The Folkestone Washer-Women

Folkestone Harbour signal box. UK.

Visit collection: Wonderful Britain
Folkestone Harbour train signal box, view towards the town and north downs, black rain clouds loom above
I doubt it will snow but I don’t really know Gales could blow from the east bringing the beast or blow from the north hurling chill winds forth Milder air from the south and rain from the west might follow the North Downs hilly crest Then again, making it pour we could endure the Folkestone washer-women doing their chores However the weathervane spins the child in us finds wings that revels in the drama it brings.
  • The Folkestone Washer-Women
  • Folkestone
  • Kent

You can tell that it is almost winter when The Beast from the East starts to enter the weatherman's repertoire. There is always an amusing variety of words when describing the weather especially when the locality gets put into the pot. The Folkestone Washer Women is one of the terms that is used to describe the heavy rain clouds that chase in from the English Channel and if you get caught out on one of their wash days you are in for a soaking. The old signal box at Folkestone Harbour station just before a wash day and before the redevelopment of this area. I remember as a child standing on the pier watching the boat trains arrive, one particular time I saw a girl about my age in a smart coat with a little suitcase by her feet, how exotic I thought as I dreamed about her destination.