east kent freemasons with chapter and craft logo connected
Member Area (YP2)

Folkestone Leas Lift CIO Appeal.

The Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity were delighted to team up with WBro Bob Hadlow the Group 6 coordinator to assist bring together local units to support this extensive community focussed civil engineering project.

The historic Folkestone Leas Lift, a Grade II* listed funicular railway first opened in 1885, is currently being restored and will reopen in 2026. This large-scale project is overseen by the Folkestone Lease Lift Company, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation who has taken on the challenge of restoring this iconic transportation system. The scale of the project cannot be overstated, on top of the complex engineering work, fund raising falls to them too. The National Lottery made a generous match funding grant, leaving the charity to make up the difference. The charities dynamic Chair of Trustees Cathy Beare continues to work hard raising funds locally to fill the funding gap.

The Lift is at the heart of Folkestone and is much loved by the community. Consultation which took place during 2020 saw a recurrent theme in the feedback they received from the community. It identified that people; particularly the elderly, those with ill health, disabilities or with young children were unable to visit the seafront area from the town centre, due to the steepness of the only alternative route on foot the nearby footpaths. Unless they had access to a car, a visit to the beach and harbour area was very difficult all the time the lift remained closed. It became clear the local community and regular visitors to the town retained a great fondness for this historic transportation system, driving the need for action.

The Lift in 1885

The charity reached out to the community including local Lodges, Chapters and the CEKFC seeking financial assistance. Their response was truly outstanding, raising £2900. The trustees of the CEKFC were delighted to double the members contribution which led to a total donation of £5800. This is yet another example of local Masons working to make a difference in our local communities. The units involved included:

Temple Lodge No 558
Temple Chapter No 558
Castle Lodge No 1436
Castle Chapter No 1436
Wakefield Lodge No 6059
Shorncliffe Lodge No 4330
Prince Edwins Lodge No 125
Prince Edwins Chapter No 125
Commemoration Lodge No 5329
SETECH Lodge No 8185
Stour Lodge No 2305
Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge No 5866
Valley of Elham Lodge No 6649

WBro Peter West handing cheque to Cathy Beare Chair of Trustees.

Construction Project – view from The Leas

Construction Project – sea level

The lift in action circa 1965 (2)

The lift in action circa 1965

The lifts opening 1885

We need your stories, so please let the comms team know of the the good work your Lodges and Chapters are doing throughout East Kent. Just drop us a line on news@ekprovince.co.uk