Lazarus Guestbook

Becky

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 19:45:11 +0000

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

DAVID DALE

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:10:33 +0000

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.

chris cutting

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 23:19:37 +0000

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

Simon Godwin

Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:16:58 +0000

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.

graham cann

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:29:34 +0000

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

nigel griggs

Sun, 07 Feb 2016 23:13:48 +0000

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.

Ron Lynch

Fri, 29 Jan 2016 16:06:36 +0000

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.

Daphne Jay

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:25:09 +0000

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.

Kelvin Philpott

Tue, 26 Jan 2016 19:21:25 +0000

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.

Kelvin Philpott

Tue, 26 Jan 2016 19:10:18 +0000

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

Graham Harris

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 03:17:23 +0000

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.

Joan Brickell

Sun, 17 Jan 2016 15:47:19 +0000

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"

Jo Peirson

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 04:11:23 +0000

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.

Mike Dixon

Thu, 31 Dec 2015 09:17:58 +0000

What a wonderful website! Beautiful pictures of a beautiful town. The council are doing a grand job looking after the Leas area which with cut backs in local authority spending can't be easy.
I read during a recent visit to Folkstone that the town use to have more Rolls Royce cars per population than anywhere else in the world! It was the playground of the rich...much like today! I will be visiting Folkstone again in early February and a friend and I have booked 2 premier rooms, with seaviews, at the Burlington Hotel. Can't wait!

Ian Murton

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:49:30 +0000

Hello, some really great memories here for me, I am just about to retire tomorrow and have been reflecting on my happy childhood, I went to St Eanswythes and then Hillside secondary modern from 1955 through 1967. we lived in Wear Bay Crescent and then Calgary crescent. The Marina rock pool and the open air swimming pool were always in use, i have returned several times to my homes and even taken my children to see them

Bill Parker

Wed, 04 Nov 2015 15:05:43 +0000

I love this site I lived at no 63 Seabrook Road 1979 till 1983 when I married Deborah Elizabeth Morris of 26 Blackhouse hill Hythe and moved to 32 Queen Street Folkestone My Father was the caretaker at seabrook lodge school and no 63 Seabrook Road was the caretakers house. My Father Derek Squire Parker was caretaker until the school closed. My Father sadly passed away 27-12-2011 in Bolton Lancashire.

Amy Sackree

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 18:11:04 +0000

On this document i have got pictures of cheriton high street. On the picture with the mound of dirt you were unsure of where this was, it looked very familar to me and i found it on google maps it is by the main traffic lights in Cheriton, where you have the Coral betting shop and newsagents further down. Also where the old post office was is now a computer shop next to Deep south tattoo shop where Maycock used to be. Hope this helps :)

Chris McNair

Thu, 08 Oct 2015 05:52:03 +0000

I worked and lived at The Princes Hotel , Bouverie Road West Folkstone in 1955/6 and have a few memories
I can share

Mike Howland

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:52:58 +0000

Hello Christine,
Sorry to say that I haven't looked at the site for a while. There is so much of interest.
I'm particularly interested in the Hawkinge page as I spent a very happy childhood there and still live close by.
My Mum, Gladys Howland (nee Brisley) is in the front row, left in the 1st Hawkinge guides. She was organist and occasional choir mistress at St Lukes and St Michaels until a few months before her death in 1969. I can confirm that the faded photo is St Michaels and is the familiar view from the path to the church.
The attached photo had me puzzled for a while. Taken from the Aerodrome, it shows the old Post office and the back of the 4 semi-detached houses in Mill Lane. There are no shops opposite the Post office (My grandfather Brisley helped build some of them) and it's hard to tell if the school is just out of shot.
Please feel free to use any other photos or information from my website.
Best Regards,
Mike

christine smith

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 19:26:18 +0000

Cannot find mention anywhere of the terrible accident which ocurred at 69 Ashley Avenue when a hand grenade was thrown against a wall in the garden killing one little 5 year old girl by the name of Kathleen Patricia Donogue and maiming several older children. It´s almost as if it never happened. The little girl was my half-sister known as Patsy