The Creative Quarter, Folkestone

A day which started with some lovely bright sunshine ended with torrential rain as we battled our way along the Leas at Folkestone. We soon gave up and turned to scurry back to the car.

On the way back we passed through the Creative Quarter which winds it’s way down from the main town to the Harbour. Folkestone is making a real effort to make a name for itself with developments including art installations and this Quarter which is full of independent shops, galleries and studios.

The harbour area is always interesting, plenty of boats, a beach which was populated today by many surfers, a fish and chip and seafood stalls.

Also worth a visit is the Harbour Arm and Folkestone Maritime station which has been restored to its former glory complete with the old signalbox which is now a coffee shop. I’ve blipped the view from the box pre Covid! There’s.an Antony Gormley figure on the harbour, washed by each high tide.

The harbour branch played an important part in our history, especially in the two world wars when millions of soldiers embarked for France from this harbour. Boat trains used to come down off the main line for the ferry. I came down in 1969 on route for Interlaken. The last train was in 2009: https://youtu.be/rEe4Joa2O50