Folkestone Memories

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Folkestone Memories

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Total Entries: 235 Entries Viewed Per Page: 20

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95)	Linda Allen
Location: East Sussex

Wednesday, 1 March 2017 04:19

loved your website. brought back so many happy memories. My dad, Henry Herbert Thomas Allen, was born and raised in Folkestone and was head boy at Sidney Street School (lived next door). His best friend was Jesse Sellen, the butcher, and we would visit him when we came to Folkestone to stay with my aunt in Ingoldsby Road each year. I was actually searching for a photo or reference to the Pavilion laundry where my nan worked when I discovered your wonderful site.

Paul Seward Wednesday, 1 March 2017 11:40
Hi Linda

The demolition of the old Pavilion Laundry, in later years called the Reliance, reminds us of the time when the Royal Pavilion Hotel was owned by the South Eastern Railway. The laundry was exclusively devoted to the washing from the hotel, and this gave employment considerable number of hands. Hereabouts, too, were the Pavilion Gardens where vegetables and flowers were also grown for the hotel use. The Pavilion piggeries models of cleanliness were also included in this area. These members of the porcine breed served double purpose in the fact that they gobbled the hotel 'wash'(sic) together with an added supply of barley meal, with the result the Pavilion Hotel could boast that the pork supplied its customers was fed and bred its own farm. The land on which the laundry and the gardens stood at one time to the South Eastern Railway. This was, in later years, acquired by a syndicate who erected on part of the site Watkin, Russell and Bonsor roads, after three successive chairmen, viz., the late Sir Edward Watkin, Sir George Russell, and Mr. Cosmo Bonsor. The old Pent stream meandered, too, through here. There was plenitude of foliage, a pretty little cottage and a rustic bridge filled in the picture. This all belongs to the past, but the names have mentioned, together with Pavilion Road, perpetuate the connection with the South Eastern Railway and the hotel.

Christine - site owner Friday, 6 October 2017 12:07
Hi Paul

Do you know if there are any drawings or paintings in existence of the Pavilion Gardens? I have heard of them before, but never seen them.

94)	Penny Ansell
Location: Yorkshire

Wednesday, 22 February 2017 09:30

Does any one remember going to TOFTS for dancing and listening to bands in the 60's We used to get really good ones there Like Geno Washington, Georgie Fame etc.,

Ruth Clampitt Tuesday, 28 February 2017 09:10
Yes every Friday and Sunday, Saturdays usually went to the Leas Cliff Hall. Saw Rufus Thomas at Gifts, great memories.

JAYNE L WATSON Saturday, 11 March 2017 14:48
I remember Tofts well, Fridays and Sundays, sure I saw T Rex there once. Saturdays the Leas, Amen Corner!!

Jean Friday, 6 October 2017 08:32
My husband Keith was in the resident band, The Playboys. Remember the gigs you mention very well. Doris Toft would have had a fit if she had known we were drinking vodka in the dressing room.

Susan Saturday, 27 January 2018 07:15
Yes I was a regular 'up' Tofts. But my last bus home was 10.30 so I think I missed the best bits. How innocent it all was, no alcohol, maybe a purple heart or two, but I never saw them.

93)	Roger Joyce

Friday, 27 January 2017 03:40

does anyone have any pictures of 8-10 Trinity Crescent - the old Meyrick court Hotel?

Paul Seward Friday, 27 January 2017 16:40
Hoi Roger
I believe Danny Hallett is still in town - he should be able to help you.

Christine - Site owner Saturday, 8 August 2020 12:37
Hi Roger, I have now found an artist's impression of the Meyrick Court Hotel, and have placed it on Page 2 of the Hotels section.

92)	Evan Owen
Location: Welsh Wales

Monday, 9 January 2017 11:12

I saw the photos of Queen Alexandra House in Earls Avenue, Folkestone.I was wondering if anyone has any old pics of 24-26 Earls Avenue.

Paul Seward Tuesday, 17 January 2017 10:12
A much better angle on this one
[www.britainfromabove.org.uk]
Note how every available open space has a tennis court or two!

91)	Tony Carr

Friday, 23 December 2016 07:59

I think the car being hoisted onto or off a boat in the harbour was crossing on the Autocarrier. As far as I remember it just carried cars and presumably their drivers - it was rather small compared with the ferries but there probably wasn't much motor traffic. My father was CID officer on the harbour 1946-51. One day when I was perhaps 8 yrs old my father and I were on the Canterbury and he was chatting to the captain I noticed we were moving and that was my first trip to Boulogne. I remember the harbour there still in ruins.

Paul Seward Friday, 23 December 2016 11:31
I'm sure you're right, Tony. One day the rope broke, depositing the vehicle unceremoniously onto the quayside. The Monte Carlo Rally cars used to call into Autopilots for a quick service before going over.

Paul Seward Thursday, 12 January 2017 15:34
Best available is at
[www.britainfromabove.org.uk]
zoom in to see the properties in 1931.

90)	Michael Ford
Location: Sydney , Australia

Sunday, 18 December 2016 22:33

Our family owned and operated the Devonshire Hotel from 1958 to 1962, Leslie & Marjorie Ford my parents arrived from Australia late 1957. Our neighbours were the Rockett family next door including their labrador dog who I used to play with.I have fond memories of the High St.and the coffee bars including Mick who owned El Toredo's, Acropolis (Archie), Morellis, That cinema at the top of the High St(we used to sneak in for free), camping at the Warren, dancing at Toffs Jazz Club, I also used to work on the cross channel ferries across the road during the school holidays, which was fun. I could go on! but it would take too long. Its a Great resource you have created and I will drop in again.

barry sands Friday, 5 April 2019 11:50
Mick, remember those days well, great times,fond memories, Now 76, same wife Sue, 2 children, 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, living back near Folkestone. regards Barry Sands your old mate.

89)	Ian Tyler
Location: Hythe

Tuesday, 6 December 2016 15:04

Folkestone rock pool
I knew the rock pool well as I swam there from 1957 until 1964 Ish with Folkestone swimming club. Sam Rockett trained me to swim the channel but Life moved on and never achieved my goal. I knew Janet Rockett more than her brother as we did life saving training in winter on the wooden floor. I have a photo of Folkestone swimming club in the rock pool from the newspaper about late 50's

John C Tuesday, 11 April 2023 12:02
Did you do a bit of water skiing as well Ian?

88)	Ian Tyler
Location: Hythe

Tuesday, 6 December 2016 15:03

Penny Ansell Wednesday, 22 February 2017 09:14
Hi Ian, I have just seen your reply to my question about the rock pool. I would love to see the photo that you have if possible. You can email me at penansell@gmail.com

87)	Steven West
Location: Plymouth, Devon, UK

Tuesday, 6 December 2016 06:42

I was born 200 yards from the Clifftop Cafe in Capel, so some fond memories of running up and down the Warren as a kid when visiting grandparents. My father used to work at the cafe when it was owned by a man called Vic and tells of going up and down the warren daily, selling ice creams on the beach. Used to be a very busy place. There are two cave like areas in the cliffs, off the paths, that were gun placements in WW2 and these are not too far below the cafe, but no doubt now overgrown. Its been years since I have walked down there, but am there this Christmas so may go down and have a look.....

86)	Steven West
Location: Plymouth, Devon, UK

Tuesday, 6 December 2016 06:42

85)	Peter White
Location: Hythe

Wednesday, 30 November 2016 04:49

I wonder if you were a schoolgirl when living in Court-at-Street in the late 1950s early 1960s? When I worked at a grit factory in Aldington I would ride my blue Norton motorbike through Lympne then past the Welcome Stranger where quite a few school children would be waiting for the school bus. I am sorry to admit I used to ride as fast as possible past the waiting children in order to show off. I never gave a thought to any danger to the children so if you were one of those children I apologise most sincerely.

Christine- website owner Thursday, 1 December 2016 20:04
Ha a, that's funny. It wasn't me though, I didn't ever catch the bus from there, I used to ride my bike to Newingreen, leave it in the garage there, and catch the bus into Folkestone for school.

84)	Alan Blackman
Location: Kansas City USA

Saturday, 26 November 2016 15:24

Firstly - fantastic site. Spent hours pouring over the photos and stories.
I lived in Hawkinge and attended Harvey from 1971- 1976
Our house backed onto the aerodrome as it was. Many happy memories of discovering new treasures buried out there. Attended more than one dig when we uncovered such beauties as ME 109's
Amazing times!
Worked down the Old High Street growing up firstly in the Joke Shop demonstrating the latest tricks, then for Ray H? Engraving ID bracelets in the shop window and selling mugs with people names on to the tourists. Got in the newspaper the day the 2nd world war shop next door caught fire and we had to douse the wallets on the inside of our shop on the top floor to stop it from burning too !!
Happy days !!

83)	Alan Blackman
Location: Kansas City USA

Saturday, 26 November 2016 15:14

82)	Alan Blackman
Location: Kansas City USA

Saturday, 26 November 2016 15:14

81)	Trevor
Location: Gravesend

Tuesday, 27 September 2016 10:49

Just been reminiscing over the pictures of Moyle Tower on the seafront in Hythe. In the late 60's our school took over the place three years running for a week in May. A creepy old place, with drafty cabins in the gardens decked out with unstable bunk beds. Strange tasting cocoa before bed each night. Great times.

80)	Kai
Location: Capel-le-Ferne

Thursday, 18 August 2016 15:07

I'm sure The Roach Pond was so named because it contained lots of Roach fish Rutilus Rutilus.

I used to fish a lot there as a kid. It's a shames it's all but gone.

Christine - website owner Thursday, 18 August 2016 23:05
Thank you Ka, that would make perfect sense. I am surprised though, because I always assumed the pond would have been salt water, being so close to the sea, but I guess it couldn't have been if it had Roach in it.

Come to think of it though, I have a photo of cattle drinking from it, so yes, it must have been fresh water.

Thanks again for the information.

79)	Pam
Location: Sussex

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 11:05

Cameron Macintosh has staged a new version of 'Half a sixpence' at Chichester festival theatre , its set in Folkestone and uses many of its location on stage and many of the lyrics use places in and around Folkestone , being set in Edwardian times it made me think of this site and its many past photos , I'm sure it will transfer to the west end its a must see.

Paul Seward Wednesday, 27 July 2016 15:27
It is based on H.G. Wells's novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul. Steele plays Arthur Kipps, an orphan who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, and climbs the social ladder before losing everything and realizing that you just can't buy happiness. Wells drew on his knowledge of the locality while living at Sandgate.

78)	*Sue May#@%!**

Monday, 25 July 2016 20:55

I went to Folkestone Girls Grammar School back in the 60’s as a boarder, first at Westbourne House, which was part of the Technical College as there was no room in the Grammar School boarding house. The Tech. school needed the beds for tech. girls, so we then went to The White House in Wellington Place in Sandgate, now demolished and was closed down in a hurry as we were studying for our O levels. The 8 boarders were then moved to Clewer House in Coolinge Lane, where I finished my schooling.

As sixth formers we were allowed to go into some of the coffee bars in town. One was Morrelli’s, the other we frequented was The Acropolis in The Old High Street. The latter was run by a Greek family and a number of Greek students who were learning English at a local college used to go there and play backgammon or tavli as they called it.

I wondered whatever happened to The Acropolis and when it was closed? I do recall that one of the sons (was he called Archie or Andy?) used to drive a white E-type jaguar, which was very impressive back then. Does anyone else recall these details at all?

Paul Seward Tuesday, 26 July 2016 12:01
I remember those times well, Sue. Mr. & Mrs. Sambucci and their son Tony at Morelli's Sadly Mrs. S. died just a few weeks ago. Slightly surprised that you were allowed to frequent the Acropolis but maybe you did not go up to the first floor! Seemed to be a very dark disco up there where local lads such as the Brunts, Shrubsole et al would take the Swedish girls who came over to learn English. Archie had the E-Type, not sure what, if any, wheels his brother Andy had. Once we were old enough, we graduated to the Lion in the Bayle but still used to call in after closing time to see Archie's father, George, who made a mean salad roll and was a very understanding host. Happy days!

Susan Saturday, 27 January 2018 07:21
I went out with Archie for a while, very young, that's how he liked them! 16 I think. He had a blue MGB at that time. My dad was not impressed and hooked me out of there one night. Most embarrassing. I went upstairs and remember Tony Brunt and Pete someone. All rather innocent compared to today.

77)	christine smith
Location: spain

Monday, 25 July 2016 05:45

Hello Mark, glad to hear from you again. I did leave you a reply somewhere but not being an expert at this type of communication it got lost and I saw later that you thought I hadn´t posted again.... I see you have investigated this and probably a lot of other cases. Isee you have been to her grave in Horn Street. I can´t imagine the state it must be in. Mum and I used to go regularlyl when I was a young girl. Mum had grown up in Somerset Road and as a single girl was known as Kathy Hood. Her father had trained the Folkestone F.C at some time and was known as Sammy. Before the accident they has been evacuees with family in Gloucester. They hadn´t been back long lbefore it happened. Thanks for giving your time. Look forward to lfurther postings and hopefully Janine witll have first hadn information for us....

76)	christine smith
Location: spain

Monday, 18 July 2016 15:00

hello Christine,

Have just seen a very interesting message from Janine and also Mark but allthough I wrote a reply commenting on the fatal accident involving my half sister I see that it hasn´t been published although I thought I had filled in the message reply box correctly. Janine is the niece of two of the victims of the hand grenade and I would love to make a connection with her. Can you help?

Christine Smith Monday, 18 July 2016 15:14
Hello Janine, I ansered your post but it must have got lost as it didnt come up. Hopefully this will come up and you will see it. I have always wanted to know more about what happened that fateful day and it is only recently I was able to read a press cutting reporting the inquest and learnt more details. Patsy the little girl was my half sister and had just had her 5th birthday a couple of months before. She also had a twin brother. Their father had been killed in Egypt two years before......Are you auntie and uncle still alive? I would like to hear all they ever told you about that fateful day. Thanks a lot for your post..

Mark Hourahane Wednesday, 20 July 2016 15:45
Hi Christine,

Nice to see you back on the site - we thought we'd lost you with the unfortunate situation on the old guestbook! I know you had requested to be put in touch with me last year - sadly I was abroad and the message got lost amongst a lot of junk mail - sorry about that!

If you send Christine an e-mail (her address is on the main home page at the bottom), I'm sure she has Janine's e-mail address and can put you in touch.

If you ask her to put us in contact, too, I located Patsy's grave and would love to talk to you further about that.

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