Trams /tramway & Forts
Updated: 7 days ago
Folkestone, Hythe & Sandgate Tramway
In 1870, when the Tramways act was passed, towns throughout Britain began to provide a
tram service for public transport. At first these were horse drawn trams running on rails, sunk flush to the road surface. The metal wheels on metal rails caused less friction than tyres, which meant that a horse drawn tram, could carry a greater number of passengers than a conventional horse drawn bus. In later years, trams were electrified and continued on into the 1960’s. In recent years, trams have re-emerged as a popular form of transport in city areas.
Discover the remarkable history of the Folkestone, Hythe and Sandgate Tramways. From political battles with powerful landowners to secret Sudanese steam engines and the iconic 'toast-rack' carriages, explore the rise and fall of the horse-drawn network that shaped the Kent coast between 1891 and 1921. Click image for more information
A Four Mile Ride by the Sea from Brian Hart's book The Hythe & Sandgate Railway offers a nostalgic look at the Kent coast during the Edwardian era. The extract transports readers through a classic seaside journey, starting with the Sandgate Hill Lift and continuing via a horse-drawn tram toward Hythe. It captures the sensory details, slower pace, and charm of late-Victorian and Edwardian resort life before concluding with an evening of music and relaxation.
The Lost Forts of Hythe
Uncover the hidden strongholds buried beneath our daily beach walks. In 1798, as a French invasion loomed, General William Twiss—mastermind of the Royal Military Canal—built three heavily armed, triangular fortresses along the Hythe shoreline: Fort Twiss, Fort Sutherland, and Fort Moncrief.
Today, they are nearly gone—swallowed by the sea or replaced by Victorian terraces, leaving only buried foundations on the Army Ranges and a lone concrete fragment on Twiss Road.
Take a virtual stroll down West Parade to retrace this forgotten frontline, from old coal jetties to the ghostly footprints of the forts time forgot.
Stutfall Roman Fort:
The Bell Inn
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