onto ships.
Much of such development was intimately linked to the Radnor family, which owned, and still owns, a large amount of the town and surrounding land, reflected by several local bye laws, including those banning in some areas the owning of poultry.
In about 1920 a landslip on the East Cliff at Folkestone revealed the remains of two roman houses complete with bathrooms and hypocausts. Further investigation led to the discovery of over twenty similar foundations with a corridor, and courtyard with a mosaic floor, a kitchen with two fireplaces, due to the excavations undertaken by Mr. S. E. Winbolt. The site was eventually recorded and covered over in 1957.
During the First World War Folkestone hosted some 65,000 Belgian refugees and from 1915 was the main embarkation point soldiers leaving to fight in the trenches of France and Belgium. Tens 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 by bombs during both World Wars, as its proximity to the Continent, allowed shelling to take place.
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, flying equipment, prints, relics from over 600 crashed aircraft."
"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."
Further, items associated with the wreck of the 'Benvenue', are on display in the local history museum.
A rare surviving example of a Victorian water-powered lift remains in operation at the Leas Cliff promenade and offers access from the Leas to the seafront and Coastal Park Amphitheatre, and the Rotunda Amusement Park (under threat of closure).
A privately owned Russian Submarine until recently was berthed here, but has since been moved to the river Medway at Strood.
After the world wars, and to some extent slight beforehand, Folkestone fell into a decline. Shipping suffered greatly, with competition from neighbouring port of Dover, and to some extent the royal harbour atRamsgate, together with the construction of the nearby Channel Tunnel, which has run as of 1994, leading to the gradual reduction and eventual cancellation of all shipping services.
Further, the rise of foreign holiday destination, added in no small way by the package holiday, damaged Folkestone tourism business immeasurably.
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.
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 80's and 90's 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. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is still in development, and the new high speed rail link to London, planned for 2007 may give the town another 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.
Folkestone and Hythe are represented in Parliament by Conservative Michael Howard, the former Home Secretary, and present Leader of the Conservative Party.