A bittersweet one for me. I used to work for Folkestone & Hythe council and my job was looking after the Royal Military Canal. Then i got sepsis & lost my legs. So there was no more beautiful days on "The Weed Barge" sorting out the canal everyday. It was difficult seeing the canal for the first time. I haven't been able to go back. I tear up just thinking about it. But thanks for the look at the town i lived in since the turn of the century. I've moved inland to a rural village with trees & birds. So things are ok.
not only did I learn all about sound mirrors of which I was completely ignorant, I got to see the sea on a perfect spring day. This was the walk I needed to see today.
My goodness, Folkestone has had a lick of paint since the 80's! I was baptised in the sea at Dimchurch, my husband Hythe. We've ridden the steam train BUT never heard of the sound mirrors. Thank you.
19.1 miles impressive walk. 10 years since I was there. Lovely old book shop at the end. Looks like they’ve made some welcome improvements to the area. Some real old splendour, those grand terraces and hotels. You were lucky with the sunshine.
Stayed in that big hotel, the Grand Burstin Hotel about 16 years ago. We had a water leak from the room above so we (temporarily) renamed the hotel the 'Damn Burstin Hotel'! Definitely a striking building and the dining room seems to be from the previous Victorian generation of the hotel.
It would be wonderful to walk from Deal on the Kent Coast along the cliffs to Dover or the other way from Deal along to Sandwich and possibly to Thanet, but that would be a long walk, basically Deal is worth a visit with its two and a bit castles, it's pier and the timeball Tower, great little sea side town. 👍👊✌️.
The Romney Dymchurch and Hythe Railway is a scheduled 1/3rd scale tourist railway whicxh is also used by the l;ocals to get around e.g. students from Dungeness etc getting to school. Thanks so much for the video. My wife and I had a very happy 5 years in Folkestone till we emigrated to Australia.
I went to Folkestone on Jubilee Weekend and walked about 13 miles...don't know how you were still able to vlog at the end of your 19 mile walk, as you walked up the hill at the creative quarter! I think I would be crawling! Also went to Folkestone for a day trip in March, as well as Margate and Ramsgate all in one day from London. Kent has really impressed me with how they are rejuvenating the coastal towns, especially Margate and Folkestone, they're going to be really special places to visit in the next few years, if not special already.
Great film as always. Lovely Folkestone was where I spent many childhood holidays, in the mid 1960s. And it's where I took my Mum several times in her declining years, over a decade ago. Coincidentally I'm visiting the town again in 5 days time, for the first time since she died. I'm excited to see the improvements as it was quite faded when I was last there, but I know that all the memories of former times will be difficult companions on the day.
I love the sound of waves rasping on a shingle beach--it is so peaceful and soothing! Folkestone looks like a lovely place to visit. Someday I will have to make my way there and have a drink in the Folklore pub.
I was last in Folkestone about 10 years ago to catch an old Clyde steamer for a trip around the coast back to London. The town was very seedy then. Pleased to see that it has improved. Nice video as always.
I’ve been fascinated by these for years. There were lots of them built nationwide and in other countries. Some were built specifically for entertainment purposes, as whispering dishes. I seem to recall a news item many years ago, when the plan was to have two large dishes set up on either side of the English Channel near Dover and Calais, where it might have been possible to communicate verbally between the two countries! It never materialised, sadly, but wouldn’t that have been wonderful! Great stuff John.
Thanks John. My Great Uncle sailed from Folkestone to France in 1915 but unfortunately never made the return journey as he was KiA. I’ve always wanted to visit the last place he saw as he sailed away and your walk has inspired me. Thank you 🙏
Been there about a year before the tunnel went in to visit my brother who was a chef on one of the boats you talked about , I always thought it was an old timers place or day visit place but he no longer works on the boats and has made Folkestone his home for the formidable future , it is a nice town but just not for me , nice memories watching your video, and nice weather too.
Nice one John. I rented a flat in Sandgate from 2016 to 19 right next to the Sandgate Hotel overlooking the channel (a few doors down from that still shot you did of the house with the sun shade in the front garden). I know the tangible thing you mean about that bit of coast. I walked that beach route then on to the canal to Hythe every day. Lovely walk. You should try it at night one time. It’s very strange yet comforting. I remember seeing the fireworks on the horizon on the French coast an hour early on New Year’s Day. Did you know you walked past HG Wells’s beach front house too?
Perfect timing, bedtime can wait! Actually before I watch the video I wanted to say that I made a playlist of the wonderful music you use in your videos (link below if anyone interested) and spent yesterday afternoon wandering around London in the glorious sunshine listening to it and imagining I was taking part in one of your videos in real life. All that was missing was your genial narration and company! This got me thinking, have you thought of making some audio only 'tours' based off some of your walks (sell on itunes/patreon)?! Rather than a formal walking audio guide recorded in a studio and based on a script, I was thinking that like your videos they could be recorded in situ and mostly in real time, with the same off the cuff remarks and personal observations as well as more researched information. Of course there would have to be some thought and planning as to how to guide the listener along the right path, how to sync your walk and the listeners' together etc but spur of the moment route changes and getting lost on golf courses would just add to the flavour! And of course all the music from your videos to pull it together. I don't know if it would work out in practice (could be a lot of work to get right if your viewers aren't just sitting on their couch but are wandering around London in real time!) but it seems a fun approach that I haven't seen done before. Just an idea!
This is AMAZING! When you said "sound mirrors," I pictured installation landscape art, probably with bright colors. An excellent video for the history of defending Great Britain (note the marker for Hastings, well done).
Hello John! I'm from the USA and wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your videos! Very informative and rich in history. Visiting your homeland is on my bucket list, and I hope to get across the pond soon! Cheers!!
Thanks John. This brought back great memories for me. My maternal grandfather retired to Hythe and I spent some summers there in the 1950s. Magical memories of a “Venetian Fete” on the Royal Military Canal and trips on the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Seas could be very rough there especially the Sandgate end. There was also a “temporary” military bridge over the canal for some years - a second war relic! It was called “the old rattle bang” by the locals for obvious reasons.
A lovely walk! One for me next time I visit! Folkestone has improved and developed across the years I've been visiting- lucky me has a son who lives there :)
Thoroughly enjoyed this John. Brilliant video. Folkestone looks like a great place to visit. We will never get bored of hearing your catch phrase. Love it and always say it along with you. 😄 Thank you for another great Sunday walk.
Great walk, linking some four centuries or more of miltary infrastructure. As you pointed out, the whole area is rich in historical associations, not least with continental Europe. Folkestone looks as if its undergone something of a renaissance since I last visited a decade or so ago - and well worth a visit. I really enjoyed this video. Thank you!
Thank you for taking us on another lovely walk John. So interesting and different. I think of those Sound Mirrors as sea ears. They match the sea eyes up at Fylingdales, peeping out over the North Sea. Magical travelling.
One interesting author who was actually raised in Sandgate/Folkestone was Jocelyn Brooke, whose Orchid Trilogy heavily features the area - funny, because I just finished it the night before you published this video!
Smaller scale versions of that cliffside railway things (known locally as inclinators) are quite popular in my part of Canada where people install them to make it easier to get from their cottages down to the dock. Great video, beautiful area.
What a lovely area, combines town, seafront and beautiful countryside up in the hills. I stayed in the "Hotel Burstin" back in the 80's for a weekend, it was very busy and it's huge! Long corridors.. We just used it as a base, nice room and meals but it was the entertainment in the Ballroom wasn't really our thing. The "Ocean Liner" design was very eye catching, but the name tickled us! A nice walk, lovely old streets at the end. A lot of steep inclines! Thanks John!
Hey John, what I find fascinating about your channel is that, although I originate from Cornwall to Scotland, to Lincs via Yorks and back down again and have never had the slightest interest in the SE, always avoided it unless necessary. What you portray is the forgotten history of this greatly populated part of our Isles and convey that history, both recent and ancient . When you can think that history is not obvious, it does not always seem so, but it is given the nearness to mainland Europe it is very relevant and intertwined. Tis Good Ta! Carry on sir!
Just recently purchased your 1st book from book depository,..Great stuff! Recuperating from shoulder fusion surgery...binging on your videos. Thanks John!
The other sound mirrors are at Lade which is between Greatstone and Lydd.. although as you said you can't get completely to them you can walk around the lake and still see them.. you also have a Mulberry Harbour at Littlestone.. Lade also has some Fort ruins.. then on down to Dungeness.. so still more for you to explore down there
Glorious walk John. I’ve never been to Folkestone, but it look a lovely place. I’ve heard about those listening devices and that was quite a walk up to that one. I believe there are more of them at different points along the coast. I had no idea that canal existed. Very interesting and well cared for. Thanks for reminding us of the sea and sunshine.
As always, your walks and historic content is excellent and inspiring. I was fortunate enough to have seen the sound mirrors. There is an additional sound mirror on the cliffs between Folkestone and Dover, which was featured in a television drama titled Back to Life, all filmed in the area. The final episode being the Harbour Arm. I look forward to your videos.
Small point - it was Edward VII who spent time in Folkestone, not Edward VI. The Leas Lift was operational in 2016 but closed for safety reasons - hopefully one day it will reopen.
I grew up on the housing development at the foot of that hill where the acoustic mirror is. I spent many a day of my childhood roaming those hills with my friends. The mirror wasn't fenced off in those days so we could freely climb into it and play inside it, some kids even used to skate inside it kind of like a crude half pipe. There is a bunker like room below it where the operator would have been. You may have missed it but the bridge across the canal at the bottom of the hill has a small scale model acoustic mirror which demonstrates how surprisingly effective they are (you need 2 people - one person stands across the other side of the canal and talks at a normal volume and the other person stands with their ear close to the mirror and you can hear the other person really clearly).
Hello John,thank you for a walk down memory lane.we had a caravan on a site at the bottom of the hill below the dish from the mid sixties to the mid eighties .As kids we would wheel our bikes up the hill and spend afternoons skateboarding in the radar as we called it then ride our bikes down (quite terrifying at the time)more than one milk tooth was lost that way.Those long hot summers seem like a thousand years ago,so once again thank you.
Thanks for the walk, it reminds me of regular trips to buy whelks on the harbour many years ago. Sadly I now live far away and have no teeth. Keep up the good work.
All of that was my stomping ground. I know it all so well. I love living here in Ashford and having lived in Sellindge, Lympne, Hawkinge, I’ve walked all around the area all my adult life…..plus I grew up only a few miles away too.
By the time these dishes were built, microphones had replaced the basic trumpets. There's several of similar devices along this stretch of coastline including the massive sound wall at Dungeness.
Visited the three at Dungeness a couple of times a few years ago but they were only open on group visits a couple of times a year. (Not sure what the present situation is like). First time there was about 30 of us on a rainy afternoon and we managed to get some good shots of the mirrors and we had a talk from a chap who was an expert on these things which was very interesting. The second visit was after the sound mirrors had been featured on 'Coast' and there were several hundred people there, crawling all over the place and having picnics so it was hopeless for photography! Apparently they were due to be destroyed by the Royal Engineers at some point in the 40's (I am saying this from memory so don't take too much notice, probably completely inaccurate). The RE turned up all ready to get on with the job but the explosives were delayed by a train breaking down or something, and then the RE were called off to another job so the Sound Mirrors were saved! They are amazing, especially the massive curved wall, as I am sure you know!
The harbour station used to have sidings back on to the beach. The white hotel (bustin?) was not built for the harbour but for weekend tourists I think in the 70s. It replace an amazing railway hotel for the ferries. There are more Sound mirrors right by the canal nearby the station at Hythe.
Hi John long time viewer who has enjoyed your videos immensely over the years, it was nice to see you down my neck of the woods (Deal) covering this great country's diminishing history, next time you wish to give the part of the coast a visit and fancy some company get in touch, I am avid walker myself who has covered many miles of Kents brilliant coastline, from Rochester down as far as Hastings.
I don’t share your love of concrete wartime relics. I get a very strange feeling with structures like that. But that was a glorious walk. Wouldn’t hurt to keep a pair of shorts in your rucksack for such times. Thanks for taking us with you John 👊🏼
Thanks John - a much underrated part of the country. It's been yrs since I visited, but you've stirred my desire to go back. I'd bet you'll sleep well tonight with all that sea air !!
Awesome remember taking the Hovercraft over to Boulougne in 81. Always surprises me and maybe worth mentioning how recent the land bridge closed between Britain and the continent just 8 thousand years ago - in human time as so few things like that are
Never been there but almost worked there. I got a job with a company in Leeds but was offered more to stay where I was, glad I did as they relocated to Folkestone!
I did this walk last autumn John. I visited the sound mirrors on Abbots Cliff and Hythe. A second trip took me to the sound mirrors at Dover too. Your walk took me back to those fantastic days out last year. Thank you.
On a related different subject, I went up Bekton Ski Mount yesterday. Theres a hole in the gate on the left as your coming from East Ham way down Woolwich Manor Way. I IMPLORE you try and get yourself up it John. The path is still intact inside and safe enough. Theres no view like from any point in East London. It on a par (if not better) with Greenwich and Primrose Hill. Stunning. I could be over selling but its an almost 360 panoramic view. Its a must. I CANNOT ENDORSE THIS ENOUGH.
1st video I have watched and I got to say that I really enjoyed the history lesson. Keep up the good work. We are going to watch the rest of your videos. From a family in New Zealand
Mr .John Rogers, Thank you so much for this most beautiful walk. Truly a place I would love to live.. If only in my dreams. Your walks bring so much learning to someone that will never be able to make it to the land of my ancestors. Thanks again & may God bless you & family. 🌸🌾🌿
I walked through Folkstone last year and was pretty impressed, but I'm going to have to go back to explore it properly after watching this video...especially the bits at the end of the video. You really need to go visit the Abbots Cliff sound mirror, John, (the one from back to life). It's very high up, huge and imposing and the views over Folkstone from the cliff top are epic...especially if you reach it at the Golden hour.
Thanks for another video, fascinating content. Love the relaxed style with bursts of enthusiasm interspersed. "I have no map..." yes definitely a walk with John.
Hi John brilliant video as always, love that area of Kent. Spent many a happy caravan holiday in Great Stone and spent time on the RHD railway as a child, so glad Folkestone is able to reinvent it self after the Ferry's moved out. Done that High Street walk and you did well to talk whilst walking up it lol, look forward to your next walk.
Walked up to that mirror when I was living nearby back in the 80s. I seem to remember there was two mirrors. then there was no fence so you could walk right up to them. I watched a video about the sound mirror down on the marsh near Lydd. They said that the people listening only did it for a short time, maybe two hours.
The fence was erected because the sound mirror is in danger of collapse. Many years ago the MOD put out a tender to repair the mirror but they were deemed too expensive so they decided to put a fence round it.
What an absolute joy your videos are. We're coming soon and plan to use your walks as guides. I hope to actually be able to book some time with you. Thank you so much.
What a wonderful walk, John, the bonus at the end the winding high street! I've been to many model railway exhibitions at the lees cliff hall, I assume the cliff railway is still not operational
Great video.... I live in Folkestone. Moved here 3 years ago and I'm a chef in Wells House.... I must explore more never knew half of this stuff existed !
Wow not watched the channel for about a month switch on and your walking straight past my front door. Originally from Leytonstone moved down here 11 years ago. I'm right on the sea front in Hythe and unfortunately had to spend the lockdown doing my daily walk along the sea front and canal 🙂. Lovely pub along the sea front in sandgate called the Ship you could have had a beer on the beach. The Lazyshack is a great place to go for breakfast at the weekend or any morning really. Great video hopefully you get back down here soon to explore some more. All the best mate 👍
Thank you John for invoking memories of our last visit to the UK pre Covid. We stayed in the Hotel Grand Burstin which was most certainly not Grand. If you visit Hythe again a trip to Dungeness on the railway that you heard in the video is highly recommend. Stay safe.
What a fabulous video. I spent all my summers from the age of 10 at a little caravan site called East Fleet Caravan Site from where I could see the Sound Mirror most clearly. as DC3's come over the top of Lymph Castle/Church. A lovely coast from Hastings to Dover, I still holiday in Folkestone to date.
very Enjoyable, so much History as well....just had the Air/Con serviced so it was as if I could feel those Sea Breezes as I marvelled over the Folkestone shoreline...Beer in hand.
A bittersweet one for me.
I used to work for Folkestone & Hythe council and my job was looking after the Royal Military Canal.
Then i got sepsis & lost my legs. So there was no more beautiful days on "The Weed Barge" sorting out the canal everyday.
It was difficult seeing the canal for the first time. I haven't been able to go back. I tear up just thinking about it.
But thanks for the look at the town i lived in since the turn of the century.
I've moved inland to a rural village with trees & birds. So things are ok.
Bless your heart. Thanks for your time looking after the Canal.
@@touriel8943 Thank you! That's a nice thought 🤗
There's no nicer walk than a walk along the coast, especially on such a lovely day.
not only did I learn all about sound mirrors of which I was completely ignorant, I got to see the sea on a perfect spring day. This was the walk I needed to see today.
My goodness, Folkestone has had a lick of paint since the 80's!
I was baptised in the sea at Dimchurch, my husband Hythe. We've ridden the steam train BUT
never heard of the sound mirrors. Thank you.
19.1 miles impressive walk. 10 years since I was there. Lovely old book shop at the end. Looks like they’ve made some welcome improvements to the area. Some real old splendour, those grand terraces and hotels. You were lucky with the sunshine.
Stayed in that big hotel, the Grand Burstin Hotel about 16 years ago. We had a water leak from the room above so we (temporarily) renamed the hotel the 'Damn Burstin Hotel'! Definitely a striking building and the dining room seems to be from the previous Victorian generation of the hotel.
That's the _posh_ dining room, and it is indeed from the previous incarnation. The carvery is quite good. ;o)
I love Folkestone ❤️
great to see the old town being renovated and loved, i hope the incrediable sound mirror gets some TLC for future generations to wonder at
It would be wonderful to walk from Deal on the Kent Coast along the cliffs to Dover or the other way from Deal along to Sandwich and possibly to Thanet, but that would be a long walk, basically Deal is worth a visit with its two and a bit castles, it's pier and the timeball Tower, great little sea side town. 👍👊✌️.
The Romney Dymchurch and Hythe Railway is a scheduled 1/3rd scale tourist railway whicxh is also used by the l;ocals to get around e.g. students from Dungeness etc getting to school. Thanks so much for the video. My wife and I had a very happy 5 years in Folkestone till we emigrated to Australia.
I went to Folkestone on Jubilee Weekend and walked about 13 miles...don't know how you were still able to vlog at the end of your 19 mile walk, as you walked up the hill at the creative quarter! I think I would be crawling! Also went to Folkestone for a day trip in March, as well as Margate and Ramsgate all in one day from London. Kent has really impressed me with how they are rejuvenating the coastal towns, especially Margate and Folkestone, they're going to be really special places to visit in the next few years, if not special already.
Great film as always. Lovely Folkestone was where I spent many childhood holidays, in the mid 1960s. And it's where I took my Mum several times in her declining years, over a decade ago. Coincidentally I'm visiting the town again in 5 days time, for the first time since she died. I'm excited to see the improvements as it was quite faded when I was last there, but I know that all the memories of former times will be difficult companions on the day.
I love the sound of waves rasping on a shingle beach--it is so peaceful and soothing!
Folkestone looks like a lovely place to visit. Someday I will have to make my way there and have a drink in the Folklore pub.
I was last in Folkestone about 10 years ago to catch an old Clyde steamer for a trip around the coast back to London. The town was very seedy then. Pleased to see that it has improved. Nice video as always.
As the kids say. This video has such a *vibe*. Truly beautiful and interesting at the same time.
I’ve been fascinated by these for years. There were lots of them built nationwide and in other countries. Some were built specifically for entertainment purposes, as whispering dishes. I seem to recall a news item many years ago, when the plan was to have two large dishes set up on either side of the English Channel near Dover and Calais, where it might have been possible to communicate verbally between the two countries!
It never materialised, sadly, but wouldn’t that have been wonderful! Great stuff John.
Thanks John. My Great Uncle sailed from Folkestone to France in 1915 but unfortunately never made the return journey as he was KiA. I’ve always wanted to visit the last place he saw as he sailed away and your walk has inspired me. Thank you 🙏
Been there about a year before the tunnel went in to visit my brother who was a chef on one of the boats you talked about , I always thought it was an old timers place or day visit place but he no longer works on the boats and has made Folkestone his home for the formidable future , it is a nice town but just not for me , nice memories watching your video, and nice weather too.
Nice one John. I rented a flat in Sandgate from 2016 to 19 right next to the Sandgate Hotel overlooking the channel (a few doors down from that still shot you did of the house with the sun shade in the front garden). I know the tangible thing you mean about that bit of coast. I walked that beach route then on to the canal to Hythe every day. Lovely walk. You should try it at night one time. It’s very strange yet comforting. I remember seeing the fireworks on the horizon on the French coast an hour early on New Year’s Day. Did you know you walked past HG Wells’s beach front house too?
What a super walk. Thanks for sharing it..I love Folkestone and that coastline in general. It's a special place.
Perfect timing, bedtime can wait! Actually before I watch the video I wanted to say that I made a playlist of the wonderful music you use in your videos (link below if anyone interested) and spent yesterday afternoon wandering around London in the glorious sunshine listening to it and imagining I was taking part in one of your videos in real life. All that was missing was your genial narration and company! This got me thinking, have you thought of making some audio only 'tours' based off some of your walks (sell on itunes/patreon)?!
Rather than a formal walking audio guide recorded in a studio and based on a script, I was thinking that like your videos they could be recorded in situ and mostly in real time, with the same off the cuff remarks and personal observations as well as more researched information. Of course there would have to be some thought and planning as to how to guide the listener along the right path, how to sync your walk and the listeners' together etc but spur of the moment route changes and getting lost on golf courses would just add to the flavour! And of course all the music from your videos to pull it together.
I don't know if it would work out in practice (could be a lot of work to get right if your viewers aren't just sitting on their couch but are wandering around London in real time!) but it seems a fun approach that I haven't seen done before. Just an idea!
The playlist I made of the music John uses is here: th-cam.com/play/PLqzhS4ylZFjaNlZFQejJYOgMxpy7MTI09.html
@@mallardzoom2890 Thank you!
@@autumnadobe5024 You're welcome!
This is AMAZING! When you said "sound mirrors," I pictured installation landscape art, probably with bright colors. An excellent video for the history of defending Great Britain (note the marker for Hastings, well done).
Hello John! I'm from the USA and wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your videos! Very informative and rich in history. Visiting your homeland is on my bucket list, and I hope to get across the pond soon! Cheers!!
Thanks John. This brought back great memories for me. My maternal grandfather retired to Hythe and I spent some summers there in the 1950s. Magical memories of a “Venetian Fete” on the Royal Military Canal and trips on the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Seas could be very rough there especially the Sandgate end. There was also a “temporary” military bridge over the canal for some years - a second war relic! It was called “the old rattle bang” by the locals for obvious reasons.
Excellent, all of these amazing places I've not visited.
A lovely walk! One for me next time I visit! Folkestone has improved and developed across the years I've been visiting- lucky me has a son who lives there :)
Superb John, loved this one - so peaceful.
Thoroughly enjoyed this John. Brilliant video. Folkestone looks like a great place to visit. We will never get bored of hearing your catch phrase. Love it and always say it along with you. 😄 Thank you for another great Sunday walk.
Great walk, linking some four centuries or more of miltary infrastructure. As you pointed out, the whole area is rich in historical associations, not least with continental Europe. Folkestone looks as if its undergone something of a renaissance since I last visited a decade or so ago - and well worth a visit. I really enjoyed this video. Thank you!
I was standing with my bike on top of that hut just the other day. Great blast downhill from there
Thank you for taking us on another lovely walk John. So interesting and different. I think of those Sound Mirrors as sea ears. They match the sea eyes up at Fylingdales, peeping out over the North Sea. Magical travelling.
One interesting author who was actually raised in Sandgate/Folkestone was Jocelyn Brooke, whose Orchid Trilogy heavily features the area - funny, because I just finished it the night before you published this video!
Late start for me but can't wait to get stuck in. Thanks John. Happy Sunday. 😊 👍🏾 👍🏾 as always!!!
Smaller scale versions of that cliffside railway things (known locally as inclinators) are quite popular in my part of Canada where people install them to make it easier to get from their cottages down to the dock. Great video, beautiful area.
What a lovely area, combines town, seafront and beautiful countryside up in the hills. I stayed in the "Hotel Burstin" back in the 80's for a weekend, it was very busy and it's huge! Long corridors.. We just used it as a base, nice room and meals but it was the entertainment in the Ballroom wasn't really our thing. The "Ocean Liner" design was very eye catching, but the name tickled us! A nice walk, lovely old streets at the end. A lot of steep inclines! Thanks John!
Hey John, what I find fascinating about your channel is that, although I originate from Cornwall to Scotland, to Lincs via Yorks and back down again and have never had the slightest interest in the SE, always avoided it unless necessary. What you portray is the forgotten history of this greatly populated part of our Isles and convey that history, both recent and ancient . When you can think that history is not obvious, it does not always seem so, but it is given the nearness to mainland Europe it is very relevant and intertwined. Tis Good Ta! Carry on sir!
Just recently purchased your 1st book from book depository,..Great stuff! Recuperating from shoulder fusion surgery...binging on your videos. Thanks John!
Best of luck with your recovery Jim
The other sound mirrors are at Lade which is between Greatstone and Lydd.. although as you said you can't get completely to them you can walk around the lake and still see them.. you also have a Mulberry Harbour at Littlestone.. Lade also has some Fort ruins.. then on down to Dungeness.. so still more for you to explore down there
Glorious walk John. I’ve never been to Folkestone, but it look a lovely place. I’ve heard about those listening devices and that was quite a walk up to that one. I believe there are more of them at different points along the coast. I had no idea that canal existed. Very interesting and well cared for. Thanks for reminding us of the sea and sunshine.
As always, your walks and historic content is excellent and inspiring.
I was fortunate enough to have seen the sound mirrors. There is an additional sound mirror on the cliffs between Folkestone and Dover, which was featured in a television drama titled Back to Life, all filmed in the area. The final episode being the Harbour Arm.
I look forward to your videos.
Small point - it was Edward VII who spent time in Folkestone, not Edward VI. The Leas Lift was operational in 2016 but closed for safety reasons - hopefully one day it will reopen.
The building that looks like an ocean liner used to be The Hotel Burstin. That was a very swinging place in the 80's and 90's. Fond memories.
I grew up on the housing development at the foot of that hill where the acoustic mirror is. I spent many a day of my childhood roaming those hills with my friends. The mirror wasn't fenced off in those days so we could freely climb into it and play inside it, some kids even used to skate inside it kind of like a crude half pipe. There is a bunker like room below it where the operator would have been. You may have missed it but the bridge across the canal at the bottom of the hill has a small scale model acoustic mirror which demonstrates how surprisingly effective they are (you need 2 people - one person stands across the other side of the canal and talks at a normal volume and the other person stands with their ear close to the mirror and you can hear the other person really clearly).
Ah, the Kentish Riviera. When the rest of the country is sheltering from the weather, we're basking in glorious sunshine.
Hello John,thank you for a walk down memory lane.we had a caravan on a site at the bottom of the hill below the dish from the mid sixties to the mid eighties .As kids we would wheel our bikes up the hill and spend afternoons skateboarding in the radar as we called it then ride our bikes down (quite terrifying at the time)more than one milk tooth was lost that way.Those long hot summers seem like a thousand years ago,so once again thank you.
Thanks for another cracking ramble very scenic and interesting historical place
Thanks for the walk, it reminds me of regular trips to buy whelks on the harbour many years ago. Sadly I now live far away and have no teeth. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Aber
Outstanding. What an enchanting location. Thanks so much as always, for taking us with you.
Thanks John for another amazing walk. Never been to Folkestone and what a picturesque place it is.
My grandmother had one similar fitted to her bungalow in order to hear the holiday makers arriving in prestatyn for the summer season.
Really Really fascinating video.
All of that was my stomping ground. I know it all so well. I love living here in Ashford and having lived in Sellindge, Lympne, Hawkinge, I’ve walked all around the area all my adult life…..plus I grew up only a few miles away too.
Excellent little video John. It has quite whetted my appetite to visit Folkestone which I may do next weekend. Thanks.
By the time these dishes were built, microphones had replaced the basic trumpets. There's several of similar devices along this stretch of coastline including the massive sound wall at Dungeness.
Visited the three at Dungeness a couple of times a few years ago but they were only open on group visits a couple of times a year. (Not sure what the present situation is like). First time there was about 30 of us on a rainy afternoon and we managed to get some good shots of the mirrors and we had a talk from a chap who was an expert on these things which was very interesting. The second visit was after the sound mirrors had been featured on 'Coast' and there were several hundred people there, crawling all over the place and having picnics so it was hopeless for photography! Apparently they were due to be destroyed by the Royal Engineers at some point in the 40's (I am saying this from memory so don't take too much notice, probably completely inaccurate). The RE turned up all ready to get on with the job but the explosives were delayed by a train breaking down or something, and then the RE were called off to another job so the Sound Mirrors were saved! They are amazing, especially the massive curved wall, as I am sure you know!
Another great walk John, as always, very informative, look forward to the next one.
Cheers Mark
Another delight! - Thank you 😊
The harbour station used to have sidings back on to the beach. The white hotel (bustin?) was not built for the harbour but for weekend tourists I think in the 70s. It replace an amazing railway hotel for the ferries. There are more Sound mirrors right by the canal nearby the station at Hythe.
Hi John long time viewer who has enjoyed your videos immensely over the years, it was nice to see you down my neck of the woods (Deal) covering this great country's diminishing history, next time you wish to give the part of the coast a visit and fancy some company get in touch, I am avid walker myself who has covered many miles of Kents brilliant coastline, from Rochester down as far as Hastings.
The title alone.... this is a video to be savoured. Thank you!!
Thanks very much Heidi
I don’t share your love of concrete wartime relics. I get a very strange feeling with structures like that. But that was a glorious walk. Wouldn’t hurt to keep a pair of shorts in your rucksack for such times. Thanks for taking us with you John 👊🏼
You surpassed yourself this time John with that wonderful walk,inspirational video.
Lovely video John. I am a retired Canadian who hopes to come back soon the the area. I hope I can afford to stay at one of those nice hotels!
OH, John!! You clever Dog, you track music that contains sub woofer bass in it to give the audible image of the Radar, yet to come!!!!
YAY Y❤️U ❣️❣️
Thanks John - a much underrated part of the country. It's been yrs since I visited, but you've stirred my desire to go back.
I'd bet you'll sleep well tonight with all that sea air !!
Awesome remember taking the Hovercraft over to Boulougne in 81. Always surprises me and maybe worth mentioning how recent the land bridge closed between Britain and the continent just 8 thousand years ago - in human time as so few things like that are
Never been there but almost worked there. I got a job with a company in Leeds but was offered more to stay where I was, glad I did as they relocated to Folkestone!
Thank You John. What a Great Walk. Keep Safe.
thanks Dave
Excellent John. More outside London please, especially now the days are longer. Thank you
I did this walk last autumn John. I visited the sound mirrors on Abbots Cliff and Hythe. A second trip took me to the sound mirrors at Dover too. Your walk took me back to those fantastic days out last year. Thank you.
Wow! You did well walking that far. It was a delightful walk with plenty of interesting history, thank you so much. Well done John, very enjoyable 💕🇦🇺
Thanks Liz
On a related different subject, I went up Bekton Ski Mount yesterday. Theres a hole in the gate on the left as your coming from East Ham way down Woolwich Manor Way.
I IMPLORE you try and get yourself up it John. The path is still intact inside and safe enough. Theres no view like from any point in East London. It on a par (if not better) with Greenwich and Primrose Hill. Stunning. I could be over selling but its an almost 360 panoramic view. Its a must. I CANNOT ENDORSE THIS ENOUGH.
1st video I have watched and I got to say that I really enjoyed the history lesson. Keep up the good work. We are going to watch the rest of your videos.
From a family in New Zealand
Great walk. Very relaxing. Fascinating about the sound mirrors.
Thanks Elizabeth
A wonderful 'Fanta-sea' . Great video John. Loved the sound mirror.
Mr .John Rogers, Thank you so much for this most beautiful walk. Truly a place I would love to live.. If only in my dreams. Your walks bring so much learning to someone that will never be able to make it to the land of my ancestors. Thanks again & may God bless you & family. 🌸🌾🌿
many thanks Janet
Thanks John, excellent as per usual.
Regards
I walked through Folkstone last year and was pretty impressed, but I'm going to have to go back to explore it properly after watching this video...especially the bits at the end of the video. You really need to go visit the Abbots Cliff sound mirror, John, (the one from back to life). It's very high up, huge and imposing and the views over Folkstone from the cliff top are epic...especially if you reach it at the Golden hour.
Superb walk and video.Great memories 😊😊😊
A wonderful walk! I always wondered what Folkstone is like.
Thanks for another video, fascinating content.
Love the relaxed style with bursts of enthusiasm interspersed.
"I have no map..." yes definitely a walk with John.
Hi John brilliant video as always, love that area of Kent. Spent many a happy caravan holiday in Great Stone and spent time on the RHD railway as a child, so glad Folkestone is able to reinvent it self after the Ferry's moved out. Done that High Street walk and you did well to talk whilst walking up it lol, look forward to your next walk.
Oh, nice to see this area, the big Edwardian hotels and to know this history. Thank you!
Walked up to that mirror when I was living nearby back in the 80s. I seem to remember there was two mirrors. then there was no fence so you could walk right up to them.
I watched a video about the sound mirror down on the marsh near Lydd. They said that the people listening only did it for a short time, maybe two hours.
i hate how they fence everything off these days
The fence was erected because the sound mirror is in danger of collapse. Many years ago the MOD put out a tender to repair the mirror but they were deemed too expensive so they decided to put a fence round it.
That was another fantastic video john. Thank you so much. Makes me pround to be english in a foreign land i now live.
Always fascinating lovely walk and great video 👍😊
As always a very enjoyable video. I haven't been back to Folkestone for years, must go.
Great video, 19.1 miles, thanks for sharing.
What an absolute joy your videos are. We're coming soon and plan to use your walks as guides. I hope to actually be able to book some time with you. Thank you so much.
Thanks very much David
What a wonderful walk, John, the bonus at the end the winding high street! I've been to many model railway exhibitions at the lees cliff hall, I assume the cliff railway is still not operational
Great video.... I live in Folkestone. Moved here 3 years ago and I'm a chef in Wells House.... I must explore more never knew half of this stuff existed !
Excellent thanks and a lovely day 👏😎😅
Wow not watched the channel for about a month switch on and your walking straight past my front door. Originally from Leytonstone moved down here 11 years ago. I'm right on the sea front in Hythe and unfortunately had to spend the lockdown doing my daily walk along the sea front and canal 🙂. Lovely pub along the sea front in sandgate called the Ship you could have had a beer on the beach. The Lazyshack is a great place to go for breakfast at the weekend or any morning really. Great video hopefully you get back down here soon to explore some more. All the best mate 👍
You really bring these places to life. I look forward to the next ramble.
What a great walk John. I really enjoyed that
Thank you John for invoking memories of our last visit to the UK pre Covid. We stayed in the Hotel Grand Burstin which was most certainly not Grand. If you visit Hythe again a trip to Dungeness on the railway that you heard in the video is highly recommend. Stay safe.
The hotel has recently been branded the worst in Britain
Great to see you back in Kent John. I enjoy your journeys outside of London.
What a fabulous video. I spent all my summers from the age of 10 at a little caravan site called East Fleet Caravan Site from where I could see the Sound Mirror most clearly. as DC3's come over the top of Lymph Castle/Church. A lovely coast from Hastings to Dover, I still holiday in Folkestone to date.
Great video John,love folkestone
Great . Really enjoyed it. Thank you.
very Enjoyable, so much History as well....just had the Air/Con serviced so it was as if I could feel those Sea Breezes as I marvelled over the Folkestone shoreline...Beer in hand.