Unless otherwise stated, our meetings are in the Church Hall of All Souls Church, Somerset
Road, Cheriton, Folkestone, CT19 4HA, on the first Thursday. Doors open at 7pm, the talk to
commence at 7.30.
All members and visitors welcome. A minimum donation of £2 is requested from visitors.
Visitors: if you are interested in taking part in a Zoom meeting please contact
webmaster@folkfhs.org.uk to receive a link (7.25 for 7.30 pm for a ZOOM meeting).
Folkestone Library (Grace Hill) has now been closed since 9 Nov 2022.
HOWEVER, since the 20 Nov 2023 the Local History material has been available again just
across the road at the Folkestone Library Heritage and Digital Access, 5 Grace Hill, on Mon,
Tue, Thu & Fri: 9:30am–1pm & 2pm–4:30pm — Wed: closed — Sat: 9:30am–1pm
OPENING HOURS at the Cheriton Library: Mon: 9am–5pm (closed 1pm–2pm) — Tue: now open 9am–5pm
(closed 1pm–2pm) — Wed: 9am–1pm — Thu: 9am–5pm (closed 1pm–2pm) — Fri: 10am–5pm (closed
1pm–2pm) — Sat: 10am–4pm (open an extra two hours). Most Kent Libraries are open, check on
line or by ringing 03000 413131.
The microfiche etc. are still in our cupboard in the Cheriton Library.
Consultation about the future of Folkestone Grace Hill Library:
Full details of KCC’s proposals at:
www.kent.gov.uk/folkestonelibrary
where their proposed ‘best option’ is to permanently close Grace Hill building and relocate
all present Library Services (including birth/death registration and local history) to FOLCA
(previously Debenhams)... but not to include the Sassoon Gallery space.
Folkestone DC (who own Folca) are not in agreement and would prefer community services
provided by KCC Libraries to remain at Grace Hill (see Folk DC website). Apparently there
was levelling up funding for a health centre there...
Consultation is open until 11th September 2024.
Details can be obtained from their website, or by collecting a document from any of the
Folkestone District Libraries (i.e. Hythe, New Romney, Lydd, Sandgate, Wood Avenue,
Cheriton, Lyminge or the temporary Local Studies Centre at 5 Grace Hill).
Questionnaires can be answered on line, or by filling in a paper copy, posting back or
handing in at any of the Folkestone District Libraries.
2025
July 3rd
ZOOM
– Charity Records and Pauper Ancestors
– Learn how records of local charities, combined with numerous other sources, can help
illuminate the lives of your pauper ancestors. The talk features a case study.
– Richard Holt
August 7th
HALL
– Interactive discussion
– The Story you will be leaving (about yourself) for future family historians to discover?
– Group activty
September 4th
ZOOM
– Old Romney
– Originally a port on the river Rother: with various maps showing the dramatic changes to
the coastline of Kent since the Roman occupation. Malaria (originally “ague”); the sheep
economy: shepherds, lookers; smuggling. The Dowle family line. William Waylett, the male
midwife
– David Burgess
September 18th – Heritage Open Days event
LIB
– Where to start researching your family history – an introduction to local and
online resources
– To be held at: Folkestone Library, Heritage & Digital Access, 5 Grace Hill, Folkestone
CT20 1HA. Sessions at 10 am, 11.30 am and 2.30 pm. As part of Heritage Open Days, the
Folkestone & District Family History Society will be giving free 1-hour introductory
sessions showing where to start researching your family history—both online and in local
archives such as Kent Libraries, where free access to research material is available.
Free pre-booking required: book online at:
https:
October 2nd
HALL
– AGM followed by “A kentish Poorhouse”
– A former terrace of 3 cottages in Kennington Ashford have a fascinating history. The story
follows research done by Janet, with many coincidences emerging –
Janet Adamson
November 6th
ZOOM
– How Far Did Your Ancestor Travel?
– How far did our ancestors migrate within the UK before the advent of the railways and what
type of people were they? You might be surprised just how far people were travelling and who
they were!
– Celia Heritage
December 4th
HALL
– Christmas dinner followed by a Quiz
2026
Starting in 2026 and initially for 1 year:
ZOOMS every 2 months on 3rd Thursday.
January 6th
HALL
– (I week later than usual due to Bank Holiday) Your most notorious ancestor
– Members
January 22nd
ZOOM
– Canterbury Cathedral Archives: overview with special emphasis
on Parish Collections
– Cressida Williams (Cressida Williams leads the staff team of the Cathedral Archives and Library)
February 5th
HALL
– Farming Records: Estates, Tenants, Agricultural Occupations
– Janet Adamson
March 5th
HALL
– Parish Registers: Problems and Pitfalls
– Peter Ewart
March 19th
ZOOM
– Quarter Session Records: It would be unusual if your ancestor did not appear in Quarter Session records. Besides petty crime the Quarter Sessions administered many local government functions including licensing, local taxes, market and fairs. The records are perhaps the most comprehensive of any English Court and this talk examines their value to family historians and guides you through the content of the records.
– Ian Waller
April 2nd
HALL
– Who put Grimston into Grimston Gardens
– Debbie Jones
May 7th
VISIT
– TBA
–
Owing to age restrictions on the insurance of drivers, we are no longer able to hire a
minibus for trips to Kew.
Occasionally members may drive to Kew and can offer lifts to other members, sharing
expenses.
If you are interested, please e-mail coaches@folkfhs.org.uk
Jenny Watson will arrange walks round Canterbury or London if we let her know where we would like to visit.