110-521: The Elham Valley Railway was a line connecting Folkestone and Canterbury in Kent , England. It opened between 1887 and 1889 and closed in 1947. The line was originally proposed by the independent Elham Valley Light Railway Company in the mid-19th century. After the project was cancelled owing to financial difficulties, it was revived by the South Eastern Railway who were competing with
220-781: A harbor was built, though the coming of the railways in 1843 had a greater impact on its development. Dover Hill, the highest point in Folkestone, was a sighting point for the Anglo-French Survey (1784–1790) , which measured the precise distance between the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Paris Observatory . The hill provided a sight-line to the east along the line of the Folkestone Turnpike to Dover Castle , one of
330-535: A fireman was killed on the footplate near Barham during an air raid. In 1944, all three guns were transported to Salisbury Plain in connection with preparations for the Normandy landings . On 3 May 1943, Lyminge and Hythe stations were closed to passengers. Goods traffic continued to be run by the War Department. The line was briefly used for military training purposes during this time. In March 1944,
440-414: A 6-foot (1.8 m) 1.75-long-ton (1.78 t) shell up to 12.5 miles (20 km) and was capable of reaching Pegwell Bay near Ramsgate. The other two guns were deployed, to Elham and Adisham respectively. The gun was first fired on the morning of 13 February 1941, when the equipment was towed to a stretch of track near Kingston for calibration tests. Several rounds were fired out into mid-channel;
550-492: A benefit football match following the flood. Folkestone was at one stage a resort town with a developed shipping trade. With the decline of those industries others have filled the gap. The Dormobile works, car conversion manufacturers were based in the town. Church and Dwight , the US company famous for Arm & Hammer baking soda -based consumer products, has its UK headquarters in the town. Silver Spring Mineral Water Company ,
660-489: A half at 1 in 183. The work was engineered by Thomas A. Walker . Residents of Cheriton and Newington requested the SER to build a station for their villages, but were refused. Construction was quick, and the line was ready from Cheriton Junction to Barham in 1887. A Board of Trade inspection took place on 1 July, conducted by Major-General Charles Scrope Hutchinson . It passed, and the line opened to passengers on 4 July. There
770-603: A length of 2,020 yards (1,850 m). The project was highly controversial and fears grew of the tunnel being used as a route for a possible French invasion of Great Britain; notable opponents of the project were the War Office Scientific Committee, Lord Wolseley and Prince George, Duke of Cambridge ; Queen Victoria reportedly found the tunnel scheme "objectionable". Watkin was skilled at public relations and attempted to garner political support for his project, inviting such high-profile guests as
880-456: A line. The first prospectus was presented to Parliament in 1865, outlining an "Elham Valley Light Railway Company" which would build a single-line railway starting at Hythe on the coast, running up through the Seabrook valley, through Newington and joining the existing SER and East Kent lines. The line was planned as a light railway with a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). It
990-628: A more luxurious one in about 200 AD. The villa was abandoned during the 3rd or 4th century for unknown reasons. In 597 AD, monks, led by Augustine of Canterbury , arrived at Ebbsfleet on the Isle of Thanet , on a mission from Pope Gregory to re-Christianise Britain. He was greeted by the Anglo-Saxon pagan King of Kent, Æthelberht , and his Christian Queen, Bertha . Augustine was granted land in Canterbury, where he built his church and, outside
1100-594: A new academy that opened in September 2015. Martello Grove Academy moved to new buildings on its campus in Warren Way in autumn 2016. Footballer and army officer Walter Tull attended the town's Mundella Primary School when it was North Board School. The town is situated at the foot of the North Downs , with views of the surrounding countryside and the coast of France, 24 mi (39 km) away. The area
1210-455: A new line from Folkestone to Canterbury. The LCDR's chairman James Staats Forbes argued this would provide better connections between Folkestone and Canterbury as passengers would not need to change trains. The route would compete with the coastal SER line via Dover that passed by unstable chalk cliffs. On 14 November 1875, a severe storm damaged the SER line towards Dover, and in January 1877,
SECTION 10
#17327722411321320-751: A partner in his father's business. Watkin began to show an interest in railways and in 1845 he took on the secretaryship of the Trent Valley Railway , which was sold the following year to the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), for £438,000. He then became assistant to Captain Mark Huish , general manager of the LNWR. He visited USA and Canada and in 1852 he published a book about the railways in these countries. Back in Great Britain he
1430-411: A recreational space and promenade to which the public has access, including bars and restaurants, with entertainment at weekends and on some evenings. The former railway station and harbour viaduct have been reconstructed as a successful public walkway and promenade following the full closure of the branch railway in 2014. The governance of Folkestone lies in both national and local government. Insofar as
1540-535: A series of storms flooded the track, culminating in the collapse of the Martello Tunnel on 12 January. The line was shut until 12 March and did not recover full operation until 30 May. During this outage, the LCDR billed the SER for temporary use of its lines. To compete with the LCDR, the SER proposed a line from Cheriton to Canterbury in 1879. This project was rejected by Parliament the following year, but it
1650-630: A single party. Watkin was first elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth (1857–1858), and then Stockport (1864–1868). He unsuccessfully contested the East Cheshire seat in 1869. He was knighted in 1868 and became a baronet in 1880. He was also High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1874. In 1874, he was elected Liberal MP for Hythe in Kent. He increasingly moved away from the Liberal party under William Ewart Gladstone and in 1880 it
1760-522: A successful popular music venue. Without Watkin, it is likely that the district would have simply become inter-war semi-detached suburbia like the rest of west London. The tower was intended to rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The foundations of the tower were laid in 1892, the first stage was completed in September 1895 and it was opened to the public in 1896. After an initial burst of popularity,
1870-600: A variety of courses including Apprenticeships, Hairdressing and Construction. From 2007 to 2013, the University Centre Folkestone (a joint initiative of Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Greenwich ) was located in the town providing a specialism in Performing Arts. There are a number of primary schools in the town. State primaries include Folkestone Primary, Sandgate Primary, Morehall Academy and Martello Grove Academy,
1980-550: A visitor centre. The Folkestone White Horse is carved on Cheriton Hill above the Channel Tunnel terminal. The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty includes part of the town area. The nearby Brockhill Country Park , to the west, with footpaths around a lake and in a valley, links with the Royal Military Canal at Hythe . Folkestone is near to two important Battle of Britain landmarks –
2090-490: A wide variety of locations around the town. Many of the commissioned works remain permanently in the town. The 2011 Triennial 'A Million Miles From Home' was launched on 24 September 2010 and commissioned 19 international artists to develop new works for Folkestone's streets, squares, beaches and historic buildings. Folkestone has an annual Chamber Music Festival each May curated by the Sacconi Quartet . The festival
2200-566: A year-round programme of concerts, talks and workshops. Edward Watkin Sir Edward William Watkin, 1st Baronet (26 September 1819 – 13 April 1901) was a British Member of Parliament and railway entrepreneur. He was an ambitious visionary, and presided over large-scale railway engineering projects to fulfil his business aspirations, eventually rising to become chairman of nine different British railway companies . Among his more notable projects were: his expansion of
2310-549: Is a coastal town on the English Channel , in Kent , south-east England . The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal resort for most of the 19th and mid-20th centuries. This location has had a settlement since the Mesolithic era . A nunnery was founded by Eanswith , granddaughter of Æthelberht of Kent in
SECTION 20
#17327722411322420-505: Is a magnet for passing migrating birds and the Warren (woodlands adjoining Wear Bay) and the cliffs above are of particular interest during the spring and autumn periods. These are now part of East Cliff and Warren Country Park . Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds Charities are lands which were donated to the people of Folkestone for perpetual recreational use by the Earls of Radnor during
2530-572: Is based in the town's 13th century Parish Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe in the Bayle and comprises concerts of chamber and ensemble music with guest performers. The church also hosts a series of Sunday afternoon concerts under the auspices of Bayle Music presenting local, national and international performers as well as occasional concerts by visiting choirs and ensembles. Folkestone New Music promotes concerts of contemporary music and Folkestone Early Music explores music, from medieval to baroque, through
2640-562: Is represented by Dylan Jeffrey (Conservative). Folkestone East is represented by Jackie Meade (Labour). The second tier of local government is the non-metropolitan district . Folkestone forms a part of Folkestone and Hythe district, which was first established by the Local Government Act 1972 as Shepway. Folkestone elects 10 of Folkestone and Hythe District Council's 30 Councillors. The third and lowest tier
2750-488: Is the biggest entertainment and function venue in Folkestone with a large choice of concerts, comedy and theatre. An earlier venue the Pleasure Gardens Theatre opened in 1886, later converting into a cinema before closing in 1964. The first Folkestone Triennial art event took place between June and September 2008 with artists such as Christian Boltanski and Tracey Emin making site specific work for
2860-598: The Annual General Meeting and Mayor-making ceremony to appoint both a Town Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from their number for the coming year. Folkestone is located where the southern edge of the North Downs escarpment meets the sea. In contrast to the white cliffs at Dover further to the east, the cliffs at Folkestone are composed of greensand belonging to the Folkestone Formation and gault clay . A small stream, Pent Brook, cuts through
2970-820: The Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne and the Kent Battle of Britain Museum . The Old High Street is an ancient route connecting the Bayle with the Harbour, and is now at the heart of Folkestone's Creative Quarter. The narrow, cobbled slope was one of Charles Dickens' favourite streets. Together with Rendezvous Street, this part of Folkestone is now thriving, with independent businesses and restaurants surrounded by colourful restored buildings. Folkestone developed because of its transport links. With France visible across
3080-565: The Elham Valley that connects Canterbury to Folkestone meant that unlike much of Kent, no railway line was proposed to run through it during the Railway Mania of this time. The valley was poorly connected to the nearest market towns , Ashford and Canterbury, with the main road being little more than a dirt track. Landowners and residents saw that they were isolated in the absence of a railway, and proposed an independent scheme for
3190-701: The Grand Trunk Railway of eastern Canada, he promoted the Intercolonial Railway , which eventually connected Halifax with the GTR system in Quebec . His grand vision was a transcontinental railway lying largely within Canada, but owing to the sparse population west of Lake Superior , the scheme could not be profitable in the absence of government financial backing. Opposition to the idea within
3300-862: The Great Eastern Railway . In fact it was Watkin who recommended Robert Cecil , who is credited with leading the GER out of its financial crisis. Watkin resigned as a director of the GER in August 1872. By 1881 he was a director of nine railways and trustee of a tenth. These included the Cheshire Lines Committee , the East London , the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire, the Manchester, South Junction & Altrincham ,
3410-563: The Kent Battle of Britain Museum and the Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne . Folkestone has been home to many galleries over the years. The long-established Metropole Galleries, located in the one-time Metropole Hotel on the Leas, staged year round exhibitions until it closed in 2008. Its place has been largely taken by the Creative Foundation. The Foundation has opened a medium scale theatre, conference and music venue in
Elham Valley Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue
3520-601: The M25 . The A20 is motorway-standard to Dover and runs locally towards Ashford and London, following the M20 but runs locally via Sellindge , Ashford, Lenham , Maidstone, Aylesford , Wrotham and Swanley where the A20, M20 and M25 meet and the A20 continues through Sidcup and Lewisham to Central London . Folkestone marks the eastern end of the A259 although this is no longer part of
3630-886: The Metropolitan , the Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bridge , the Sheffield & Midland Joint , the South Eastern , the Wigan Junction and the New York, Lake Erie and Western railways. He was instrumental in the creation of the MS&;LR's 'London Extension', Sheffield to Marylebone, the Great Central Main Line , opened in 1899. For Watkin, opening an independent route to London was crucial for
3740-601: The Metropolitan Railway , part of today's London Underground ; the construction of the Great Central Main Line , a purpose-built high-speed railway line; the creation of a pleasure garden with a partially constructed iron tower at Wembley ; and a failed attempt to dig a Channel Tunnel under the English Channel to connect his railway empire to the French rail network . Watkin was born in Salford , Lancashire,
3850-555: The Prince and Princess of Wales , Liberal Party Leader William Gladstone and the Archbishop of Canterbury to submarine champagne receptions in the tunnel. In spite of his attempts at winning support, his tunnel project was blocked by parliament, then cancelled in the interests of national security. The original entrance to Watkin's tunnel works remains in the cliff face but is now closed for safety reasons. Watkin's last project
3960-561: The South Eastern Main Line . Venice-Simplon Orient Express passengers now change at Folkestone West for road coaches and the onward journey through the Channel Tunnel . High Speed 1 (HS1) is a high speed railway built to French 'LGV' (Ligne à Grande Vitesse) standards, connecting the Channel Tunnel to London. Since December 2009, high speed commuter services from Dover have called at Folkestone and then, using
4070-568: The Strait of Dover , the town became an important transit point for those travelling from the UK to the Continent. Plans to restore ferry traffic to Boulogne , following termination in 2001, were discussed in 2005, but they did not come to fruition. The Channel Tunnel northern entrance is located at Cheriton. The railway reached Folkestone on 28 June 1843 and a temporary railway station was built while
4180-586: The "up" station platform has survived. There is a museum at Peene, near the Channel Tunnel terminal, which contains many artifacts of railway history including a signal box, and a working model railway of the line as operated by the SER. It is housed in an early 18th-century barn that was previously sited on what is now the Channel Tunnel terminal. Citations Sources 51°05′57.6″N 1°07′02.6″E / 51.099333°N 1.117389°E / 51.099333; 1.117389 Folkestone Folkestone ( / ˈ f ə ʊ k s t ən / FOHK -stən )
4290-410: The 1 in 90 climb up to Etchinghill was challenging in the summer months when they conveyed a trailer car. They were not considered successful and were withdrawn in 1916. During World War I, the line was singled. Double track was reinstated shortly after the war ended. On 19 December 1915, a landslip at Folkestone Warren Halt resulted in the South Eastern Main Line being closed. The Elham Valley Railway
4400-472: The 1970s). There are two selective state secondary schools – Folkestone School for Girls (formed by the merger of Folkestone Technical High School for Girls and Folkestone Grammar School for Girls in the 1980s) and the Harvey Grammar School for boys; the latter was founded in 1674. These two schools have a common sixth form timetable. East Kent College have a Folkestone campus providing
4510-501: The 19th century is true of English place names generally). Folkestone is often misspelled with variants including Folkston, Folkstone & Folkestone. The area of Folkestone has been occupied since at least the Mesolithic era. In 2010, worked flints were discovered below the remains of the Folkestone Roman Villa . The East Cliff area was excavated in 1924 and most recently from 2010 to 2011, producing artifacts from
Elham Valley Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue
4620-691: The 19th century. The lands are administered by Shepway District Council, with the Cabinet members forming the Board of Trustees . Previously, the Charter Trustees were also Trustees of the Charities, but that arrangement lapsed upon the parishing of the Folkestone and Sandgate area. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the transfer of the lands to Folkestone Town Council and Sandgate Parish Council. There are two major long distance footpaths through
4730-488: The 7th century, who is still commemorated as part of the town's culture. During the 13th century, it developed into a seaport , and the harbor developed during the early 19th century to defend against a French invasion. Folkestone expanded further west after the arrival of the railway in 1843 as an elegant coastal resort, thanks to the investment of the Earl of Radnor under the urban plan of Decimus Burton. In its heyday – during
4840-402: The 97-yard (89 m) Etchinghill Tunnel before any ground had been cut for the main track. The entire line was undulating, including a stiff climb at 1 in 90 for 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (4.0 km) from Cheriton Junction. It approached Bridge by a short climb at 1 in 86 from the south; running south from Harbledown Junction there was a mile-long climb at 1 in 70 followed by a mile and
4950-624: The Channel Tunnel, is in the Folkestone suburb of Cheriton . The Leas Lift , a Victorian water lift that opened in 1885, connects the Leas with the beach. There were two other lifts on the Leas in Folkestone history: the Metropole Lift (closed in 1940) and the Sandgate Hill Lift, which closed in 1918. The town is located at the eastern end of the M20 which provides fast access to Ashford , Maidstone , London and also to
5060-431: The Edwardian era – Folkestone was considered the most fashionable resort of the time, visited by royalties – amongst them Queen Victoria and Edward VII and other members of the English aristocracy. The town's architecture, especially in the West End part, is a testimony of this period, with many impressive buildings, townhouses, villas, private squares, and large hotels built to accommodate the gentry. After two world wars and
5170-404: The Elham Valley line. The railway route followed a meandering course, enabling the guns to be trained by moving them along the line to a suitable location. The wooded landscape also gave cover. The heaviest gun was an 18-inch (460 mm) railway howitzer nicknamed the "Boche Buster" . It was stationed at Bourne Park and could be stood down in the tunnel, avoiding enemy attack. The gun could fire
5280-432: The Liberal Unionists to back down and won the seat in the 1895 United Kingdom general election . Watkin lived at Rose Hill , a large house in Northenden , Manchester . The family home was purchased by his father in 1832 and Edward inherited it upon his father's death in 1861. Watkin married Mary Briggs Mellor in 1845, with whom he had two children. Their son, Alfred Mellor Watkin , became locomotive superintendent of
5390-496: The London, Chatham and Dover Railway formed a working union known as the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SE&CR) in 1899. In 1905 eight steam-powered railmotors were built for the SE&CR; these were self-contained coaches with a small steam engine, intended to enable low-cost passenger operation on lightly used branch lines. Two were allocated to Dover in 1911, when they operated between Folkestone Junction and Elham. The small power unit struggled to cope with gradients, and
5500-426: The Mesolithic period through to the Roman era . On the East Cliff, an extensive Iron Age oppidum existed, which produced quern-stones on an almost industrial scale. Those quern-stones, which were used for grinding cereals into flour, were traded for continental exports such as pottery and wine. A modest Roman-style villa was constructed over the Iron Age settlement sometime during the 1st century AD, followed by
5610-469: The North; he was also on the board of the Chemin de Fer du Nord , a French railway company based in Calais . Watkin's ambitious plan was to develop a railway route which could carry passenger trains directly from Liverpool and Manchester to Paris, crossing from Britain to France via a tunnel under the English Channel. The Great Central Railway's main line to London was also built to a comparatively generous structure gauge , but contrary to popular belief it
SECTION 50
#17327722411325720-478: The SER agreed to take over the Elham Valley Railway, and construct it as a double-track line to standard gauge like the rest of its network. The SER scheme was authorised on 28 July 1884 by the South Eastern Railway (Various Powers) Act 1884. It was nominally independent, with power adopted by the SER on completion. Construction formally started on 28 August 1884 with the "cutting of the first sod" by Sir George Russell at Peene near Folkestone. Work had started on
5830-660: The South Coast Trunk Road east of Brenzett, although it remains a primary route. The road gives access to the Romney Marsh , Hastings , Eastbourne and beyond. To the north, roads connect Folkestone to Canterbury and the nearby villages of Elham and Lyminge . Stagecoach in East Kent operates local buses from the town. It is served by The Link services to Canterbury , The Wave service to Dover , Romney Marsh and Hastings . Other bus routes run to Hythe , Ashford and Maidstone. National Express runs coaches to Ashford, Dover, Hythe, Maidstone and London. Schools and colleges in Folkestone include Folkestone Academy (formed by
5940-422: The South Eastern Main Line to Ashford International , the services join HS1 for the journey to Ebbsfleet , Stratford International and London St Pancras . The journey time to London via this route has been reduced to under 1 hour; some trains from Folkestone West take as little as 52 minutes to reach the capital by High Speed Train. The Eurotunnel Shuttle terminal, for car transport to Calais by train using
6050-425: The South Eastern Railway in 1876 and Member of Parliament for the Great Grimsby constituency in 1877. A daughter, Harriette Sayer Watkin, was born in 1850. Mary Watkin died on 8 March 1888. After four years a widower, Watkin married Ann Ingram, widow of Herbert Ingram , on 6 April 1892. Edward Watkin died on 13 April 1901 and was buried in the family grave in the churchyard of St Wilfrid's, Northenden , where
6160-419: The War Department operated the Dean Goods locomotives on the line. Both tunnels survive, as does some of the trackbed albeit largely covered by vegetation. Three stations still exist, Lyminge as a public library and those at Bishopsbourne and Bridge as private residences. Between Canterbury West and South only a short section of embankment survives curving away from the junction at Harbledown. Little remains of
6270-428: The West Cliff and The Bayle to the West, and the East Cliff on the other side of the stream. The Pent Stream now runs through a culvert from the fire station, at the junction of Radnor Park Road, Park Farm and Pavilion Road, until it reaches the inner harbour. Remains of a quay, dating to the 17th century, were discovered under what is now a public car park, between the Old High Street and the railway viaduct, adjacent to
6380-411: The boom of the overseas holiday package, the town quickly declined. The harbour's trade diminished following the opening of the nearby Channel Tunnel and the ending of ferry services from Folkestone, but it still remains in active use. Although Kent was the first part of the British mainland to be conquered and settled by the invading Angles, Saxons and Jutes from the middle of the 5th century AD, after
6490-410: The chairmanship of the Metropolitan in 1894 after suffering a stroke, so the tower's enthusiastic champion was gone. In June 1897 the tower was illuminated for Queen Victoria's 60th Jubilee , but it was never extended beyond the first stage. In 1902 the Tower, now known as ‘Watkin's Folly’, was declared unsafe (though this was because of concerns about the safety of the lifts, rather than directly about
6600-402: The cliffs at this point, and provided the original haven for fishermen and cross-channel boats. The cliffs are constantly under attack from the sea, and the original headlands, which once protected the port, long ago ceased to do so. Artificial protection, in the form of breakwaters and piers, have been necessary since the 17th century. The town is now built on both sides of the original valley:
6710-420: The company led to Watkin's ouster. The GTR would later miss various opportunities to build a viable Canadian transcontinental railway . Abroad, he helped to build the Athens–Piraeus Electric Railways , advised on the Indian Railways and organised transport in the Belgian Congo . Watkin was involved with other railway companies. In 1866 he became a director of the Great Western Railway and in January 1868
SECTION 60
#17327722411326820-523: The construction of the line to Dover continued. This started with the Foord viaduct, designed by Sir William Cubitt , completed in 1844. Folkestone Junction railway station was then opened and construction through the cliffs between Dover and Folkestone commenced. Once the line was opened to Dover , the town began to prosper (which meant growth westwards), further stations were opened at Folkestone West (originally named Shorncliffe Camp ) in 1863, and Folkestone Central in 1884. Folkestone Harbour station
6930-452: The current harbour. Included in the town is Cheriton , where the Channel Tunnel 's northern exit is located; Newington ; and Peene . In August 1996 a one-in-600-years storm left homes and businesses in Black Bull Road, in the Foord Valley, under two metres of water. Heavy rainfall combined with inadequacies in the Pent Stream and local drainage caused the flooding. A crowd of 2,332 saw Folkestone Invicta play hosts to West Ham United in
7040-439: The departure of the Romans, the name Folcanstan did not appear until the late 7th century. There is general agreement that this means Folca's stone , the stone possibly marking the meeting place of the local hundred . It was not until the mid 19th century that the spelling of "Folkestone" was fixed as such, with the Earl of Radnor requesting that the town's name be standardized (although this tendency towards standardisation in
7150-495: The fore when he resigned his Hythe seat in 1895. The Liberal Unionists and the Conservatives were in alliance and each claimed incumbency and the right to nominate his replacement. Watkin for his part insisted that he was a Liberal, albeit one who had moved away from the official party. The Conservative Aretas Akers-Douglas commented that no one knew what his politics were, except that he had voted for anyone or anything to get support for his Channel Tunnel. The Conservatives forced
7260-415: The heart of the Creative Quarter named Quarterhouse. It offers a year-round programme of live music, comedy, film, talks, theatre and children's entertainment. George's House Gallery and Googie's Art Cafe hold frequent exhibitions by local artists and the Folkestone Art Society, established in 1928, holds three annual art exhibitions and publishes an annual art review of work by local artists. Leas Cliff Hall
7370-439: The high altar, found a battered lead casket immured in a niche in the north wall of the chancel. Examination by archaeologists at the time, and again in 1981, confirmed that the casket was of Anglo-Saxon origin and the few bone fragments were those of a woman in her early thirties. The relics are still housed in the church, close to where they were discovered, flanked by a pair of small brass candlesticks. St Eanswythe also appears on
7480-402: The infrastructure including the two tunnels have survived. The history of the line is commemorated in a local museum. The South Eastern Railway opened the main line to Ashford in 1842. A connection to Folkestone opened the following year and to Canterbury in 1846. At the same time, the East Kent Railway was constructing a line from Canterbury to Dover. However, the imposing geography of
7590-427: The line between Harbledown Junction and Lyminge as an economy measure. This was commissioned on 25 October 1931. The signal box at Lyminge was closed on 1 May 1937 as a cost-cutting measure, a ground frame being provided in the station building. The Kent coast area was considered to be vulnerable in the event of an anticipated attack by enemy forces during World War II. On 13 August 1940, a Dornier Do 17 crashed into
7700-443: The line just north of Barham station. The authorities took complete charge of the line for defence purposes and on 25 October, the passenger service between Lyminge and Canterbury was suspended. This was so that loop sidings could be installed at Canterbury South, Barham and Elham. Sidings were also added north of Lyminge and the line through Bourne Park tunnel was relaid as a passing loop. At Lyminge, two twelve-inch guns were mounted on
7810-555: The line was derequisitioned by the War Department, and normal goods operation was resumed on 19 February 1945. However, the railway was not in a suitable state to carry passengers; the signalling system needed to be restored and surplus sidings needed to be renewed. Station buildings had several broken glass planes and damaged locks, and the floor at Elham station had been saturated with oil, rendering it unusable. The War Department ground frames and points at Bishopbourne were decommissioned on 2 May 1946. The Folkestone to Lyminge section of
7920-421: The line was reinstated as a shuttle passenger service on 7 October 1946. By then, bus routes were providing an alternative to passengers who couldn't use the line while it was under military control, and it became increasingly obvious that the passenger train service was not competitive. On 16 June 1947 the passenger service was withdrawn, and on 1 October 1947 the line closed completely to revenue traffic. Track
8030-601: The long-term survival and development of the MS&LR, but it was also one part of a grander scheme: a line from Manchester to Paris. His chairmanships of the South Eastern Railway , the Metropolitan Railway, in addition to the MS&LR meant that he controlled railways from England's south coast ports, through London and (with the London Extension) through the Midlands to the industrial cities of
8140-590: The merger of Hillside School for Boys and Holywell School for Girls in the early 1970s, and formerly known as Wyndgate Secondary School in the 1970s, the Channel High School in the 1980s, and the Channel School in the 1990s); and Turner Free School (opened in 2018 on the site of Pent Valley Technology College, formerly Pent Valley Secondary Modern, formed by the merger of Harcourt Secondary School for Girls and Morehall Secondary School for Boys in
8250-442: The mid-1800s by Decimus Burton who also worked on Regent's Park , London and St Leonards-on-Sea . The promenade along the sea includes many crescents, hotels, private parks and alleys. A Martello Tower (No 3) stands on the cliff above Copt Point. Built in 1806 as a defence against Napoleon , it has also been a Coast Guard lookout, a family home, a golf clubhouse and a Second World War Naval mine control post. It now houses
8360-610: The national government is concerned, Folkestone is part of the constituency of Folkestone and Hythe , which is currently (2024) represented by Tony Vaughan (Labour). Before Brexit in 2020, Folkestone was part of the South East England constituency in the European Parliament . The local government consists of three tiers. In the first tier, Kent County Council , Folkestone is divided into two divisions each returning one County Councillor . Folkestone West
8470-489: The pleasure gardens. Watkin's vision of Wembley Park as a day-out destination for Londoners had far-reaching consequences, shaping the history and use of the area to the present day. Without Watkin's pleasure gardens and station it is unlikely that the British Empire Exhibition would have been held at Wembley, which in turn would have prevented Wembley becoming either synonymous with English football or
8580-646: The railway, but moved to Elham after an attack on 7 November. On 2 December, the SR suspended the passenger service north of Lyminge and the line was handed over to the Railway Operating Department, Royal Engineers . The remainder of the line continued to run, though Cheriton Halt was closed on 1 February 1941. Goods were transported by the War Department , but retained SR staff at all stations. Three heavy rail-mounted guns were deployed on
8690-661: The rest of Cobden's life. From 1839 to 1840 Watkin was one of the directors of the Manchester Athenaeum . In 1843 he wrote a pamphlet entitled "A Plea for Public Parks" and was involved in a committee which successfully sought the provision of parks in Manchester and Salford. He also took a prominent role in the Saturday Half-holiday Movement. In 1845, Watkin co-founded the Manchester Examiner , by which time he had become
8800-529: The results were sighted and marked by observation posts on the cliffs at Dover. In the Kingston and Barham area villagers were warned to open doors and windows, but the blasts were so severe that in many cases houses were damaged. The gun was fired on only two other occasions, shortly after the first; one at the World's Wonder bridge between Barham and Elham and the other at Lickpot bridge, Elham. On 31 October 1941,
8910-513: The rival London, Chatham and Dover Railway for railway traffic. The scheme was complicated by the imposing geography of the Elham Valley and the construction of two significant tunnels. The southern section from Cheriton to Barham opened in 1887, with the northern section to Canterbury opening two years later. The Elham Valley Railway was never commercially successful as it passed through predominantly rural areas. During World War II it
9020-401: The route between Barham and Lyminge. After closure, Elham station was regularly occupied by squatters . It suffered increasing vandalism and was demolished in 1964. The section between Peene and Cheriton Junction has been built over by the Channel Tunnel terminal building. Canterbury South and Barham stations have been lost to housing developments. At Elham, a small section of brickwork from
9130-406: The shipping trade but have since diversified into other fields. Saga plc has its headquarters in Folkestone. Along with other Kent seaside towns, there has been a resurgence in domestic tourism linked to a growing arts scene. The major landmark in Folkestone, apart from the harbour, is The Leas, the cliffs above the beach. Located in the west part of the town, it is a unique promenade designed in
9240-530: The son of wealthy cotton merchant Absalom Watkin ,. After a private education, Watkin worked in his father's mill business. Watkin's father was closely involved in the Anti-Corn Law League , and Edward soon joined him, rising to become a key League organiser in Manchester. Through this work, Watkin gained the friendship of the Radical leader Richard Cobden , with whom he remained in contact for
9350-661: The stations, public sidings were provided at Wingmore , 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Barham, and Ottinge , just over 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Elham. The SER absorbed the Elham Valley Light Railway on 1 July 1891. The passenger timetable had settled down by 1890, when every up train for the Elham valley started from Dover, stopping at every station to Canterbury. Alternate trains continued to Ramsgate and Margate . There were seven weekday trains and five Sunday trains each way. The South Eastern Railway and
9460-429: The subsidence) and closed to the public. In 1904 it was decided to demolish the structure, a process that ended with the foundations being destroyed by explosives in 1907, leaving four large holes in the ground. The Empire Stadium (later known as Wembley Stadium) was built on the site in 1923. Throughout his life, Watkin was a strong supporter of Manchester Liberalism . This did not equate to consistent support for
9570-522: The tower failed to draw large crowds. Of the 100,000 visitors to the Park in 1896 rather less than a fifth paid to go up the Tower. Furthermore, the marshy site proved unsuitable for such a structure. Whether the original design (which was to have had eight legs) would have distributed the weight more evenly cannot be known, but by 1896 the four-legged tower was clearly tilting. In addition, Watkin had retired from
9680-629: The town's seal, along with William Harvey , the Folkestone-born 17th-century physician who discovered the blood circulation. A Norman knight held a Barony of Folkestone, which led to its entry as a part of the Cinque Ports in the thirteenth century and, with that, the privilege of being a wealthy trading port. At the start of the Tudor period , it had become a town in its own right. Wars with France meant that defenses had to be built, and
9790-527: The town. The North Downs Way , starting its course in Surrey , reaches the coast at Folkestone and continues through Capel-le-Ferne , and to its end at Dover , some 8 mi (13 km) away. The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend , Kent and traces the Kent coast as it was in Roman times , via Folkestone, as far as Hastings , East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. Nearby places of interest include
9900-539: The two principal cross-channel observation points, the other being Fairlight Down in Sussex. Until the 19th century, Folkestone remained a small fishing community with a seafront continually battered by storms and encroaching shingles, making it hard to land boats. In 1807, an act of Parliament , the Folkestone Pier and Harbour Act 1807 ( 47 Geo. 3 Sess. 2 . c. ii), was passed to build a pier and harbour, which
10010-406: The walls, founded the monastery of St Peter & St Paul, now known as St Augustine's . Æthelberht was succeeded as Anglo-Saxon king of Kent by his son Eadbald , whose daughter Eanswythe refused all offers of marriage. In 630, Eanswythe founded a nunnery on the site of her father's castle near Folkestone by the present parish church of St Mary & St Eanswythe . Eanswythe died around 640 and
10120-589: Was appointed secretary of the Worcester and Hereford Railway . In January 1854 he became the general manager of the Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR), a position held until 1861. In 1863 he was persuaded to return as a director of the company and shortly afterward became chairman, holding the position from 1864 to 1894. He was knighted in 1868 and made a baronet in 1880. Manager from 1858, then president 1862–69, of
10230-464: Was appropriated by the War Department who used it for defence, including a large rail-mounted gun stationed on the line. After the conflict, the line passed back into civilian use, but the route now had competing bus traffic. A shuttle service from Folkestone to Lyminge was reinstated in 1946, but closed the following year; the remainder of the line never re-opened. Some of the railway has been demolished, including Elham railway station , but parts of
10340-507: Was authorised by Parliament (as the Elham Valley Railway) on 6 August 1866, but serious financial difficulties plagued the scheme due to the national financial crisis, and the project was cancelled. It was abandoned by a Board of Trade Order on 30 August 1873 because of to "failure to raise sufficient capital". The East Kent Railway had since been renamed as the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR), and developed ideas for
10450-674: Was bought by the South Eastern Railway (SER), which was then building the London to Dover railway line. George Turnbull was responsible in 1844 for building the Horn pier. Dredging the harbour, and the construction of a rail route down to it, began almost immediately. The town soon became the SER's principal packet station for the Continental traffic to Boulogne . The last ferry ran in 2001. The Harbour Arm, formerly used solely for port activities, has been extensively restored and developed as
10560-478: Was built by Thomas Telford in 1809. By 1820 a harbour area of 14 acres (5.7 hectares) had been enclosed. Folkestone's trade and population grew slightly, but development was still hampered by sand and silt from the Pent Stream. The Folkestone Harbour Company invested heavily in removing the silt but with little success. 1842, the company went bankrupt, and the government put the derelict harbour up for sale. It
10670-525: Was claimed that he had taken the Conservative whip . He never stood for election as a Conservative and continued to sit with the Liberals. Between 1880 and 1886, he was regarded variously as a Liberal, a Conservative and an independent . In 1886, he voted against Gladstone's Irish Home Rule bill and was thereafter commonly described as a Liberal Unionist . The confusion over his status came to
10780-470: Was established as the civil parish : in Folkestone's case, because it held a Town Charter , and when the then Folkestone Borough Council was abolished, councillors elected to represent Folkestone's wards were designated as the Town's Charter Trustees , responsible for electing a Town Mayor. This role has since passed to Folkestone Town Council which is based at Folkestone Town Hall . Folkestone Town Council
10890-420: Was established in 2004, comprising the area of the former Borough of Folkestone less Folkestone Sandgate ward, which was separately parished. Folkestone Town Council comprises eight wards: Cheriton; Morehall; Park; Harvey West; Harvey Central; Harbour; East; and Foord. Each ward returns two or three members, for a total of 18 councillors elected to four-year terms. Each year, Folkestone Town Councillors attend
11000-450: Was no formal ceremony but local villagers came out to celebrate the first service from Shorncliffe (now Folkestone West ) at 8:05 am. Continuing north, landowner Matthew Bell objected about the line passing through his land at Bourne Park , and following a dispute the company agreed to a 329-yard (301 m) cut-and-cover tunnel. A station was built at Bishopsbourne because the land could be provided by Bell's family for free. Watkin
11110-556: Was not built to a 'continental' gauge, not least because there were no agreed dimensions for such a gauge until the Berne Gauge Convention was signed in 1912. Healy mentions two bridges which were built to "unusual dimensions ... to provide for possible widenings in case the Channel Tunnel project ever took off ..." Watkin started his tunnel works with the South Eastern Railway in 1880–81. Digging began at Shakespeare Cliff between Folkestone and Dover and reached
11220-599: Was quickly made a saint. Her remains were moved into the chancel of the current church on 12 September 1138, which has since been commemorated as the Feast of St Eanswythe. They became the focus of prayer and pilgrimage, so Eanswythe was quickly adopted as the town's patron. The religious community grew and developed into a monastery until it was dissolved by Henry VIII , and St Eanswythe's remains disappeared. They were rediscovered in June 1885 when workmen, carrying out alterations to
11330-622: Was re-opened in June 1920 until World War II , when it was abandoned for five years. The Railways Act 1921 mandated that most railway companies in Great Britain would be "grouped" into one of four new companies. Consequently, the SE&;CR became part of the Southern Railway (SR) at the beginning of 1923. By this time, revenue on the line had dropped because of competition from road transport. The line had only ever conveyed local, rural traffic, and in 1931 arrangements were made to single
11440-533: Was reintroduced in a modified form as the Elham Valley Light Railway Company, which received Royal Assent on 18 July 1881. Despite an authorised capital of £150,000 (£19,113,000 as of 2023), no construction took place. The rival SER and LCDR schemes were advocated locally, with posters displayed around Folkestone supporting both, while Forbes and the SER's Edward Watkin accused each other of sabotage. In order to strengthen their case,
11550-710: Was still in situ at Elham and Lyminge in 1952, and at Harbledown Junction in 1953. The road bridge across Wincheap (the A28 ) south of Canterbury was removed in March 1955. The bridge across the River Stour was demolished on 26 April. The remaining steel bridges across the line were removed between 1958 and 1965. The line used several types of motive power, including Cudworth's 118 Class , Stirling's O and Q Class , Maunsell's N Class and Wainwright's C and H Class locomotives, and railmotors . During World War II,
11660-588: Was still keen to link the railway with the LCDR and proposed a junction where the two lines cross near Harbledown. It was rejected by the LCDR. The northern section was complete by 1889 and opened on 1 July following a satisfactory inspection by Hutchinson. Harbledown Junction signal box had 15 levers. The construction of the 16 + 1 ⁄ 4 -mile (26.2 km) line had cost £361,776 (£50,508,000 as of 2023), with land and associated charges amounting to £68,148 (£9,514,000 as of 2023). The £12,000 per mile estimated in 1866 had risen to £27,000 per mile. In addition to
11770-585: Was the construction of a large iron tower, called Watkin's Tower , in Wembley Park , north-west London. The 1,200-foot (370 m) tower was to be the centrepiece of a large public amusement park which he opened in May 1894 to attract London passengers onto his Metropolitan Railway. The park was served by Wembley Park station , which officially opened in the same month, though it had in fact been open on Saturdays since October 1893 to cater for football matches in
11880-520: Was the largest independently-owned soft drinks manufacturer in Britain, based in Park Farm, but closed down in 2013. During the 1980s and 1990s the construction of the Channel Tunnel provided employment, as well as bringing many people to the area, and on completion the running of services still provides work for many. Several insurance firms are based in Folkestone. Some of them used to be involved in
11990-498: Was then the only way to travel between Folkestone and Dover by rail. When the Elham Valley Railway was being built, local people had requested a station at Cheriton, but the SER refused. On 1 May 1908 a halt at Cheriton was opened to the public. It was on the main line but used by the valley trains and staff trains only, except on rare occasions. It was closed seven years later for the duration of World War I , and
12100-542: Was used to transfer passengers from specific trains; the line from the junction was very steep and needed much additional locomotive help. A local group, the Remembrance Line Association, is actively seeking to retain the harbour branch as a tourist/heritage railway operation, though as at 2019 the future was uncertain. Today the domestic services from Folkestone use the Central and West stations on
#131868