The history of Folkestone begins well before written records. Ruins which were excavated in 1924 revealed buildings which date back prior to the Roman conquest of 43 AD. Also excavated were the ruins of a Roman villa dating from c100AD. Folkestone, unlike her neighbours Dover and Lympne, was not blessed with a river or deep harbour waters suitable for anchorage of large ships and was therefore not suitable as a major port. Instead the Romans viewed Folkestone as a strategic lookout point and signalling post. Consequently they built a minor base in the area known as East Wear Bay. It is believed that Romans remained in the area, living alongside native Britons until the Roman withdrawal c368 AD.
At this time invasions by the Picts, Scots, and Saxons began. It is thought that with the departure of the Roman's many coastal dwellers withdrew inland, to relative safety from coastal invaders, and that the Folkestone area was in the main uninhabited for many years. Following the Roman departure Britain was the site of many battles and struggles for supremacy between the Celts, Britons, Picts, Scots, and Saxons. By 500 AD Kent was an established Saxon Kingdom in which Christianity was spreading rapidly as a way of life.
