The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868

"FOLKESTONE, a parish, market town, ancient seaport, municipal borough, and member of the Cinque Port of Dover, in the hundred of Folkestone, lathe of Shepway, county Kent, 6 miles S.W. of Dover, and 70 from London by road, or 82 by the South-Eastern railway, on which it is a principal station, being one of the chief routes to France from the metropolis. The harbour was formed at an expense of £50,000. It is a place of ancient date, having been fortified by the Romans, who built a tower on Folkestone Hill, which rises to the height of 575 feet above the sea. Under the Saxon King of Kent, Eadbald, a castle and priory were founded here, but were destroyed by the Danes in the reign of Athelstan. After the Conquest the castle was rebuilt by William de Albrincis, or Avranches, but all traces of it are now obliterated.

The town, which stands on very uneven ground, at the foot of a range of hills, was once more extensive than at present, having suffered from the encroachments of the sea. It is, however, fast recovering its ancient importance, chiefly owing to the establishment of the line of steamers in connection with the South-Eastern railway, which has brought a large passenger and transit trade to the town, being the high road to and from the Continent, especially for merchandise of a light and valuable kind. The large increase of trade is shown by the returns of the customs, which in 1846 were only £4,000, but in 1859 had increased to £178,285. The trade is still increasing, though the customs had declined in 1861 to £11,949 in consequence of the commercial treaty with France. A great number of visitors and invalids now resort to the town for the purpose of sea-bathing and the benefit of the salubrious air, which is mild yet invigorating. Folkestone is also a considerable port for the mackerel and herring fisheries. It is governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and town-council, and enjoys the elective franchise in conjunction with the borough of Hythe. It is an electoral district, quarter and petty sessions town, and seat of a county court, embracing the parishes of Acrise, Cheriton, Folkestone, Hawkinge, Paddlesworth, and Swingfield.

There is now a strong battery on the heights, and the coast is further defended by three martello towers. The streets in the old part of the town are narrow, awkward, and irregularly built, running crookedly up a sharp hill, and connected by steep flights of steps, but several of the new houses are commodious structures, as the Pavilion Hotel, adjoining the harbour, and the West Cliff Hotel, in the Sandgate-road. The custom-house buildings, near the harbour, are an extensive block of houses, completed by the South-Eastern Railway Company in 1854. The town is lighted with gas and well supplied with water from the reservoir at Cherry Gardens.

The population, which in 1851 was 6,726, had increased in 1861 to 8,507, exclusive of the part of the village of Sandgate situated within the parish of Folke stone, and of the rural population, which numbered 1,146 more-There were in ancient times five churches in Folkestone, but at present only two, the parish church and a district church.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury, value £185, in the patronage of the archbishop. The church, dedicated to SS. Mary and Eanswith, is a cruciform structure, with square tower in the centre containing a peal of eight bells. From its commanding situation on a high hill, it affords a fine view of the surrounding country and of the sea. It was originally founded by Nigel de Mundeville in 1137, and some parts of the present structure are very ancient. The living of the district church is a perpetual curacy, value £80. The church stands a little off the Sandgate-road, and is called Christ Church. It was erected at the sole expense of the Earl of Radnor, who also partially endowed it. The Baptists, Wesleyans, Independents, and Society of Friends have each a chapel in the town, and there is a Baptist chapel recently erected at Uphill. The free grammar school was founded in 1674 by Sir Eliah Harvey, nephew of the celebrated Dr. William Harvey, and has recently been rebuilt on a more extensive scale.

There are also British and Foreign, National, and infant schools, besides about thirty day schools. The charities are numerous and well applied, including a dispensary for the sick poor, situated in Rendezvous-street. In the vicinity of the town many fossils, are found, also talc and fullers' earth. Here are some remains of an ancient Benedictine priory, including the gateway and part of the foundations. Dr. Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood, was born here on the 1st April, 1578. This place gives the title of viscount to the earls of Radnor. Wednesday and Saturday are market days."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868 by Colin Hinson ©2010]