The Quarter

Folkestone was originally a small fishing village, and its oldest buildings are grouped from the harbour up the steep sided valley of the Pent Stream through The Bayle and towards the 13th century church, St Eanswythe’s.

This area, sometimes known as the Old Town, is mostly defined by two streets.

The Old High Street is a narrow cobbled thoroughfare lined by small shops running down from the modern shopping area to the harbour.

Tontine Street also runs from the harbour, but towards the eastern part of town. Built in the 19th Century it was once the town's main shopping street, but has been in serious decline for many years.

Between the two streets is a car park, some scrap land and then the buildings for the new University Centre Folkestone.

Most of this area has been in a poor state for many years, but the potential to build on its bohemian atmosphere has been obvious for decades (the architect Sir Hugh Casson commented on it in the 1960s). It is only now with the regeneration work being undertaken by the Creative Foundation that this potential looks set to be realised.