The Demolition of The Rotunda Funfair,
Folkestone
January 2002
The Rotunda was one of the first buildings to go.  You can see equipment inside the arcade in the process of demolishing the structure.
Photo by Ian Mansfield
Photo by Ian Mansfield of Folkestone
Folkestone Herald clipping sent by Pat & Trevor of the UK
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Feast your eyes on this lovely fun fair.  It's probably three times larger now than it was when I was a child.  However, It has recently been sold, and will be demolished.  (See newspaper clipping below, supplied by Pat & Trevor).  Thanks to Ian Mansfield of Folkestone, we are going to be able to watch it's demise, as he has promised to take photos for us as it comes down, and will let us see what takes it's place.  He has it on good authority that the funfair will have one more season in 2003, then that will also go the same way as the Rotunda.  It's the end of an era, and the biggest losers are the young children who may never again know the fun of riding a double decker bus on a roundabout, or shake in their shoes in Castle Dracula, or slide down a Helter Skelter.  What's next for the English seaside resort?  I hear Dreamland in Margate has also been sold, will Blackpool pleasure beach be next?  I find it very very sad.
Photo by Ian Mansfield
June 2003
A Report From Ian Lacey who was visiting Folkestone
The Rotunda site continues to be cleared,several rides have gone notably the Magic Mouse roller coaster and the kiddies express train.The wooden roller coaster is also closed pending removal.The dodgems appear to have been moved onto the site of the demolished Rotunda too.The remaining bits of the park are operating this year under the name "Funland Park".There also appears to be renovations starting on the hotels on the road behind the back of the Grand Burstin (he means Marine Crescent that was turned into condos)so hopefully next year things will also happen on the front itself.
May 2005  I was there this year, and nothing much seems to have changed from Ian's report,  renovations are still going on to Marine Crescent, but I don't think there is enough left of the Rotunda to open with anything except the amusements in The Dome this year.  Here are some photos I took:  Christine
The only attraction open in 2005 is the Dome amusements
Go back to
August 2007
March 19, 2007- Report from Ian Lacey
I have recently been back to Folkestone and thought I would send you an update on the Rotunda and its sad to say,the Rotunda Amusement Park is no more.

The Dome arcade finally closed its doors at the beginning of February
2007 as did the Cafe Bar in the old Marine Pavilion.  Further buildings
have been demolished notably the Castle Dracula, another part of the
original Rotunda has gone though the entrance bit that was left still
stands and the cafes up where the Sunday Market goes have also been
pulled down.

All that remains now is the closed wooden roller coaster,  The Dome, the
crazy golf, the office block and the restaurant that stands between the
two domes.  Even the trawler next to the golf course looks in a sorry state.

My biggest shock came though on the Sunday, I left the Burstin, went round
the corner and was amazed to find no Sunday Market  I don't know if its a
winter thing or not but venturing up into town later in the day I found
market stalls set up in the area of Sandgate Road and Guildhall Street.

Also, again it could be seasonal but venturing up the Old High Street, Rowlands rock shop was closed and peering through the windows it looked empty and pretty deserted inside.
Another visit in 2006 and the photos are more or less the same, just a bit more dilapidated.
The following photographs were taken by Adminette of the fabulous Folkestone Forums website, which seems to have vanished.
Inside the Dome
The Roller Coaster under demolition
The roller coaster reflected in the window of the Boating Pool restaurant
No Ian, I am afraid it is not seasonal.  Mr. Brickell of the Rock Shop became ill, and it had to close.  Like the loss of the Rotunda, it is the end of an era, Folkestone will never be quite the same I fear.
And this is the photo that says it all.  The last part of the Rotunda to go, the Dome amusements in its final death throws.

Photo with kind permission of Matt Rowe of Club Shepway.   Located at 14 Tontine Street.
2002
This is such a good photo!

This more than any other symbolises the sad demise of the Rotunda.
2007