Publisher's Synopsis
This book covers the entire history of the Kentish port of Folkestone from its inception in the early years of the nineteenth century, its purchase by the South Eastern Railway and the commencement of a tidal steamer service to Boulogne in 1843. Although the history of the port will for ever be linked with Boulogne, other services were operated to Flushing, Ostend, Dunkirk and Calais and are also covered. The coming of the vehicle ferry service in 1972 greatly improved the port's fortunes but after a disastrous first year's trading, the Swedish Stena Line axed the traditional link at the close of 1991. Thereafter Hoverspeed and a number of purely freight operators lingered for another ten years before final closure. The book is enhanced by a wealth of historical and more recent photographs showing the port and its ferries, a complete fleet list, traffic statistics and maps of the port at different stages of its development.
