Folkestone’s Leas Lift has reached its first major milestone in the restoration programme after the two carriages were lifted from the track by crane, ready for refurbishment.
The Grade II* Listed funicular railway, which closed in 2016, is being brought back to life thanks to a £6.7 million fundraising campaign, which included £4.8 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Each carriage weighs 4.5 tonnes in total so were lifted in two parts – the 1.5 tonne chassis followed by the 3 tonne bogie and wheels.
Floortje Hoette, Chief Executive Officer of Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity, said: “This was another important day on our journey to reopen this major landmark, which is one of only three water-balanced lifts to survive in the UK.
“The two carriages will now be transported to Northamptonshire to benefit from an extensive six-month refurbishment programme by expert restorers. We are incredibly grateful to all our generous donors, and to Rodney Tolhurst and the Rochester Bridge Trust in particular, who are supporting us financially with the restoration of the carriages.”
The lifting of the carriages was co-ordinated by Apex Contractors, the Bexley-based principal contactor appointed by The Leas Lift Company Charity following a thorough tender process in 2024.
Dan Hollis, Managing Director at Apex, said: “Although we have been busy on site since our appointment last November, this is the first major work the public will have seen. We have an extremely experienced and knowledgeable project team who can’t wait to play their part in restoring the Lift and engage with the local community.”
