Folkestone, town in southeastern England, in Shepway District, Kent, on the Strait of Dover. Folkestone is a resort town and a major passenger-crossing point by ferry to the European continent. It is also the western terminus of the Channel Tunnel, a 50-km (31-mi) long passageway beneath the English Channel that opened in 1994. The town has fine beaches and is set in a coastal valley backed by cliffs, on which stands the 13th-century Church of Saint Mary and Saint Eanswythe. Folkestone is an ancient town; Roman, Saxon, and Norman ruins have been found in the vicinity. In AD630 Saint Eanswythe founded the first English convent here. In the Middle Ages the town was associated with nearby Dover, one of the Cinque Ports, and in 1621 received a license to build its own port facility. By the mid-19th century Folkestone had developed as a major resort of southern England. During World War II (1939-1945) the town was badly damaged by German artillery located on the coast of France, and by bombing. Population (1991) 45,587.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Folkestone Information info
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