During the nineteenth century Folkestone changed from being a small
fishing village to a fashionable resort and busy cross-Channel port. The
town expanded dramatically and by the turn of the century large hotels
were being built to accommodate the wealthy, and a theatre, bathing
establishment and pleasure pier were all built. Fashionable Folkestone
came to an end with the advent of the First World War, when it
experienced a huge influx of refugees and its harbour became a prime
military embarkation point. After this war Folkestone realised that if
it was to survive as a holiday resort, it would have to attract
working-class families - not just the wealthy. Later, the building of
the M20 and the Channel Tunnel all meant that Folkestone underwent
further major changes and now, at the start of a new millennium,
Folkestone is equipped with a high-speed rail link to London with travel
times of less than an hour, and with the philanthropic investment of
Roger de Haan, it is undergoing another change of guise as the town
seeks to reinvent itself as a hub for arts and high culture. In this
fascinating collection of images, most of which have not been published
before, local author and historian Alan F. Taylor illustrates the proud
history of this seaside town. Folkestone From Old Photographs provides
something for everyone, be they long-time residents or first-time
visitors.
