A small but enthusiastic group of members and guests popped down to Folkestone the other afternoon for a fish-themed outing – visiting Folkestone’s Fishing Heritage and History Museum followed by traditional fish and chips at a local restaurant.
Folkestone, the seaside town on the Kent coast, has long been associated with seafaring and fishing – its maritime heritage dating back to prehistoric times. It was a pleasure for our members and guests to learn more about this history during our visit to the quaint, unassuming museum.
With a hand-painted sign proclaiming “Folkestone Fishing Museum,” the museum is located on Radnor Street, in the lower part of town near Folkestone’s old railway. Though small, the it’s packed with artefacts, photographs and memorabilia that illustrate the town’s rich fishing heritage. Among the displays were various pieces of equipment once used by local fishermen – including nets and early radar and navigational devices from small boats – as well as intricate models and detailed paintings. He brought us right up to date too, with a chance to look at the living sipping channel.
Frank Bond from the Museum was on hand to guide us through the exhibits and share information about some of the artefacts. His insights brought the past to life, making our visit more engaging.
The weather back outside was lovely – so after our museum visit, we strolled over to the nearby Captain’s Table for a relaxed, late lunch of “very enjoyable” fish and chips. It was the perfect way to round off our fish-themed adventure!
Picture: Frank Bond shows our members and guests the live shipping channel. Picture credit: Maxine Blades/Rotary Club of Canterbury.