Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
#1
Devastatingly, Folkestone Harbour Station is at grave risk and the Remembrance Line Association is fighting a gallant rear guard action to save it.
Folkestone Harbour Company in collusion with Network Rail,Shepway District council and Kent County Council will flatten the harbour station if the Office of the Rail Regulator grants them closure ratification in July. Their demolition contractors with itchy fingers are waiting for the moment of confirmation,all in the cause of making us wait 25years to have a vanity seafront development imposed upon us. Folkestone Harbour Station is the most important WW1 heritage remembrance site in the UK. Clearly, this could be the most overt act of heritage vandalism that Folkestone and the whole country has ever witnessed. Folkestone Harbour Station was the last piece of England seen by millions of soldiers as they set off for the Western Front... and whats more all this wanton destruction would be taking place in the 100th anniversary year of the commencement of the Great War. What a base insult to those who paid the ultimate price for King and Country. Sleep easy if you can, Folkestone Harbour Company- the world is watching you in your house of bamboo-are you really prepared to bulldose the hearts,minds and memories of millions across the world at the time of this overwhelmingly poignant centenary?
http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk/Never give up...
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#2
When the National War Memorial proposals were put forward, I understood those very arguments were put forward for Dover and why it should be put on top of the White Cliffs of Dover.
Are you now saying Richard, that those people who said no to Dover (now I understand, they have come round to supporting Dover's location), were right ?
Shouldn't Folkestone's Harbour station be redeveloped and refurbished, it could/would make a great tourist attraction and benefit the whole of East Kent.
Roger
Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#3
What a sorry sight your pictures portray Richard. I can remember the time when the ferries came into Folkestone and the station was a hive of activity with the frequent boat trains, including the Golden Arrow, steaming over the harbour bridge and up the steep incline of the Tram Road.
In my youth, as a member of the SJAB, I was there many times in the early hours helping the returning pilgrims from Lourdes off the ships along with their 'extra' duty free's under the blankets in their stretchers!
It seems such a shame that it is not being restored considering it's history and the contribution it could still make to the future of Folkestone.
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#4
My last time down there was welding the word Folkestone which you can still see from the front.
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#5
What this one Vic ?! What a load of rubbish this looks from the promenade; when I first saw it a few years ago I wrote to the Folkestone Herald to complain, as I thought it was graffiti.!!
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#6
That is the one sir my welding still holding out.
Its not my place to say who paid for it but the person is very well off
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#7
If you look at the letter K in Folk it was made to look like a man going up a ladder.The letter O in stone is a hand.
They were all cut that way at our workshops that is the way the company was told to do it each of the letters is made to look like other objects
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
#8
Roger re #2. Where on earth did I give the impression that I was taking anything away from Dover? The coastal heritage towns of Folkestone
and Dover are very close to my heart. I've just read through it again-can't spot it.
Preserve and restore the Folkestone Harbour Branch Railway and its station as a tourist attraction?- tell me about it!
http://www.theremembranceline.org.uk/Never give up...
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#9
Thanks Richard.
I wasn't saying you were taking anything away from Dover, but the arguments you were using as to why Folkestone Harbour may be redeveloped (for seafront) housing, were exactly the same arguments used by the detractors of the National War Memorial on top of the White Cliffs - that:
"Folkestone Harbour Station is the most important WW1 heritage remembrance site in the UK. Folkestone Harbour Station was the last piece of England seen by millions of soldiers as they set off for the Western Front".
I fully agree with your other comments "and whats more all this wanton destruction would be taking place in the 100th anniversary year of the commencement of the Great War. What a base insult to those who paid the ultimate price for King and Country. Sleep easy if you can, Folkestone Harbour Company- the world is watching you in your house of bamboo-are you really prepared to bulldose the hearts,minds and memories of millions across the world at the time of this overwhelmingly poignant centenary?"
English Heritage (and I think one or two others) were against the National War Memorial on top of the White Cliffs, but I believe they are now supporting it - because of strong and successful lobbying.
I wasn't accusing you of anything at all Richard, other than supporting our history and heritage.
Roger
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#10
The White Cliffs were the last of Blighty they saw but Folkestone Harbour Quay was the last British soil many of them ever stood on. A pretty equal status, I would say.
Lest we forget.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
#11
Thankyou Roger -understood. Peter-an excellent sentiment.
Never give up...
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#12
FOUR DAYS out in the winter cold and rain welding up that sign and no one likes it.
Ha, Ha. Ha.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#13
Mr Moffatt sir .I need you to come over and look at this bridge at the EKR you do not have a email address on the forum so can you help in this matter thank you.My m/is 07758710889
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#14
Vic Matcham wrote:That is the one sir my welding still holding out.
Its not my place to say who paid for it but the person is very well off
Another of your welding jobs Vic?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-44769125
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,109
#15
We've had arrivals from Dieppe in Dover before now.
The first post of this thread was unduly pessimistic as things turned out.
(Not my real name.)
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#16
yes it is sir it took me 24/hours to take the old birth down on my own must say, but it took some weeks with 6 of us to replace it.
but that was years go about 20years or more.
Ad I only done the weldng on that sigh in Folkestone not the making of it which was done in our workshop but it done as they asked for it.
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#17
Sounds like a difficult berth Vic . It must have been quite a job if it needed 6 of you to deliver it.
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#18
Thats a good one in fact when we renewed the birth at Newhaven it was over 30 years ago ,I was working for a company then called H&B MARINE still going today.The last job I done for the D,H.B.was the big hole on Dover sea front, the forum have photos of that and me welding up the old piles .
still holding
up today.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#19
good to see the area full at weekends
and during England games
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