Cheriton is a one-time village, but now is a suburb of Folkestone.  It doesn't get mentioned on the international news, but Cheriton is the site of the Channel Tunnel terminal. It is also a military garrison and at time of writing (2007) a Gurkha unit is based at Sir John Moore Barracks, Napier Barracks and Risborough Barracks Shorncliffe.   Cheriton has one of the main schools in Shepway - Pent Valley Technology College. The parish of Cheriton was part of Elham Rural District from 1894 to 1898, when it became a separate urban district. This was abolished in 1934 under a County Review Order, with the larger part added to Folkestone and the remainder to Hythe.

Built in 1894 and still going strong now.  Here is All Souls Church in Cheriton Road

My sister was married in this church.  On the day, she was shaking with nerves and looked very pale.  We were all expecting her to collapse before the service was over.  Then the vicar said "Will you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife" and my brother-in-law promptly fainted!  True story! :-)

A modern view of All Souls Primary School in Stanley Road.  Still going strong today, although built in 1887 it is needless to say, it has undergone a lot of work over the years.

This is an interesting view of Cheriton High Street, sent to me by Mike Vernol.  In the distance you can see the Palace Theatre, also known as the Cheriton Electric Hall.

Here you can see it under both names.  It was built in 1911, and it was located on the corner of Cheriton High Street and Sidney Road, Primarily built as a cinema, it doubled as a vaudeville theatre as well, and showed both each night.  It was very popular with the soldiers from Shorncliffe Camp.  Where is Sidney Road you ask? (As I did!)  It was the next street up the hill from Stanley Road, and Alan Taylor says it is an unmade no-through road, and he thinks it is a car showroom now.

Then & Now of Cheriton Road.  I don't know the date of the one on the left, but the one on the right was raken and sent to me fairly recently by Caromin Louw

Thanks Caromin, that's Safeway on the right isn't it?

Harcourt School for girls.  When I attended, Miss Ashdown was headmistress

Same school, only now is is Pent Valley Technology College, and is for both girls and boys.  Where you see all this cement, it used to be green rolling lawns, complete with bomb shelters! All you ex-Harcourt girls, take a look at your school now!  Pent Valley

The Star Inn, Newington, just outside Cheriton, built in 1710 and was my local.  Anyone who visited the Star will remember  the beautiful painted wall inside.  The tale goes that a passing traveller painted the whole wall in return for a bed and food.  The photo on the right was taken in 1978 when it was being demolished to make way for the M20 and the Channel Tunnel. The painting was of the inside of an inn, with coach and horses tethered outside the door.  The character in the faces of the people depicted was amazing!  Flo and Jerry Shorter were the last landlord & landlady.

Now let's have a few streets.  We start with Surrenden Road, where I used to live, in the very house where you can see a lady standing gossiping.  I was there much later than this photo though!

This is a pretty old one of Royal Military Avenue.  On the corner you can see tobacconist and newsagent G. Dolton & Sons.  I checked my 1958 Kelly's Directory, and listed at 2 Royal Military Avenue is still G. Dolton & Sons, and living above is  Edward Harry Dolton, whom I am assuming was one of his sons. (Looking at this photo under a magnifying glass, the figure to the right of Mr. Dolton looks like a very small and ugly witch!)

Risborough Lane, showing the Papillon Home

Fosters Steam Laundry in 1903

Foster's Laundry at the bottom of what is now Ashley Avenue, behind the Cherry Pickers public house, employed many women who moved to Folkestone to obtain employment there.

Rev. Hall Hall of St. Martin's church was so concerned about  the welfare of these young ladies, in such close proximity to the army camp, that he built, with the help of Mr. Foster, a block of cottages opposite the laundry, known as Ashley Cottages - now Rose Cottages.  They were managed by a housekeeper, and provided safe accommodation for the young employees.

The photo on the right and the above information was gleaned from a wonderful new book called 'St. Martin's Church, Cheriton.  An Illustrated History' by Vincent Williams.  The book is well researched, informative and written with a delightful sense of humour. Mr. Williams has kindly given me permission to use any photos I wish from his book, and I plan to use that offer to full advantage!

Here is Vincent Williams himself! However, he assures us he no longer looks anything like this photo.  He has lived in Cheriton all his life, and attended St. Martin's Church Sunday School in the mid 1970's until he was asked to leave for bad behaviour! However, he was later forgiven, and was accepted as a choir boy. If you are interested in Vincent's book, you can buy it directly from him by e-mailing HERE

The photo on the right was taken from the cover of the book, it's a lovely church isn't it?

This photograph dates from 1892, not many graves then were there?

There had been a few more deaths in Cheriton by 1925

I have had this photo of the Nave of St. Martin's on file for some time, and had it dated at 1892. But expect Mr. Williams could tell me if that is correct.

This one, and the one below were sent to me by Mike Vernol.  They both show Horn Street school, and in this photo  you can see St. Martin's Church up on the hill.

My first wedding took place in this church, as did my son's Christening five years later.

This photo, also taken from Vincent's book shows the 1912 choir along with its supplementary Ladies Choir.

I would guess that this photo of Cheriton High Street dates from the 40's or 50's.  Note the Baptist Church over on the right.  You will see more of that further down.

I can pin the date right down on this one though.  It was taken in May, 2005 - by me!  The Co op is just on the left, and I was standing on the corner of Stanley Road.

When I was walking up Stanley Road, I just had to take a photo of the beautiful vine growing over those two houses.  I don't know what it was, but it was lovely.

There must have been a circus in town, I can't think of any other reason why they would have had elephants trundling past the White Lion can you?  I would guess it was 1920-1925, do you agree?

King George V certainly drew a bigger crowd when he rode the same spot as the elephants a little earlier didn't he?  He came to Folkestone to inspect the troops at Beachborough before they left for the front.

The White Lion is in this one too, and it dates right back to 1906.  Such a history that Hotel must have.  Now I hear it recently lost its licence due to an incident involving guns, which according to British Licensing laws, prevents it from ever operating as a public house again.  As we speak in 2007, it is all boarded up.

This photo of Cheriton High Street and the Baptist Church is old, but not as old as the one on the right.

From humble beginnings - this is where the Cheriton Baptist Church began, in a former tradesman's shop in 1901

And here is how it looked in 2002 - quite a difference eh? The Cheriton Baptist Church is located on Quested Road, and I would like to thank them for allowing me to use the above two photographs that I found on their website, located HERE

OK, who remembers this company?  They were located on Ilex Road, where they moved from Foord Road.  I personally remember it very well, because I worked there in the office for a while!  It was owned by my step-father, Darkie Blackford, along with his other branch in Dover.

The project that changed the face of Cheriton forever, you are looking at the Channel Tunnel terminal from Pilgrim's Way

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And here was 3 Surrenden Road in 2006.  It is being very well looked after isn't it?

When I first put up these two pics of Morehall  School on Chart Road, I was bemoaning the fact that I hadn't been able to find any earlier photos of it.  Vince Williams, who recently wrote a book on St. Martin's Church, and is currently writing one on the rest of Cheriton, sent me the scan below, taken in 1909.  Nowadays it functions as Morehall Primary School, but when I lived in Cheriton it was strictly a boys Secondary Modern school.  Time was that primary girls & boys in the area would attend Harcourt, which functioned as a primary for mixed and a secondary for girls.  By the time I attended Harcourt, it was purely a Secondary Modern School for girls.  Morehall school was a definite target for us girls, because it was full of boys the same age as us!  Now I believe the boys of that age go to Pent Valley along with the girls, unless of course they go to the Harvey Grammar School.  I don't know what age of child attended when the photo below was taken.

This view was taken from Sainsbury's car park

This is one of my latest acquisitions, isn't it lovely?  It shows the Cheriton Post Office, and Maycock the newsagent/tobacconist.  I can't see a number anywhere on these shops.  When I lived there, the Cheriton Post Office was at 22 Cheriton High Street, with Nuttalls on one side and Bodsham Farm Shops on the other.  Maybe someone else can tell me if this is the same location.  I don't remember Maycocks being there.

Thanks to Lisa & Tony who sent me this scan so I don't have to wait until the actual picture arrives! :-)

I believe this school to be St. Martin's C of E Primary School, which is still thriving today with 200 pupils.  Check it out!  St. Martin's

Isn't it criminal that they could just demolish a piece of art like this?

Here is another one sent to me by Lisa & Tony.  I also have it on my Aerial Page, but thought it should be here too. These are the prefabs that were built hurriedly after the war in Biggins Wood.  Tony tells me he was born in one of them! I notice that the photo is titled Biggin Wood, yet I always understood it to be Biggins Wood.  At least I am sure the road is called Biggins Wood Road isn't it? Did those prefabs get torn down?  Something tells me they did.

This photo was sent to me by Peter Hogben of Hawkinge.  It was taken on Risborough Lane, near Cheriton Halt, right by the railway bridge that is still there.  The lorries (with solid tyres) belonged to Reeves Transport, who were still in business when I lived there. Left to right in the picture is   'Shagger' Wakefield -  'Bumper' Scott -  Fred 'Lasher'  Hogben (Peter's father) and Bill Tenee  (Foreman)   Peter tells me that 'Lasher' meant Rough crew.  We won't ask why Mr. Wakefield had his name will we? ;-)  Thanks Peter - great photo!

Page Updated April 6, 2008

Isn't this a great photo?  It too was sent to me by Peter Hogben.  It was the building of the bridge over Risborough Lane in 1913.  I would deduce that prior to that, they just had the arched bridge at Cheriton Halt station, which you can just see up on the right. and that in this photo, they were also removing the old bridge.  The new bridge is still in use today.  Peter was telling me that he was born in a house 200 yards away from here.  Thank you Peter, this one is a collector's dream!

Here is another great photo, but I have to admit, I don't know where it is.  Those shops look like the type that are along Cheriton High Street, however, I am confused by the long wall on the left.  If anyone can positively identify this location, I would appreciate it.  That pile of what looks like dirt on the right interests me too, the little boy doesn't look real, is he standing on top of it, or is he on display behind it?  That, we may never find out!.

Here we have Cheriton Recreation Park on Stanley Road.  One of the little boys has a tricycle, but I am not sure about the other one, could it be a pretend lawn mower?

Another photo of Horn Street School, however, this time, the card is entitled 'The Schools', so did that building incorporate more than one school at one time?

As you can see, it has undergone a lot of alteration over the years, but they have definitely retained the same building and front portico.  Removed all the unnecessary chimneys and the concrete and iron railing that I am sure many a lad became impaled upon!  What a great photo this is, thank you so much Vince!  I will let you know when Vince's book is available to purchase, he already has my order for a copy!