Techno Heaven
Looking at this section of Sandgate Road today, you’ll note today that where there is absence of precinct, there’s increased footfall and more independent shops….what does that tell us?
In the 60s it was just an extension of what we’ve already seen so we’ll turn west and carry on…
Currently a shop that does framing we can see that it’s neighbours the estate agent are still there albeit in a different guise.
Today the notion of going to a small local, independent shop to purchase a televison or other household electrical goods just seems bonkers doesn’t it? Such is the way of things…
Nice view over to Hudson Brothers, now Chris’ lovely, very popular but punished bar, cafe, restaurant The Chambers
Welcome to Visda Electrical, February / March 1961
The other thing we don’t see anymore in town….car showrooms.
Folkestone once had a busy, diverse, bustling motor trade, employing loads and loads of people…including me for some time….a trade of which there is nothing of note remaining anymore. Most were around this part of town, so let’s see what we’ve been missing.
Henlys new exterior, Feb 1968
Auto Pilots, Citroen Dealer 19th October 1959
Caffyns, Sandgate Road April 1967
Jimmy Heath New Pantechnican, June 1961
Henlys Competition Winning Window, June 1967
I particuarly like the Henly’s competition winning window….it’s prediction that cars would go on board trains to go in the Channel Tunnel. That and the wanna be James Bond admiring his prospective Aston Martin in the widow of Martin Walters whilst Dad photographs Jimmy Heath’s impressive new pantechnican!
Majestic Parade
A site that has inherited the name of the fondly remembered (by those old enough) Majestic Hotel, also a bit of a nightspot, that held social events and dances and such. Demolished as you’ll see in August 1963 to be replaced by the modern structure we recognise now…famously until last year landmarked as the Hop Kweng.
Looking back….
Looking forwards now, en route to our final detination for this peice at the Holy Trinity Church, we wander past two examples of another industry that suffered terrible blows since, the vital to any tourist town Hotel industry.
A place to stay…
One of the town’s bigger hotels and a big employer at the time was Hotel Lyndhurst. My parents commissioned photographed many of the local hotels inside and out, thus so we have this lovely record of one of those and looks to be a grand place to stay in….it’s now Homepine House, retirement flats.
Next we meander by the Adelphi Hotel, now flats (a couple of people owning those bought framed copies of this photo which helped) and then the once lovely Garden House Hotel that was a terriffic place to go for an evening, even if you were young like I was at the time, (great bar!) until it burned down and was sold by the two living partners that owned it, to become retirement flats also…A terrible shame that leaves quite a void in terms of vibrance and sociability.
…and Finally….
To the Holy Trinity Church where we find weddings taking place…two of many hundreds photographed by the most skilled wedding photographers this town has ever seen, Pam & Richard Taylor.
Hall ~ Bailey, May 1966
Shaw ~ Marchant Wedding March 1964
Tozer’s Taxis, February 1966
Citpx Taxis, September 1965
Very familiar sights and a fantastic trip back in time. Recorded history of accelerated change, change that is ongoing at a pace. A busy and thriving town back then in the pre automation days, everyone busy it seems, many shops, businesses and hotels. The world changed and we all seem to have changed too. What do we all do now, our expectations and our outlook are all different. Are we better off, or do we simply think we are? That’s a hard one to answer and I don’t suppose we’ll ever know. Are we happier nowadays? You decide. Thanks for posting these fascinating pictures and history. Very well Done.
You mentioned the Garden House Hotel which my family owned 1923-1976ish.
That is correct and photos are included here… 🙂