At a meeting held on Sunday 29th January, the Folkestone Research and Archaeology Group (FRAG) was formed. A Founder member, Iain Nielson, said “The main objectives of the group, which we believe is the first devoted archaeology to be formed locally, will be to discover, identify, document, record, protect and promote the archaeology of the Folkestone area. This could involve surveys, excavations where possible, talks, outings and events”

The catalyst for the formation of the group has been the excellent two-season excavation, undertaken on the East Cliff Roman villa site, by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, under the auspices of “A Town Unearthed”, which has demonstrated that there is much more to be learned about the role of Folkestone in the Iron Age and Roman eras. While much of this history has been all but obliterated by the rapid development of the town, there are nevertheless areas where small-scale excavation may reveal important clues.

Colleen Harrison, another member said “For many of the volunteers involved in the Roman Villa dig either as finds washers, diggers or guides to the site, this was their first experience of practical archaeology. Though there will undoubtedly be future excavations on East Cliff, this may nor be possible immediately. So another aim for FRAG will be to enable the volunteers to keep in contact and encourage others to become involved.

The group will work to build strong relationships with other archaeological groups in Canterbury, Thanet, Dover and Maidstone as well as working closely with Folkestone Local History Society, Folkestone People’s History Centre, A Town Unearthed and Canterbury Christchurch University.

Membership is open to all, regardless of where they live. If you are interested, please contact us by e-mail: cahoakley@hotmail.co.uk or telephone

A Facebook page has been set up and more details can be seen on the website: www.folkarch.co.uk. The next meeting will take place from 17.00 – 19.00, on Sunday 25th March, at the Pullman, in Church Street, Folkestone. All are welcome. There will also be a walk and talk covering  the history of The Bayle led by local historian, Eamonn Rooney on Saturday 24th March meeting at 2.00 pm at the Top of the Old High Street.

For further details please contact: Catherine Holtham-Oakley on 0777-163-0283 or cahoakley@hotmail.co.uk

Nick Spurrier

27 Plain Road

FOLKESTONE

CT20 2QF

nick@spurrier.myzen.co.uk

Tel: 01303-240236

This Saturday 17^th March 2012 at The Chichester Memorial Hall, Sandgate

from 10.00am until 12.30pm

MOTHERS’ DAY

Wonderful plants, flowers, chocolates and delicious produce with Mum in mind

The Sandgate Bakery – freshly baked bread, pies and biscuits, smoked salmon

Juicy Fruits – fresh fruit and vegetables

Izzy’s Deli – homemade lasagna, soups, meat and vegetarian pies, pizzas and home cooked ham freshly sliced, English cheese

Catherine Jordan Cakes – large and small cakes, seasonal fruit pies and tarts, scones and biscuits

Old Hall Farm, Brookland – traditionally reared meat & sausages, rare breed lamb & pork and fresh eggs

Milbank Olives – fresh olives and Mediterranean specialties

Alkham Valley Preserves – jams, preserves, raw honey and quail’s eggs

Eco-Friendly Cleaning – eco-friendly cleaning products

Catch-22 – Fair trade dark chocolate

Jewellery by Pauline – handmade gemstone jewellery

Swallowfields – cottage garden plants, hardy perennials and shrubs

Usher’s Florist – cut flowers and indoor plants

I Love Sandgate – cotton shopping bags and tee shirts

Sandgate Farmers’ Market is in the Chichester Memorial Hall on the first and third Saturday of each month from 10.00am

Kent Wildlife Trust Folkestone, Hythe and Dover Group Talk - Reptiles and Amphibians of Kent

You are invited to join the Folkestone, Hythe and Dover Group of Kent Wildlife Trust on Friday 23rd March 2012 from 7.30pm to 9.45pm at The Salvation Army Hall, Portland Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6EG.

Brett Lewis, a Kent-based consultant ecologist and respected wildlife photographer, will give us an illustrated talk on the ecology and distribution of herpetofauna - reptiles and amphibians - in Kent.

We welcome members and non-members alike at our warm and comfortable venue.   There is a suggested donation of £2.50 which includes tea or coffee and biscuits in the interval, when you can enjoy relaxed chat in the company of like-minded people.   Car parking is available in Portland Road, and the hall and facilities are fully accessible.   Telephone 01304 853503 for further details.

We hope to see you there.

Regards

Pauline Bateson

on behalf of the Folkestone, Hythe and Dover Group

“Are you handy with a hammer or perfect with a paintbrush? Do you know your nuts from your bolts? Have your home improvements gone way beyond fixing the odd drawer? Love Productions are on the hunt for Britain’s most talented amateur DIY enthusiasts to show off their skills and prove they’re the best in the land. Whether you’re into woodwork or weaving, floors or fabrics, decking or décor; if you could be Britain’s handiest DIYer, they’d love to hear from you. To apply or find out more, email diy@loveproductions.co.uk or call 0207 067 4881”

Kind regards,

Hannah Lucey
KENT FILM OFFICE
01622 696822

www.kent.gov.uk/filmoffice

06/06/12    11:00    D - Day (NVA)    Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road    D-Day’s annual Remembrance Service.

10/06/12    15:15    William Harvey Sunday    William Harvey Statue, The Leas William Harvey was born in Folkestone on 1 April 1578 and died on 3 June 1657.  Each year, around the time of his death, a commemoration service is held.

24/06/12    10:30    Town Sunday     St Mary & St Eanswythe Church Although the Town Mayor is elected in the Council Chamber, it is from the Churchyard Cross that the Town Mayor is named and prayers said for the person honoured and elected by the Town Councillors, for the Town Councillors themselves and for the Town of Folkestone.

24/06/12    14:45    Blessing of the Fisheries    The Harbour Councillors are invited to join a procession from St Peter’s Church to the Harbour where a short service takes place by the Bishop to bless the fish, fishermen, allied trades, services and protectors.  The procession is then led back to the church.

30/06/12    12:00    AFD    The Leas The intention of this national day is to provide an opportunity to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and also provides an opportunity for the Town to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community – past, present and future. In Folkestone, this family day out is supported by our local forces and cadet units providing various entertainment and static displays throughout the day.

02/07/12    11:00    Canada Day    Shorncliffe Military Cemetery The Canada Day Service commemorates the 296 Canadian soldiers who died during WWI and are buried in the Shorncliffe Military Cemetery.  A memorial service takes place each year on or near Canada Day at the Canadian Servicemen’s graves at Shorncliffe, where approximately 300 children from several Folkestone schools lay flowers on the Canadian soldiers’ graves.

15/08/12    11:00    VJ Day    Garden of Remembrance Annual service to celebrate the surrender of Japan, ending combat in the Second World War on 15 August 1945.

04/11/12    14:30    Dedication of Garden of Remembrance    Garden of Remembrance Around 200 Remembrance Crosses are placed in the Garden of Remembrance allowing members of the public to pay their own personal tributes to servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their Country. A short service takes place followed by the placing of small crosses at the named regiment crosses.  Ex-service Associations, Cadet Units and youth organisations are on parade during the service.

10/11/12    11:00    Machine Gun Corps    Cheriton Road Cemetery At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the Two Minute Silence is observed on Armistice Day. The time which marks the end of hostilities in the First World War in 1918. A short service is held at the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) Memorial (dedicated to World War I soldiers) and after standards have been displayed and wreaths laid, the Last Post and Reveille are played.

11/11/12    10:30    Remembrance Sunday    War Memorial, The Leas An annual service takes place for Remembrance Sunday, the anniversary of when hostilities in the First World War ended at 11:00 hours in 1918.

27/01/12    10:30    Holocaust Memorial Day    Garden of Remembrance An annual commemoration Service takes place to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in memory of those who died in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

The Fishing Heritage of Folkestone by Frank Bond

Fishing and Folkestone have been synonymous since pre-Roman times when oysters were sent to Gaul. Long before construction of a harbour, this would have been conducted in small boats or by literally dragging primitive nets through the water, also fishing lines and pots. Generations of families, living close to the waters edge, would have survived and thrived through their involvement with fishing. All their equipment would be made from natural materials and fibres such as wood, linen flax and wool. They would have been totally dependent on the weather, which was liable to endanger their livelihood, their property and even their lives. Periods of bad weather threatened the very survival of the community. The early jetty was frequently collapsing with the constant need to replacing the stones. The fish would be bartered on the foreshore or immediate surrounding area.

As the population of the locality increased, fish was traded further inland to supply the expanding community. The prosperity of the area was clearly critically dependent on products from the sea, and further inland, on primitive agriculture, hunting and quarrying. Much later, the construction of a harbour in 1807 enabled larger vessels to fish with the benefit of protection and shelter. A fish market developed, and, with the arrival of the railway to London in 1843, the fish could be sent to the Capital using ice imported from Scandinavia or even further afield. The invention of ‘dry ice’, in the form of solid carbon dioxide, ensured the freshest possible condition of the fish even on the longest journeys.

As late as 1960’s boats were still being launched from the ‘horseshoe’ shaped beach in front of the old Folkestone Marina, and some were even rowed out, although most had outboard motors.   Small craft were also kept in Folkestone’s Inner Harbour, though mainly for recreational or party fishing rather than commercial operations. This form of fishing provided an income for those responding to demand for pleasure fishing and they still do today. Other vessels were used for pleasure trips to see the white cliffs of Dover.

The fishing took place alongside harbour developments connected with commercial freight and passenger operations which sometimes helped, and often hindered. Subsequent developments enabled more successful and profitable fishing operations to be conducted using still larger vessels and a greater variety of sophisticated new equipment. Trawling, monofilament netting, potting and other methods are currently employed, but with decline in available fish, the fleet and consequent effort, have reduced in recent years. Fishing is still the most hazardous operation, with personal injuries and lives lost annually the worst in recorded professions. Thankfully, with limitations of exposure of inshore fishing it is less with this.

We need to remember our heritage, heavy local dependence on fishing, and a Museum, housing countless memorabilia, artefacts and photographs, currently held by those living by the sea, would be a considerable asset.   Though in the long term we intend to establish a museum devoted entirely to fishing in the area of the harbour, in the short term we fully support the efforts to establish a museum in the Old Town Hall, which we hope will in part be devoted to the Folkestone fishing industry.   This will also attach a value to those who have dedicated their livelihood, effort and occasionally their lives to providing fish on our tables.

This is an article from Go Folkestone magazine. An electronic version can be found at http://www.gofolkestone.org.uk/magazine