During the 1800's major changes occurred to Folkestone as the sea front underwent developments to enable it to become a viable harbour. Over the previous centuries the sea front had been subject to frequent serious storm damage and sea encroachment. Jetties were destroyed and the cumulating of shingle made it difficult to beach fishing boats. In 1807 an Act of Parliament was passed to enable the construction of a pier and harbour at Folkestone. By 1820 a harbour area of 14 acres had been enclosed. At this time trade and consequently population of Folkestone grew slightly. This initial harbour development was not very successful. Sand and silt continued to be deposited in the harbour by high tides and the effect was to choke the harbour. The Folkestone Harbour Company, which had been established to develop the harbour, invested heavily in removing the silt but with little success. In 1842 the company went bankrupt and the Government put the harbour up for sale. It was bought by the South Eastern Railway Company, which was then building the London to Dover railway line. With the railway came the collier boats bringing coal from the north. Also with the railway came the beginning of the cross channel steamship service. Folkestone entered a boom time of development and prosperity.
Over the next twenty years, between 1848 and 1868, Guildhall and Tontine Street,
and six new churches (Christ Church, Tontine Congregational Church, St. Peter's,
St. Michael's, Holy Trinity and the Wesleyan Chapel) were built. A new Town Hall
was opened, the Promenade 
Pier
was commenced and building took place on Marine Terrace, Bouverie Square, Holmesdale
Terrace and The Leas. As Folkestone grew so did her reputation as a seaside resort.
Although it is recorded that sea bathing machines were present in Folkestone as
early as 1788 it was not until the mid 1800's, with the building of new town facilities
and accommodation made possible by the coming of the railway that sea bathing
became a major part of the town's culture and economy. Alongside the growth of
tourism came the development of entertainment facilities such as the exhibition
centre known as Pleasure Garden's Theatre, the Leas Pavilion, Switchback Railway,
and Radnor Park.
