Help bring Folkestone’s Gem back to life
by The Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity
£126,596.95
raised by 241 donations
of £180,000.00 Target Goal
70%
The Story
The Leas Lift is a Grade II* listed cliff funicular railway in Folkestone, one of 15 remaining funicular lifts and one of three working water-balanced lifts left in the UK. Since opening in 1885 until its closure in 2017, the Leas Lift has carried 36 million visitors between the seafront and the town in Folkestone.
As well as being an important part of our national industrial heritage, the Leas Lift is also a much-loved local landmark, and the people of Folkestone have been vocal in wanting to see the Lift back in operation. As well as being a quick, quirky and enjoyable mode of transport to get up and down the cliffside, it also provides step-free access for people with mobility problems and for families with young children.
Since its closure in 2017, our group of volunteers has worked incredibly hard to bring the Leas Lift back to life. Setting ourselves up as a charity in 2022, the Folkestone Leas Lift Company CIO reached its funding target in November 2023 by raising £6.6 million – £4.9million of which was granted by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The remainder was donated by trusts, foundations, local businesses and generous individuals. Our dream became a reality.
The funds are enabling us to lovingly restore the Folkestone Leas Lift and make it into an accessible and sustainable mode of transport and social hub for the community of Folkestone, as well as for the visitors to our popular town.
Whereas the majority of the funding will go towards the restoration of the Lift carriages, tracks, engineering infrastructure and buildings, some of it will be used to reach out to the community. We want to make sure everyone uses the Lift, and we want to share its fascinating history and make it into a place where people want to come together to socialise, learn and have fun.
We are creating a Lift experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. We are working with schools in Folkestone to develop educational resources, course content and offer work experiences. We organise tours, trails and other activities in and around the Lift for marginalised groups. We are linking up to social, cultural and arts events in town. We are developing projects that highlight the Lift’s key role in sustainable travel and the town’s history, and its special place in our unique landscape.
Once re-opened, we want to make sure the Leas Lift stays open! The best way to do this is to ensure that as many people as possible use the Lift on a regular basis.
You can help us reach a wider audience by supporting our community outreach activities. Every little bit helps us to give everyone the Lift experience they deserve.
Sara donated £5.00+ £1.25 on 2024/11/1 at 1:45.