Folkestone Then & Now Guestbook

I discovered your site by sheer luck, I was searching for an incident in Cheriton in which my uncle, my auntie and an unknown little girl found and played with an unexploded bomb during WW2. I think it would have happen in Somerset Road. Sadly I understand the little girl was killed and my auntie had serious injuries. My uncle was luckier and was ok. My mother, a Kirkham, was born in 1920 in the hospital on Military Hill growing up in Cheriton, the family moving from Stanley Rd to Somerset Rd to Ashley Ave. She was one of eight children. My parents met when my father was stationed at Shorncliffe in 1938. My grandmother finally settled in Cheriton High Street, a few doors up from a little food shop run by sisters, known I think as Spelzines. It was by the pedestrian bridge over the railway. Cheriton was my second home and I have so many happy memories of spending time with my Nana. Going shopping with her being just one...... now who remembers the massive bunch of bananas that hung in the greengrocers near the junction with Risborough Ln. Happy days.

Does any one remember the Brevit/Brevet Club ?

Does any one know the where abouts of Jerry Rocket. His dad and Mum ran the indoor swimming pool. We were teenagers together.
He had a lambretta and we went all over on it.
Love this sight, so much info THANKYOU

Kiaora
Have just found your brilliant website while digging around finding what I could about the Imperial Off Licence in Ashley Avenue which in the 1950s and very early 60s was run by my grandfather, Percy Taylor.
I was born and brought up in Downs Road, attended Mundella, then St. Eanswythes under Mr Williams I think, then Harvey. Emigrated to NZ after Uni.
How the place has changed in a mere 60 years! Looking back I think us kids of that generation were very lucky with the environment we had - the hills, the seafronts - how terrible the old front under the Leas looked the last time I was back- the sprung floor in the Leas Cliff Hall where you shoot people in the air with a bit of cooperation!
Will be making the last return this year- it's a long way!

Has any one any pictures of the Marina Rock pool.I was bought up in Folkestone and used to go there all the time. I know it was demolished in 1966

I was very interested in the memories of Princes Hotel. My grandmother was a resident in the 1950s and 60s and we used to spend a week there every school holidays. Major Beaumont was indeed the son-in-law of the lady owner, a Mrs Bladon. Although the hotel had casual guests, there was a core of elderly and rather grand residents. As a child I had to greet them all by name....good morning Miss Aisher, Good morning Mrs Holland Walker, Good morning Sir Harold etc. The set up was ideal for old people. The day started with early morning tea in one's bed room, all meals were provided in the dining room (tea in the lounge) and you could also entertain. My grandmother used to give regular bridge parties for her friends. She could also have her children and grandchildren to stay whenever she wanted. If she was unwell, meals were brought up on a tray. It all sounds very grand, but in fact the hotel was a little shabby and her room did not even have a private bath. She had to go to the loo down the hall and, if she wanted a bath, go down the corridor in her dressing gown. I have no idea how much it cost, but she was not super-rich and she could comfortably afford it. Mercifully she died before it was pulled down in 1977 (?), but I did hear that one of the reasons it was demolished was because the building was so old-fashioned, it was impossible to bring the plumbing up to modern standards.

I was very interested in the memories of Princes Hotel. My grandmother was a resident in the 1950s and 60s and we used to spend a week there every school holidays. Major Beaumont was indeed the son-in-law of the lady owner, a Mrs Bladon. Although the hotel had casual guests, there was a core of elderly and rather grand residents. As a child I had to greet them all by name....good morning Miss Aisher, Good morning Mrs Holland Walker, Good morning Sir Harold etc. The set up was ideal for old people. The day started with early morning tea in one's bed room, all meals were provided in the dining room (tea in the lounge) and you could also entertain. My grandmother used to give regular bridge parties for her friends. She could also have her children and grandchildren to stay whenever she wanted. If she was unwell, meals were brought up on a tray. It all sounds very grand, but in fact the hotel was a little shabby and her room did not even have a private bath. She had to go to the loo down the hall and, if she wanted a bath, go down the corridor in her dressing gown. I have no idea how much it cost, but she was not super-rich and she could comfortably afford it. Mercifully she died before it was pulled down in 1977 (?), but I did hear that one of the reasons it was demolished was because the building was so old-fashioned, it was impossible to bring the plumbing up to modern standards.

Hi. I was wondering if anyone may be able to help identify some random Sandgate structures.
For the first time since i was a kid i walked from Chichester woods across the top of sandgate, past the 2 martello towers, and down through the woods that come out onto Encombe.
When coming down the woods there are 2 strange things. The first is a concrete sunken horseshoe seat about halfway down. Even as a kid i wondered who would have built it and why it was there. Then at the bottom just before you begin the little muddy path that leads out behind the houses there are some grand concrete steps that lead up to a curved wall, with a cove built in, that looks like there should be a statue there.
Was there a grand residence there once? Does anyone have any info on this? Even if there was, the horseshoe is still really far up into the woods.
Thankyou

lived as a youngster in and around Folkestone Initially at a small hamlet known as Shuttlesfield until my grandparents who I lived with died when I was thirteen, then I moved into Folkestone beginning with several addresses. My primary school was at Hawkinge, but I was at Morehall secondary school between 1956 and 1959, and my first job was in the Clifton Hotel. So your photos of the Warren was well enjoyed with many memories.I can relate more later.

born and bred 45yrs in the town and know the rotunda very well worked on the fairground many a season
those were the day's you could not move for the amount of people down there when the sunday market was open in the summer months plus summer school holidays plus i can remember the boats on the boating pool and just about remember the out door swimming pool as well
this is what made folkestone
know look at that part of the seafront it is a total mess this town has gone down hill in the last 30yrs plus it will never be the same as it was
so much for progress

Do you have any memories of Westbrook House School (1947 - 1968) and the teachers and pupils. The school, itself is sadly derelict now and the website is slowly going that way. I'm compiling a book on the history of the school and the family that founded it. Any memories, pics, documents would be gratefully received.

hi.not been to folkestone for donkys years.i went to morehall in the 70s and later on hung out with the lads from school
drinking at the sherry gardens pub.the nail box pub and the morehall pub all in cheriton.whats it like down there now

The house where as we use t know her as old ma Sheridan still does exist it is the first older house to the left of your arrow, also picture outside stadecourt hotel is my dad, brother, girl Ext door and me leaning on the railings. I have a lot of jack Adams photographs of Hythe if you are interested.

What an interesting website.I am writing my memoirs for my family. My childhood was spent in Folkestone in the 1930's. I have written about the gasworks but can't remember which street it was in. I went to StMarys School and Harvey Grammar until evacuated. My grandparents lived in a small terraced house in Sandgate with a family of 11 or 12. Other grandparents with about 8 in an even smaller house in Hythe.

Thanks for the lovely site.
Hello my name is Daphne Jay (nee Marsh).I was born at 12. Kent Road Cheriton, in 1948.
My mother was born at 2 Princess Street Folkestone in 1921.My mum is still fit and well and living in Norwich, at 95 years old.
A few memories from my mum, Ivy Olive Marsh (nee Marsh) yes that is right, same name.When mum was 9 years old the family moved to The Alexandra Tavern in Bridge Street. Richard Marsh, mum's father took over as licensee from his father.Mum can remember her Grandfather George Ames being caretaker at the smallpox Hospital, Crete Road, the entrance was half way up Dover Road. Does anyone else remember this Hospital? Has anyone any photo's? When was the Hospital demolished? Mum attended Mundella and George Spurgen School. Has anyone any photo's of 1920's? Mum had some but were lost in the bombings.When mum left school she worked as a mothers help, looking after two little girls a Jacqueline and Susan Noble, anyone know their whereabouts? It's lovely hearing mums tales of her beloved Folkestone. If anyone has questions about 1920's to 1940's she is sure to have the answers.Thanks Daphne Jay.

Hi Christine
Sorry, I should have said at the start of my previous message what a wonderful site you have made here. It really brought back memories and taught me things I did not know before.

Hi Christine
I was born in the house at the end of Beachborough Rd opposite the Harvey Grammar School. It was a nursing home then. We lived in Wearbay Rd on the corner of Stanbury Cres. We were evacuated to lancashire but returned to Folkestone in 1948. I went to St Eanswyths primary school under Mr Williams then the grammar school under Oliver Bertoud and Cyril Ward. Robin Eyers name rings a bell. I am not sure if I knew him or he may be the Robin that my sister Patricia went out with for a while. More info later if of interest

Just wanted to say -

Really enjoyed looking at your site.

I spent a week in Kent in the late 1960s/early 1970s when I was at primary school. In fact,we stayed at Moyle Tower in Hythe. My memory is that it was an amazing place. We stayed in little wooden
chalets in the garden. I recall the common room that was in your photos - with its large window overlooking the sea. I seem to remember a grand staircase too.

We went for days out - the Dymchurch steam railway, some lovely castles, Dungeness beach. Ah lovely memories.

Love your web site, just to put the record straight John and David Brickell together with their sister Janet Ewins (nee Brickell) and her husband John Ewins owned The business of Rowlands Rock shop from 1966 , in 1976 they all fell out, as families do and John and David carried on the business without them until 1996 when David left the business and John continued until just before his death in 2007. John worked in the business all his life making seaside rock starting in the 1950's working for Jimmy Rowland.It was extremely hard work but a lot of fun as well as it catered for the "bucket and spade" holiday makers of Folkestone when the town was "buzzing"

Just been looking at your pics, loads of memories. I grew up in Cheriton, I remember I went to All Souls school in 1950, then to Harcourt School for Girls, and then to Bobby's. I worked in the suitcase dept., that was a good job, loads of commission.

I remember summer time at lunch break, a few of us ran to the lifts to get to the beach for a quick swim, then a quick change into work clothes and back to work. No worries about wet hair, we all had swimming hats on. Bobby's was one of the best jobs in Folkestone then. I have so many happy memories of those years.