Harbour installs 800 poppies to honour war dead

3 hours ago

Tanya GuptaSouth East

Poppies are a symbol of remembrance for those who died in war

Andy Aitchison Hundreds of commemorative poppies have been placed within grassy flowerbeds at Old Harbour Station in Folkestone. Public pavements line both sides of the flower beds, which are boxed off by low, thin rope held up by small pillars. — Poppies are a symbol of remembrance for those who died in war

Hundreds of poppies will be displayed in Folkestone as part of Remembrance events in a town that played a key role during two world wars.

A total of 800 large red commemorative poppies will be installed among the flowerbeds and lower track area of the Old Harbour Station in Folkestone to remember those who died in World War One.

Traders at Folkestone Harbour Arm posted on Facebook that the poppies will be displayed from Saturday, alongside a special exhibition in Customs House.

A statement on social media said millions of people passed through Folkestone Harbour during World War One. The poppies and exhibition will remain on display until Wednesday.

The social media post said: "During World War One, it is estimated that nearly 10 million passengers passed through Folkestone Harbour."

"This included troops, nurses and other personnel contributing to the war effort.

"For countless soldiers, the harbour was the last sight of home before facing the battlefields of France and Flanders.

"To mark their sacrifice, hundreds of poppies will be placed in the Harbour Station to honour them."

The poppies offer a space for reflection, the organisers say

Andy Aitchison A commemorative poppy sits in the foreground of a flowerbed and is the focus of the photograph. The poppies, flowerbed and building behind are blurred by the camera's depth of field. The poppy's petals curve upward and stem out from its dark centre. — The poppies offer a space for reflection, the organisers say

Local historian Tony Hill previously told Secret Kent how the station cafe was where people "would have their last cup of tea" before boarding the dozens of trains leaving each day, carrying thousands of troops.

He said: "People from all over the Commonwealth nations who helped Britain fight in Europe would have gone down what is now called the Road of Remembrance."

The exhibition in Customs House will look back at the role Folkestone and the harbour played during both conflicts.

Organisers said the Customs House was originally part of a larger building that was badly damaged during a bombing raid on 5 October 1942.

They said the commemorative poppies were first installed in 2025 and provided a place for quiet reflection.

The exhibition will be open daily from 11:30 to 16:00 GMT.

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