Attack On Folkestone Schools

The Bombed House - What really happened?

by Peter Mellor (PM)

At about 10.45pm on Thursday July 27th 1944 a number of pilotless flying bombs (V1 Doodlebugs) were observed coming over the Channel at varying heights and speeds. Our fighter patrols were out over the sea latching-on to them before the English coast was reached, and when anti-aircraft (AA) fire from the Folkestone area would became a danger to our pilots.

Unfortunately one of the fighters was pursuing a V1 inside, rather than outside the recognised off-shore limit. The AA guns fired predictably when the V1 became in range, but instead of peeling off, the fighter held on, giving small bursts of cannon fire whilst our own AA shells burst all around him.

Within a mile of the Leas the damaged V1 began to lose height, and roaring over the rooftops of Folkestone eventually crashed on "Feltonfleet School" formerly a private residence called "Stoneleigh" in Shorncliffe Road - nearly opposite the junction with Earls Avenue. Feltonfleet was a private boys' school from 1909 until 1940.

Among the properties seriously damaged by the explosive blast were the empty private Athelstan Ladies' School ("The Bombed House") next to what was to become Westbrook House Junior School - and the Grange (formerly used by Kent Education Committee as a junior school).

Feltonfleet School, evacuated since 1940, was being used as a furniture store from bombed properties in Folkestone. It was reduced to a pile of rubble and all the furniture destroyed.

Blast damage all but destroyed Nos 42, 44, 46 and 48 Shorncliffe Road. Amongst those injured were the acting Town Sergeant and his wife, who were rendered homeless and taken to a rest centre for the night.

In all, 2 houses were demolished, 2 partially demolished, 150 houses sustained minor damage, 4 shops sustained minor damage. 2 males and 7 females were injured.

Therefore no ghost of a dead German pilot ever existed in the bombed house but this once fine late Victorian building was very spooky in its semi-derelict condition to all Westbrookians in the late 1940's to mid-1950's until it was finally demolished and the soulless Cliffestone Court was built on the Feltonfleet/Athelstan Schools site.