Latest News
£235 Raised for Leas Lift as Bandstand Re-opens
One of the campaigners for the restoration of the 1890 Leas Lift Carriage, Bob Mouland, raised over £235 for the project from members of the public. Bob paraded a sign-board that he had made, to draw people’s attention to the Appeal, along the Leas on Friday 15th December 2006, on the night of the re-opening of the Bandstand.
Leas Lift Carriage Removed as First Step towards Restoration
The last surviving stepped Leas Lift carriage was lifted from its tracks today (26th October 2006) and taken away for safe and secure storage pending its restoration. The removal was organised by the 1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration Appeal, with the full backing of the lift carriage owners, Shepway District Council.
New Group Formed to Restore Heritage Leas Lift Carriage
The Appeal Fund steering group.
A new voluntary group has been formed to undertake the restoration of the last remaining stepped carriage that once operated on Folkestone’s Leas Lift. The group, the “1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration Appeal” has been set up by prominent local campaigner Robert Mouland, retired civil engineer Jack Gill and Cllr Rory Love, and aims to raise the £25,000 necessary for a complete restoration of the 4-ton carriage.
About the Appeal
The 1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration Appeal was set up in October 2006 to raise funds to undertake the restoration of the last surviving ‘stepped’ lift carriage. The unique feature of this carriage is that it was designed to give a smoother ride down the cliff from Folkestone’s Leas to the Lower Sandgate Road. By stepping the carriage, the end that projects from the cliff would be brought closer to the tracks, and would therefore be less susceptible to oscillations.
The pair of stepped carriages ceased operation in 1966, and the eastern tracks were closed. The older (1885) carriages continued to operate on the western tracks. In 1985, one of the stepped carriages was removed and dismantled by Shepway District Council; the other was given safe haven in Dover Transport Museum. Twenty years later, its return to Folkestone was secured by local campaigner Robert Mouland, and now an appeal has been set up to raise the £25,000 estimated as necessary for its restoration to full working order.
When restored, this unique part of Folkestone’s heritage will be put on display in the Town for the benefit of residents and visitors. As to the future... Who knows? With new development proposed for the Harbour area, perhaps another lift carriage could be built, and both the restored carriage and the new one could one day be operating again on a restored second set of tracks. The demand could certainly be there for transport from the Undercliff to the Town Centre.
But that is for the future. Right now, we need to raise the funds for the restoration. If you can help, please give whatever you can. We will shortly be announcing how you can join as a member of the Appeal, and we are looking at applying for charitable status. But in the meantime, your contributions are essential.
Please send your cheques payable to: “1890 Leas Lift Carriage Restoration Appeal”, and addressed to: Leas Lift Appeal, c/o Cllr Rory Love, Civic Centre, Folkestone, Kent. CT20 2QY
Alternatively, you can pay cash through any branch of HSBC, quoting the following Appeal account details.
Bank sort code: 40-21-15
Account number: 21433784
Please put your surname and initials as a reference
The same details should be quoted for direct payments or standing orders from your bank.