By 1066, at the time of the next great invasion, Folkestone was a mere hamlet occupied by fishermen and farm workers who cultivated the arable lands that had been cleared in the heavily wooded countryside. At this time the manor of Folkestone was in the ownership of the church at Canterbury. After William became king he took the barony and made a gift of it to his half brother Bishop Odo. By 1086, the year of Doomsday the barony was held by William D'Arcy. It was given a value of £100 and consisted of approximately 6240 acres, 5 churches, approximately 600 people of whom 209 were villains and 83 bondsmen.
Subtenants
of the Barony included Hugh Fitzwilliam, Walter de Appeville, Bernard de St. Owens,
Walter FitzEnglebert, Eudo, Baldric, Richard, Alured, Wesman and Alured Dapifer.
In 1095 the lord of the manor was Nigel de Muneville. Nigel de Muneville built
the town a new church to replace that which was destroyed by Earl Godwin. He did
not rebuild the nunnery but built the Folkestone Priory for Benedictine Monks
instead. In 1138 a new church and priory were again built, this time by William
D'Averanches and dedicated to St.
Mary & St. Eanswythe.
