FOLKSTONE, the Lapis Pojiuli of the Romans, and the Folcestane of the Saxons, is a seaport town of England in the county of Kent. It is situated on unequal ground near the sea, and consists of three irregular streets, built chiefly on the acclivity of a hill. The houses, many of which are good, are principally built of brick. The church, which stands directly on the cliff above the town, is dedicated to St Mary and St Eauswith. It is built in the form of a cross, with a tower rising from the intersections, support ed on very large piers, from which spring pointed arches, with plain mouldings. The market-house has been re cently built at the expellee of the Earl of Radnor. A free school was founded here in 1674, for 20 poor children. The Baptists, Quakers, and Methodists, have each a meeting house in the town. There is also a custom-house at Folk • stone, and a battery mounting six heavy guns.
Folkstone enjoys a good coasting trade, and ship-build ing is carried on here to a considerable extent. The inhabi tants arc, however, principally employed in fishing. The fish is of a superior kind, and consists of mackerel, her rings, soles, whitings, conger eels, plaice, skate, &c. The
harbour was small, and preserved principally by jetties; but it has recently been much improved. Before the town there is good anchorage, with eight or ten fathoms of water. Folkstone is a member of the cirque ports, and is governed by a mayor, 12 jurats, and 24 common councilmen, &c. This town was formerly very large, containing 5 parish churches; but the greater part of it has been carried off by the sea. About a mile and a half to the north of Folkstonc, on the top of a high hill, is an ancient camp, comtprehending near ly two acres. The small bathing village of Sandgate is about a mile and a half west of Folkstone. A large mar tello tower has been erected in the centre of the castle of Sandgate; and at Shorn Cliff, on the hill above Sandgate, an extensive range of barracks has been recently built. In the year 1811, there were in the town of Folkstone, Inhabited houses . . 765 Families . . . . 841 Do. employed in agriculture . . .
Do. in trade . . 157 Males . 1673 Females . . 2024• Total population . . 3697 See the Beauties of England and IVales, vol. viii. p. 1 106, and Hasted's History of Kent. (w)