Folkestone: A Potted History

Although Folkestone was a small fishing village on the English Channel coast for much of its time, it has witnessed many significant events in Britain’s history. The Roman established trade routes from the settlement to the European continent, radiating throughout Britain. Successfully settled by the Saxons in later centuries, Christianity arrived through St Augustine and defences built against Viking invaders. It later became a limb of the Cinque Ports. William the Conqueror gave the manor to one of his supporters, and Folkestone’s strategic position made it a target of other attempted French invasions and defences were strengthened during the threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada and later Napoleon. The coming of the railways transformed the small town into a fashionable resort, but it remained on the front line in the First and Second World Wars. Although the importance of Folkestone’s harbour diminished after the building of the Channel Tunnel, the town is once again enjoying a resurgence in popularity.Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Folkestone has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the town.