The Back Street rail arch with portraits of former local fisherfolk and Museum entrance Photo: Ray Duff
Story by Ray Duff – One of Folkestone’s ‘hidden historical gems’, the Fishing and History Museum in Radnor Street near to the Fish Market area of the town, has re-opened for the 2023 season.
The venue opened on Good Friday and had a bumper Easter weekend of visitors despite disappointing weather.
Like the Folkestone Museum in the Town Hall, the Fishing Museum is also part of the ‘Wheels of Time’ project which focuses on getting young people informed and involved with local history projects.
Curator Alan Taylor talks to a visitor about the museum Photo: Ray Duff
Chair of the Museum group Alan Taylor and curator Frank Bond together with volunteers, are again on hand to guide people around the fascinating exhibits and to talk about the portraits which have been placed under the railway arch in Back Street.
This series of several former local fisherfolk also continues on some of The Stade buildings with a memorial mural to the ‘sailors friend’ Samuel Plimsoll, by popular local artist Shane Record.
The Ovenden forge remains amid the museum Photo: Ray Duff
The museum features a wealth of fishing history materials, including nets, lamps, photographs and paintings, model ships, videos and books. There is also information about the railway and channel ferry history of the port, alongside the original Ovenden’s forge, which was used in the original building.
Curator Frank Bond checks the video’s are all in order Photo: Ray Duff –
Museum information
Folkestone Fishing History Museum, 2 Radnor Street & 2 Back Street, Fishmarket, Folkestone.
Open daily 10:30am – 4:00pm Free Entry.
http://wheelsoftime.uk/museums-and-heritage-sites/folkestones-fishing-heritage-and-history-museum/
More maritime related events forthcoming in 2023
Folkestone Samuel Plimsoll Commemoration event: 125 anniversary of his death (in Folkestone)
Saturday 03 JUNE at St Martin’s Church, Horn Street, Cheriton. Circa 1330-1700 Speaker-TBC.
Folkestone Blessing of the Fisheries 2023; St Peter’s Church, The Durlocks, procession, Blessing on The Stade. Sun 25 JUNE from 1445pm.
Folkestone Sandcastle Competition: Sunday 09 JULY. 10am The Sunny Sands.