Lunch at The Grand.

 

It wasn’t the best of days to be going out sightseeing but it was a case of go or miss out. We had heavy overnight rain and it was very cold and windy this morning, luckily we still have some winter woolies on board.

The bus stop was barely 100yards from the camp gate so it’s very convenient to travel into Folkestone. Unfortunately another family catch up visit had to be cancelled due to illness so it was just sightseeing for the day.

Leas cliff lift at Folkestone. Built 1885.

Upon arrival at the bus station we had a quick look through the shopping centre and then headed out towards the sea front. With the wind in our faces we headed off along the cliff top away from town coming first to the Leas Cliff Top Tramway. This ancient but still working tramway only travels about 150 yards up and down the cliff face to and from the beach. Built in 1854 it’s a very basic sort of arrangement but it still works as originally built. Two tram cars attached by cable and pulleys travel on a light rail system, underneath each car is a large water tank which when filled acts as the counterweight to pull the other car up the hill. At the bottom, that car then empties the water tank and the water is pumped back up to the top to be pumped into the tank of the other car for the whole process to operate again. Simple! There is a brake man at the top who controls the whole operation from a tiny hut.

Halfway.

Towards the end of the cliff top walk are two magnificent buildings. The New Metropole Hotel, which is undergoing a face lift, and The Grand. As it was almost lunch time we decide to go into The Grand and thaw out with a hot coffee and soup.

Inside The Grand, Folkestone.

A Chinese exhibition at the Grand, Folkestone.

In another part of the hotel filming was going on for a BBC current affairs program.

Leaving The Grand we weaved our way along a pathway which eventually took us down to the beach front. Information signs stated that the pathway with its tunnels, Grotto’s and alcove’s was called Pulhamite Rocks. Now you won’t find that in any geological reference book as is was named after its inventor, a certain Mr Pulham from London. The materials used were anything from old bricks and masonry to smashed pottery and crockery. It was all mixed with a special cement mixture, the ingredients of which Pulham must have taken to his grave as they have been unable to reproduce it accurately in repair works. Mr Pulham made use of unemployed labourer’s to create his master pieces of which there are many throughout England.

The Zig Zag path at the Leas, Folkestone.

The Vinery at Folkestone built circa 1930. Opened originally just for gentry it fell into dereliction and just been refurbished.

We eventually finished up down at the harbour with all its little fishing boats. This part of town did seem a bit run down but nothing different to any other seaside resort we have visited. A taxing walk back up the hill to the town centre, where we caught a bus back to Densole and the caravan site.

Folkestone harbour with the old pier railway bridge where boat trains arrived from London.

Old Folkestone street's.