In 1535 during the Reformation, Henry VIII ordered the suppression of the Folkestone Priory. The King's Commissioners convinced the Prior of Folkestone, Thomas Bassett, to resign his position on 15th November for a pension of £10 a year. In 1538 the Priory was dismantled and the stone from the building was used to build Sandgate Castle. The castle was built as part of the effort to strengthen coastal fortifications for fear of a French invasion after the King's break with the Church of Rome.
Henry visited the town from the 2nd until the 6th May 1542 to inspect first hand
the proposed site. Nothing ever came of the proposal. How different might the
history of Folkestone been if it had gone ahead. Nonetheless when, on 4th August
1543 the English declared war on the French Folkestone supported the war effort
with the provision of men and boats. Queen
Elizabeth I also 
came to Folkestone. In 1573 she met with the Mayor and Jurats of the town
on the Downs on her way to Dover. She came again in 1587, like her father
before her inspecting coastal defences under the threat of war - this time
with Spain. During the period of threat from the Spanish, Folkestone was
subject to special taxes to contribute to the war effort in addition to
sending men and boats.
In 1674 Folkestone's first school was established. This was the Free School which was situated on Rendezvous Street and catered for twenty boys who were taught to read and write English and Latin. Sir Eliab Harvey established the school through a bequest of his Uncle Dr. William Harvey. Dr. Harvey, famous for his discovery about the circulation of blood, was a native of Folkestone. The Free school later became known as the Harvey Grammar School and continues as an educational facility in the town today.
