Journal
Beside the seaside
Lower Leas Coastal Park occupies an area of landslip which forms a 5.65ha undercliff to the west of Folkestone harbour. Enclosed on its north side by a steep wooded escarpment, the park enjoys a benign microclimate and stunning views across the English Channel to France. Steep stepped paths connect the undercliff with The Leas, a broad cliff top promenade that was the focus of Folkestone’s Victorian heyday as a seaside resort and still retains much of the grandeur and elegance of the period.
The park had fallen into serious disrepair and about ten years ago Shepway District Council embarked on a programme of restoration. Following a contextual study by Land Use Consultants and a conceptual masterplan by Camlin Lonsdale, phase one, comprising a ‘wild’ zone, a children’s adventure play area and a new amphitheatre was completed in 2001.
Building on the popularity of the wild and fun zones in the west, the HLF-funded phase two programme has focused on the creation of a new formal zone in the east, together with the restoration of surviving historic buildings and structures throughout the park.
Historically, the 2ha site for the formal zone has seen a series of varied attractions come and go – from the Victorian Pier and switchback, to the more recent children’s zoo. The Leas Lift – a still functioning Victorian water-powered passenger lift – marks the eastern entrance to the site and the Zig Zag path lies immediately to the west. The Zig Zag path is a fine example of Pulhamite artificial rock dating from the 1920s. Between these two important landmarks the derelict remnants of former structures compromised the intrinsic attractiveness of the landform, and the broad bitmac expanse of the Lower Sandgate Road dominated the scene. Discuss this article
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