Heritage Protection

The Association’s constitution gives a list of the heritage that it wishes to preserve within the new development area.   Some of this is a complete area such as the East Head, Railway Pier, South Quay and Stade whilst others are specific structures associated with the railway and harbour.   Those that we wish to be protected are the "Bullion Room", Carriage Shed, Lighthouse, Signal Box, Station Master's House, the Swing Bridge and Viaduct.

Heritage is something that encourages visitors who may be revisiting the town after some time, maybe because they passed through the port on continental journeys in the past, because they stayed in the town when it was in its heyday or because they are interested in family or battlefield history.

Family history (known as genealogy) has mushroomed over recent years, driven by successful TV programmes such as “Who Do You Think You Are?” or “Time Team”.   We believe that this market is presently about 250,000 trips each year and expanding as more data is unlocked on websites such as “Ancestry”.

Does each item proposed for protection have to be kept in exactly the same place?   Well no.   Some structures such as the Lighthouse cannot be moved because it still serves its purpose and has to be where it is but others might be moved as a complete structure to make room for a new building.    This might allow for groups of heritage to be collected – forming an open air museum that tells the port’s story and place in history.   The Station Master’s House may house further historic items inside.

What happens if the new road layout requires the current railway level crossing to be removed?   This would suggest that either the railway is removed (but Network Rail has a 999 year lease) or that some solution is found that might allow the new road to cross the railway where it needs to – maybe with a relocated Signal Box.   This is something that would need to be discussed as it must not prevent long charter trains from reaching the port – which of course has platform area owned by the Harbour Company that might be used and provide a usable terminal – very much part of the military history and thus part of the town’s tourist attractions and the means to reach them.

The Remembrance Line Association supports the Regeneration of Folkestone but campaigns for the protection of the town’s history in a way that allows the development to be a success whilst retaining those things that the people of the town consider is important to them for personal or business reasons.   We are sure that an equitable outcome can be reached if all sides are prepared to consider the opinions of others so that each can consider that they have achieved what is really important to them.