Ramada Dover

Folkestone

Folkestone shared the privileges and duties of Dover until, in 1629, the local population obtained a licence to construct their own port. With the coming of the railway, Folkestone developed both as a cross-channel passenger port, and as a high-class seaside resort. Today Folkestone is at the English terminus of the Channel Tunnel to France. The construction of a tunnel here to France was first proposed in 1856. Due to the threat of French invasion three Martello towers were built east of the town in 1805. These towers are quite basic in their construction, and there are a number of them all along the coast here. Anyone who has entered Portsmouth by ship will have noticed similar towers there, but actually in the sea!Folkestone is, I would say, the 'poor sister' to Dover. Having said that, it is a pretty town, especially around the harbour area. We used to go there most Saturdays and buy cream cakes and sof drinks, sit on the harbour wall at the quayside, and just look at all the activity. Very often we would watch as the cross-channel ferry departed for, or arrive from, Boulogne.


My young son, Jaymes, who was about 4 then, was once allowed to travel in the front of a diesel locomotive of the 'Orient Express' as it crossed the iron and brick bridge over the harbour, and then reversed on the other track to re-connect with its train. It was a very wet day, but he didn't care! The locomotive was named 'City of Truro', which is the name of an historic steam locomotive that is claimed to be the first in the world to achieve a speed in excess of 100 miles an hour. Folkestone has many of the 'usual' high street shops, but many other interesting shops. I remember the shop that made different coloured rock (candy), and you could stand outside and watch them roll the mixture out on large tables before cutting it to size. There are lots of antique and second-hand bookshops here too.