Friends of the Leas Lift

🎭We're looking for a company or an individual that can develop and deliver a touring performance telling the story of Leas Lift, engaging both children and adults.

💻The full touring performance brief can be found on our website under 'jobs'. Tenders should be submitted by 5pm on Friday, 10 May.

Please share with anyone you think may be interested.

😀

🔊 BIG NEWS! Please welcome our first chief executive officer Floortje Hoette. We can't wait for 1 May when she'll join us to lead the team in restoring and re-opening the lift 🎉

More below 👇

Folkestone’s Leas Lift has appointed its first chief executive officer, charged with leading the restoration and re-opening of the nationally significant heritage asset.

Floortje Hoette, who currently leads Produced in Kent, will join Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity on 1 May 2024.

With more than 25 years’ project management experience in the not-for-profit and commercial sectors, Floortje is well positioned to lead the team working to re-open the lift in 2025.

Cathy Beare, Chair of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity, said: “We are so pleased to have someone with Floortje’s experience and connections as our first CEO. She has a strong grasp of community engagement, is well-known in Kent and has a proven track record in income generation and business development.”

Floortje, who spent two years in Folkestone when she first came to the UK from the Netherlands, now lives near Deal. Prior to spending four years as CEO at Produced in Kent, she managed external relations at Kent Business School for four years.

Floortje said: “It’s been wonderful to see the regeneration of Folkestone over the years and I’m looking forward to being part of that. The Leas Lift team has done some incredible work to date but as the first CEO, I feel like I’m starting with a blank canvas which is very exciting. I’ll be able to use my creative skills to help build upon the Trustees’ vision and create a venue that works for both locals and visitors.

“I also hope to bring my knowledge of the local food and drink sector to the Leas Lift café, which continues to be a vital source of revenue for the lift. Partnership building has always been at the heart of what I do. I enjoy forming a team and making sure people can work well together, so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and getting to know everyone.”

The campaign to save the Grade II* Listed at risk Leas Lift – a nationally significant heritage asset – began in 2018 when volunteers came together to save the lift and ensure its future. In November 2023, the charity secured £4.8m of support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, meaning the overall fundraising target of £6.6m had been reached.

For more information on the history of the Leas Lift and the campaign to reopen it, visit leaslift.co.uk.

🔊 BIG NEWS! Please welcome our first chief executive officer Floortje Hoette. We can't wait for 1 May when she'll join us to lead the team in restoring and re-opening the lift 🎉

More below 👇

Folkestone’s Leas Lift has appointed its first chief executive officer, charged with leading the restoration and re-opening of the nationally significant heritage asset.

Floortje Hoette, who currently leads Produced in Kent, will join Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity on 1 May 2024.

With more than 25 years’ project management experience in the not-for-profit and commercial sectors, Floortje is well positioned to lead the team working to re-open the lift in 2025.

Cathy Beare, Chair of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity, said: “We are so pleased to have someone with Floortje’s experience and connections as our first CEO. She has a strong grasp of community engagement, is well-known in Kent and has a proven track record in income generation and business development.”

Floortje, who spent two years in Folkestone when she first came to the UK from the Netherlands, now lives near Deal. Prior to spending four years as CEO at Produced in Kent, she managed external relations at Kent Business School for four years.

Floortje said: “It’s been wonderful to see the regeneration of Folkestone over the years and I’m looking forward to being part of that. The Leas Lift team has done some incredible work to date but as the first CEO, I feel like I’m starting with a blank canvas which is very exciting. I’ll be able to use my creative skills to help build upon the Trustees’ vision and create a venue that works for both locals and visitors.

“I also hope to bring my knowledge of the local food and drink sector to the Leas Lift café, which continues to be a vital source of revenue for the lift. Partnership building has always been at the heart of what I do. I enjoy forming a team and making sure people can work well together, so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and getting to know everyone.”

The campaign to save the Grade II* Listed at risk Leas Lift – a nationally significant heritage asset – began in 2018 when volunteers came together to save the lift and ensure its future. In November 2023, the charity secured £4.8m of support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, meaning the overall fundraising target of £6.6m had been reached.

For more information on the history of the Leas Lift and the campaign to reopen it, visit leaslift.co.uk.

📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/100067403345157/posts/679031651020274/?d=n&mibextid=WC7FNe

📢 WE'RE HIRING 📢

Following the exciting news that we have secured £6.6 million, including a £4.3 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we're now looking for a Chief Executive Officer to lead the project to restore and re-open the Leas Lift and deliver a three-year programme of heritage activities.

🫵 Could you be the outstanding leader to take this project forward?

Please share with anyone you think could be the right person to oversee the restoration and opening of Folkestone's valuable and historic asset.

Full job description at https://leaslift.co.uk/Vacancies/

Time flies! ❤️☕️

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!! Our small, quirky cafe is 3 years old today 🎈 We cannot thank each and every customer enough for your continued support through the trickiest of years. A percentage of our turnover goes towards the regeneration of the so 3 years of you guys buying toasties, coffees and sausage rolls has made a massive difference. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! 🎂 🎉 🎈3️⃣

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

The global reinsurer Swiss Re, which employs around 200 staff locally in Folkestone, has donated £45,000 to help the Leas Lift Charity save the historic local landmark. Swiss Re has its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and has an office in Castle Hill Avenue in Folkestone.

Kirsty Murray, Swiss Re Head of Location for Folkestone said, “The Leas Lift is held fondly in the memory of many of our local employees, and is often one of the first things mentioned about Folkestone during our ongoing recruitment days. What attracted us to supporting them is their green credentials which are close to the heart of Swiss Re – as a water balance lift, the restored Leas Lift will be an example of sustainable technology. We believe the restoration will have such a positive impact on the community, so we are thrilled to be able to support”.

The campaign to restore the Leas Lift has been boosted in recent weeks, with the council granting planning permission to build a new, adjoining café which will help secure the long-term financial future of the lift.

James Walker-Osborn of the Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity said, “The generous donation from Swiss Re, as well as recent donations from the Wolfson Foundation, The Pilgrim Trust and the Headley Trust, along with having planning permission granted last week tops off an important period in the history of the Project to restore Leas Lift. We have now applied for the much-needed Round 2 delivery grant of £5m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and hope to hear back in the Autumn.”

Swiss Re

Amazing!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=607581294831977&id=100067403345157

We are incredibly grateful to The Pilgrim Trust for their incredibly generous grant of £30,000 towards the restoration of the Leas Lift. The Pilgrim Trust was set up in 1930 and is an independent, grant-giving charitable foundation that works towards preserving UK heritage as well as supporting young women’s mental health. It is fantastic that the Leas Lift has been recognised and has their support. Thank you!

https://www.thepilgrimtrust.org.uk/our-latest-grants-june-2023/

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=604674571789316&id=100067403345157

Historic lift one step closer to reopening as repairs approved Repairs to fix a rare cliffside lift that connects a town to its seafront have been given the green light, moving it one step closer to reopening.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗶 𝗦𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁

This month we’re looking to the future and reimagining the Lift using Ai. Which artist would you like to see next?

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=600159748907465&id=100067403345157

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗶 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁

This month we’re looking to the future and reimagining the Lift using Ai. Which artist would you like to see next?

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=578829961040444&id=100067403345157

Saturday night! Last few tickets remaining

𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑠 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑡?

Since opening on the 21st of September 1885, 36 million people have travelled on the Leas Lift. The cars had a tensile strength capable of carrying 40 tons and could carry a maximum of 15 people. Were you one of the 36 million?

We would love to hear from you! Do you have any stories of your experiences travelling on Leas Lift? We are looking for photographs, objects/memorabilia, and your memories. We would love to be able to involve you in our project; using your objects in temporary exhibitions and recording your memories to be used in our exhibition interpretation, on our website, and for future generations!



Accessibility: Photograph of the original cars on Leas Lift, Folkestone in 1885.

𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦?

In the nineteenth-century Folkestone flourished as a popular seaside holiday resort. In 1843, the first hotel, The Pavilion Hotel, was built to cater for the growing tourism industry. In 1868, the Folkestone Bathing Establishment was built on the Lower Sandgate Road to the east of the Leas Lift and consisted of an Italian-style building providing a large, heated sea-water swimming bath and a range of other specific baths and areas for medical treatments. Entertainment areas including a large saloon and assembly rooms made it the grandest and most fashionable place in Folkestone and increased the number of guests for the new hotels. Leas Lift was an immediate success offering holidaymakers a comfortable ride from the new hotels on The Leas promenade to the bathing facilities on the beach, the “switchback” and the new pier. Many of these numerous tourist attractions that once stood in the area have been lost apart from Leas Lift. Its conservation and renovation will restore a much-loved visitor attraction which will serve the community once again! We would love to hear from you! Do you have any stories of your experiences travelling on Leas Lift and your days out by the seaside? We are looking for photographs, objects/memorabilia, and your memories. We would love to be able to involve you in our project; using your objects in temporary exhibitions and recording your memories to be used in our exhibition interpretation, on our website, and for future generations!

Accessibility: Postcard showing a crowded beach in Folkestone during the Edwardian era. (Source: www.folkestonehistory.org)

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐫 & 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲?

Leas Lift was built in 1885 to connect the upper and lower part of the cliff, opening for business on the 21st of September. The system comprised of two parallel gauge tracks extending to a length of 164ft (49.5m) at an incline of 40¼°. The Lift was so popular that another track with an additional lift was built and opened in 1890. The second lift was steeper at 42°. The 1890 tracks were removed in October 1966 due to damage and declining visitor numbers.

We would love to hear from you! Did you, or anybody in your family design, build or work on Leas Lift or for the Folkestone Pier & Lift Company? We are looking for participants in our oral history project, where you can share your memories. We would love to be able to involve you; recording your memories to be used in our exhibition interpretation, on our website, and for future generations!


Accessibility: Photograph of Leas Lift, Folkestone in 1890. It shows that the slope between the 1885 and 1890 lifts’ tracks was separated by designed planting. (Source: Terry Begent personal archive)

𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑠 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑡?

Leas Lift is a Grade II funicular railway lift. Built in 1885, it has been at the Heart of Folkestone for nearly 140 years, providing a link between the beach and Leas. Now it is one of Britain’s oldest water lifts, and the only surviving lift left in Folkestone. Since 2017 it has been out of action, and now a restoration project is underway to bring it back into operation, and uncover our community’s heritage and Leas Lift’s unique story. We would love to hear from you! Did you, or anybody in your family design, build or work on Leas Lift or for the Folkestone Pier & Lift Company? Do you have any stories of your experiences travelling on Leas Lift? We are looking for photographs, objects/memorabilia, and your memories.

We would love to be able to involve you in our project; using your objects in temporary displays and recording your memories to be used in our exhibition interpretation, on our website, and for future generations!


Accessibility: Photograph of Lower Lift Station C.1885-90, Leas Lift, Folkestone. The photo has been taken prior to the construction of the pump room, and the additional tracks and lift. (Source: Terry Begent Archive)

❤️❤️❤️ surprise a loved one with the gift of tickets to the best comedy gig this year!❤️❤️❤️

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/folkestone-comedy-club-the-big-gig-for-the-leas-lift/leas-cliff-hall/

On Sale now! And it’s 27th May not March!

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/folkestone-comedy-club-the-big-gig-for-the-leas-lift/leas-cliff-hall/

🎅🏻🎄❤️

𝙂𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙨: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/folkestoneleaslift

Grab something for yourself or as a perfect Christmas gift!

We urgently need to raise the final £200,000 in matched funding to make this project happen. Please support our 'Give Folkestone a Lift' Crowdfunder which aims to raise 10% of this - £20,000. In recognition of your generous contribution, you will receive:

£10 – a thank you message with a digital photograph of Leas Lift

£25 – the above plus acknowledgement on a special page on our website. The acknowledgment can be given in the name of a friend or family member, making it the ideal Christmas gift*.

£50 – the above plus an A4 hard copy of the You Lift Me Up poster (unframed)**

£100 – the above plus a special limited-edition postcard of the Leas Lift by artist Andy Tuohy (pictured)***

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/folkestoneleaslift

Perfect Xmas pressie for a Folkestone cause AND a guaranteed top night!

𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙮 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 - 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙞𝙜 𝙂𝙞𝙜 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙩

To raise money for the restoration of the Leas Lift, we have invited four sensational headline acts to perform on the same night for the wonderful people of Folkestone.

Roll up! Great present for yourself and friends.

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/folkestone-comedy-club-the-big-gig-for-the-leas-lift/leas-cliff-hall/

Great news!

TV star backs bid to save iconic landmark An award-winning actress has become a patron of the campaign to restore a historic seaside funicular lift.

Urban Room Folkestone Thu 2 Sep | FORTUNE HERE | The OASIS Project: A talk and discussion with Senet Yohannes of United Response Find out more →

𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 2𝙣𝙙 & 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙮 3𝙧𝙙 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙩.

You are invited to come and see the draft design proposals for the restoration of Leas Lift, the new café, tours and activities.

You will have a chance to meet the team delivering the scheme, ask any questions, share your thoughts on the proposals and tell us your memories of riding Leas Lift.

2nd-3rd December 11am-2pm
Urban Room Folkestone,
Harbour Street,
CT20 1TP

https://urbanroomfolkestone.net/