Terry Begent – författare

Folkestone’s history goes back to the Anglo-Saxons and earlier settlements, and behind the façade of the elegant Edwardian resort, the port and today’s thriving town and gateway to the Channel Tunnel lie many little-known and fascinating stories from its past. In Secret Folkestone, authors Terry Begent and Eamonn Rooney reveal the history beneath the surface of Folkestone from the foundation of the first nunnery in England by St Eanswythe in the seventh century to the present day. Among the topics covered are the story of the stone in ‘Folke-stone’, the town’s role in defending the nation from invasion through the ages, the clifftop source of Folkestone’s Victorian water supply, how a medieval monarch tamed the local piratical fishermen into a naval force, the riot to free smugglers from Folkestone Gaol in 1820, the First World War aerial bombardment that left nearly 100 dead, and much more.With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Folkestone will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this town on the Kent coast.

Although Folkestone was just a small fishing village on the coast of the English Channel for much of its existence, it has witnessed many significant events in Britain’s history. The Romans established trade routes from the settlement to the Continent, radiating throughout Britain. Successfully settled by the Saxons in later centuries, Christianity arrived through St Augustine and defences were built against Viking invaders. It later became a limb of the Cinque Ports. Folkestone’s strategic position made it a target of attempted French invasions, and defences were strengthened during the threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada and later Napoleon. The coming of the railways transformed the small town into a fashionable resort, but it remained on the front line in the First and Second World Wars. Although the importance of Folkestone’s harbour diminished after the building of the Channel Tunnel, the town is once again enjoying a resurgence in popularity.Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that Folkestone has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the town.