Port of Folkestone | |
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Location | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Location | Folkestone, Kent, England |
Details | |
Opened | 1807 |
Owned by | The Folkestone Harbour Company |
Size | 35 acres (14 hectares) |
Statistics | |
Website Folkestone Harbour |
51°04′46″N 1°11′23″E / 51.079475°N 1.189632°E Folkestone Harbour is the main harbour of the town of Folkestone in Kent, England.
The harbour was developed during the 19th century, and became prominent after the South Eastern Railway (SER) began running boat trains to France. It was an important embarkation point for soldiers during both World Wars, and continued to be a popular traffic route for holidaymakers and goods traffic.
The opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994, along with a reduction in the local fishing industry, caused the harbour to decline in importance. In the 21st century, it has been redeveloped into a centre for leisure and tourism.