Folkestone in Kent, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
The Priory
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 3, 2026
1. The Priory Marker
Inscription.
The house known as The Priory is the former home of the Prior of Folkestone albeit in much altered form. In 1535 it was described by King Henry VIII's Commissioners being 'a neat well kept little house'. In more recent times it was the home of Thomas Pearce, Vicar 1818-1851. Parson Pearce, as he was known, kept a school for young gentlemen and amongst the pupils in 1833 were the two sons of John Constable the artist. Later it was the residence of a Mrs Napier Sturt who was one of the three ladies who ran the soldiers' canteen at Folkestone Harbour during World War I. The turret feature at the rear was added in the late 1890s.,
The house known as The Priory is the former home of the Prior of Folkestone albeit in much altered form. In 1535 it was described by King Henry VIII's Commissioners being 'a neat well kept little house'. In more recent times it was the home of Thomas Pearce, Vicar 1818-1851. Parson Pearce, as he was known, kept a school for young gentlemen and amongst the pupils in 1833 were the two sons of John Constable the artist. Later it was the residence of a Mrs Napier Sturt who was one of the three ladies who ran the soldiers' canteen at Folkestone Harbour during World War I. The turret feature at the rear was added in the late 1890s.
La maison connue sous le nom de Prieuré est l'ancienne résidence du Prieur de Folkestone quoique très altérée. En 1535 elle fut dé-crite par les Commissaires du roi Henry VIII comme 'une jolie petite maison bien tenue'. Plus récemment elle fut la résidence du Révérend Thomas Pearce, curé de 1823 à 1851. Le Père Pearce, tel qu'il était connu, dirigeait une école pour jeunes gentilshommes et parmi les élèves en 1833 étaient les deux fils de l'artiste John Constable. Plus tard elle fut la résidence
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d'une Madame Napier Stuart, une des trois dames qui tenaient une cantine sur le Port de Folkestone pour les soldats de la Première Guerre Mondiale. La petite tour à l'arrière fut ajoutée à la fin des années 1890s. La grande maison sur la gauche fut construite par Monsieur Coutts, un sacristain de la paroisse, qui bâtit également les 'Priory Villas'.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1535.
Location. 51° 4.743′ N, 1° 10.946′ E. Marker is in Folkestone, England, in Kent. It is on The Bayle, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4 The Bayle, Folkestone, England CT20 1SU, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East. Globally, it is in the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 26, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
