Leas Lift Funicular Railway

Leas Lift, Folkestone

Client: The Folkestone Leas Lift Company CIO

Dates: 2020 – Present

Budget: £5,117,959

Project: Leas Lift: Restoring Folkestone’s gem for the community

The Leas Lift, a Grade II* cliff funicular railway in Folkestone opened in 1885. One of only four remaining water-balanced lifts in the UK, it carried over 36 million passengers before closing in 2017 on health and safety grounds. Since 2020, Alix Slater has worked with The Folkestone Leas Lift Company CIO to secure funding, develop a viable business plan, and develop a community engagement programme, ensuring the lift’s heritage and future sustainability.

Initially Alix helped secure a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund, followed by a successful Development Phase application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This phase included extensive public consultation, engaging over 2,500 residents and additional professionals from 25 organisations, as well as delivering a project in partnership with Strange Cargo which culminated in a public exhibition, and the online ‘Memories Project,’ reaching over 34,000 people. She also coordinated updates to the business plan.

As the project enters its Delivery Phase, Alix has continued to provide support to the new CEO and project team, focusing on evaluation and public engagement activities. The main contractor has recently been appointed, marking a key milestone. Year 1 of the Delivery Phase has seen the launch of several of the engagement projects including the development of school packs, educational talks in schools, public walks, and a partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University, where engineering students are constructing a model of the lift. A touring puppet show was created to bring the history of the Leas Lift to school children, older people, and families in 2024.

In the coming months, work experience opportunities and heritage engagement activities will connect diverse audiences with the heritage of the Leas Lift, fostering a deeper appreciation for this iconic landmark. The Leas Lift restoration project is not only preserving a significant piece of Folkestone’s history but also creating new pathways for community participation, education, and skills development.