Folkestone Then & Now Guestbook

How lovely to see pictures of dear old Hythe. I grew up in Hythe during the 50s and early 60s and whilst born in London always call Hythe my home town. I left U.K. to live in Australia in 1966 and have only been "home" a few times over the years. I married a Cheriton Boy, Peter Scott in Perth Western Australia in 1970.
During the summer my family would spend hours on the beach, at tea time my father would walk along to the four winds cafe to get a tray of tea for us to enjoy on the beach. Tea pot, milk, sugar, cups and saucers, spoons, the works. I can still see my Dad walking back along the sea front, grinning from ear to ear, as he returned to us with his tray of refreshments. Life was so uncomplicated and simple pleasures such a joy.

hi nice site :) brings back memories :)

I have been receiving lots of error messages from this guestbook. If you have been trying to post, and are having trouble, please drop me a line at folkestonethenandnow@gmail.com and I will try to help.

I congratulate you on your excellent, informative and memory jogging website. Although my family didn't move to Folkestone until the end of 1951, when I was three years old, I always consider it as my home town. I left the area in 1967 when I enlisted into the Army.


During the period I lived in the following locations: Folkestone - Dover Road, London Street, The Bayle Steps (connection from the Old High Street to Bayle Street [If I remember there were only two houses])Cheriton Road, (close to the junction with Radnor Park West); and Hythe - West Parade,(either at the junction with Albert Road or Ormonde Road).

My schooling was at Dover Road Primary (as I always knew it until visiting this website), Christ Church Primary, and Brockhill County Secondary for Boys in Saltwood, Hythe.

I have spent many enjoyable hours looking into different facets of the website, but I feel I've only scratched the surface of the depth of information you have meticulously brought together.

Continued next post.....

Continued from above message:

I have only just become aware of your site during the early stages of my research into my younger years in the Folkestone, Hythe and Stelling Minnis area. I'm planning on writing articles on different episodes of my life there, for my personal weblog.

One of the exciting facts that I have come across within the 'Buildings' section (page 2) is the photograph of the St. Mary's National School in Dover Road. I believe it is in fact what I referred to earlier as just Dover Road Primary. In November 1951 we moved into 78 Dover Road when my parents owned the Elliot's Dairy shop; which was on the corner with Charlotte Street. The school was on the opposite side of the road. I think I used to enter school by the gate shown on the left of the picture. Unfortunately the business didn't survive so it may not be shown in your 1958 Kelly's.

A further pleasant surprise is that in the 'Hotel' section you have the photograph of the Garden House Hotel. Sometime either side of 1960 my mother worked in the hotel. I believe she was possibly in the reception/administration section.

My father was born in Folkestone and went to school at St Nicholas School, I have a lovely photo of the class in 1951 taken by 'Lambert Weston & Son of 106 sandgate road. Does any one know any more about the school? I am doing a memory book for his 70th Birthday!

Hello, My father was an RSM with 2nd Bn The Buffs during WW2 and towards the end of WW2 my mother, two brothers and I lived in one of the two warrant offer's quarters which are only yards to the west of the large military church at Shorncliffe (now a theatre). The houses are still there. I can remember (1947) starting school at the age of 5 in the Shorncliffe primary school (I think it was called the Sir John Moore's School) which was located in the grass to the north side of, but close to, the church. Close to where we lived (at the Shorncliffe terminal bus-stop of the old East Kent Route 99) was a post office and a large building which served as an 'over-ranks' mess.I'm sure it was called Montgomery Home. On the grass, close to the school were two bungalows which were used as Officers' married quarters. I can remember that a captain (of the Education Corps) lived in one,with his family, because I started school with his eldest son. I can remember the Sunday morning church parades which were held on the playing fields just south of our house. We watched from my bedroom window. The soldiers would then march into the large military church. Except for my own times in the forces, and absence due to business, I have lived in the Folkestone vicinity ever since and have witnessed many changes.

Last week I visited Hythe for the first time since I was 17 years old. My parents, three sisters and I used to holiday there during the 1950’s. We would rent a cottage in Stade Street and self cater. Our connection with Hythe started when my mother convalesced there a few times after being unwell during pregnancies. My father worked for London Transport at the time. I feel I sure I stayed with her as well and can remember there being only women and children. I could remember the name of the home was Philbeach but couldn’t remember where it was when we visited last week, therefore I was delighted when I arrived home and looked on Google to find the website with all the photographs especially those of Philbeach. The canal is just as lovely as it was and my most vivid memory was of the Fete that I am sure we saw every year. Having become reacquainted with Hythe I shall visit again soon.

Thank you so much to the lady who put the photographs on the site.

Pam Carwardine

Hi there. Way back in 1952 I joined the "Maid of Orleans" at Dover and then spent rest of the season sailing between Folkestone and Boulogne as an assistant steward. Hard work, but lots of fun and I shall long remember it. Silver service then, cars winched on board,carrying baggage on a shoulder strap down the gangway to the Paris train. All those wonderful tips (kitchews"), running across the harbour late at night with contraband ciggies and booze! I am in my eighties now hoping for reincarnation and a chance to sail on the "Maid" again backwards and forwards forever!! Au revoir.

Hi there. Way back in 1952 I joined the "Maid of Orleans" at Dover and then spent rest of the season sailing between Folkestone and Boulogne as an assistant steward. Hard work, but lots of fun and I shall long remember it. Silver service then, cars winched on board,carrying baggage on a shoulder strap down the gangway to the Paris train. All those wonderful tips (kitchews"), running across the harbour late at night with contraband ciggies and booze! I am in my eighties now hoping for reincarnation and a chance to sail on the "Maid" again backwards and forwards forever!! Au revoir.

Hi I was just browsing on the PC and came across your page, I now live in Australia, about 60 miles south of Brisbane at Surfers Paradise and my home town is Folkestone.

During the war we went to Bideford in Devon until about 1943 and we lived at 113 Surrenden Road and the place was swamped with Canadians.

The fields at the top of the road towards the hills were full of AA Guns and the brickworks were just over the back of the fields and there was a very deep pit full of water with old fuel tanks from aircraft that made great rafts. This was Quested Brickworks as I remember, and a great place to play until my mum found out.

Hawkinge Aerodrome was up the top of the hills and was attacked on many occasions and your picture of bombs in the sea was possibly due to German aircraft dumping them anywhere to increase speed of getaway.


My grandparents were Mayor/Mayoress George and Matilda Gurr killed by a parachute mine on 29th May 1941 and my father was Police Sergeant Ernest Walter Swann who escape with injuries and was killed in a cricketing accident in August 1947 due to a fractured skull from being blown up by the parachute mine.

Incidentally the bunker down the Road of Remembrance was something to do with the Navy because I saw a sailor complete with webbing and rifle doing sentry duty outside the door but that was all.

I hope this was of some interest, Cheers Colin

I have just looked through the Folkestone Churches - it is fantastic that you have brought so much history together - thank you

can't wait to look at some of the others now!!

Very interesting, seeing old pictures of the Warren, it was indeed the Marsh family who ran the tearooms , my best friend Carol's family .Her brother is a councillor in the town now and used to be mayor, Paul Marsh.

Hi the picture of the troops marching military road is as Alan say's is indeed Risboro Lane,the Victoria Pub which is now
turned into flats is the tall building a little further up.My grandparents used to
live in the 2nd and 3rd house past there,When they passed away i lived there and we used to be able to sit in our front
room and watch the Cavalry training until
it became married quarters.

I have just been looking at your latest pictures showing the coastal park,though i live in Shepway i have never visited there.looks great also all the pictures of Kingsnorth Gardens.I'm afraid it does not look like that now,I had my brother and family down from Scotland last year and we visited them,the ponds were covered in weed
as were the gardens.the only tidy part was at the entrance near Cheriton rd.

Hi,Christine,
Your new section for the R/H/D/seems to coming on a treat.I think the new Guestbook
will a big improvement on the old one.
Good luck.
George.

From a 1916 newspaper (Victoria Colonist)

Our fellow townsman, Capt. F. Richardson, seems to be making a name for himself in the Training Division. After leaving the 47th.Battalion (col. Winsby's) he was transferred to the Training centre at Shorncliffe and soon obtained a brigade staff appointment, where he has been very successful in training men for France at Hythe.

We understand from Major J.C. Harris that Richardson is to be gazetted shortly, as chief musketry officer to the Canadian Field Artillery. Brig. Gen. N.C. Harston stated openly that Richardson was the greatest instructor in the Canadian Service. This is a tribute from so high an official.

Major Harris states that Capt. Richardson has made a new rifle out of the Ross model that eclipses any other arm in use here. He has modeled it after the Enfield and put on a centre feed, which, when fired at Hythe, showed itself to be easily the most rapid firer, and easily fired. We expect to hear that the short Ross with the improvements will be accepted and adopted. The pattern is easily the best balanced that I have come across, and equal in that respect to the springfield.

To let you know I gladly accepted Susan's kind offer of a scan of the Greystones Hotel brochure, and have now added it to the Hotels Page

Short Step is a great WW1 site.......

Also on Canada day local school children lay posies on the graves of Canadian Troops in Shorncliffe Cemetary......

Taught in St Martin's as well!
Frances

Welcome to the new Folkestone Then & Now Guestbook. If you want to find an entry in the old book, or just want to read through the lovely memories, you will find a link to the archived pages at the top.

I think you will find this one more user friendly - and it even shows up on a tablet!

So let's get started, and fill up this book with your recollections of Folkestone