Broadstairs Cliff Railway

Closed to the public since 1991, and unlikely to reopen due to the construction of the new 'Millennium' cliff lift and various legal issues, the Broadstairs cliff railway was built in 1910 by the Waygood Company Limited. Comprising a single passenger car with counterweight, the railway's upper entrance was located in the rear garden of number 14 Albion Street. From here it travelled at a 45 degree angle along a 5ft 3in (1.5m) gauge track, under the promenade and through the chalk cliff to emerge on the beach below. Modest entrance buildings were situated at each end of the line to facilitate the boarding and alighting of the twelve passengers that the single car could carry at any one time. The large concrete weight used to counterbalance the car ran parallel to the main track in its own brick-lined tunnel, an arrangement quite unique in a British cliff railway.

Until the 1920s the line was operated by the Waygood Company themselves, under a subsidiary known as 'Cliff Lifts Limited', but their interest in the lease was subsequently purchased by a Mrs S E Wilson of Cambridge Villa, Broadstairs. Over the next half century the lease changed hands on at least a further five occasions before being bought by the Broadstairs Lift Company Limited in 1977. This company, formed by the Broadstairs Hotel and Guesthouse Association, decided to purchase Broadstairs cliff railway when its closure looked imminent because they considered it to be an essential amenity for the townsfolk and visitors alike. The Broadstairs cliff railway continued in service for a further fourteen years, but was never financially viable and required an annual grant from the council to keep it operational. Consequently, limited funds restricted maintenance work to the bare essentials and, eventually, this led to long periods of closure through mechanical problems. When a major restoration was planned after closing the line in 1991, nature took a hand in the final demise of the Broadstairs Cliff Railway. A severe thunderstorm caused a structural leak, damaging the ageing electrical equipment beyond sensible repair and, despite several attempts to raise the necessary funds for restoration, the line continues to remain closed to the public.

Broadstairs Cliff Lift

Although funding has not been forthcoming for the old cliff railway, the town has benefited from the construction of a new cliff lift at the southern end of Viking Bay. The 'Millennium Cliff Lift', as the name suggests, was conceived as a project for the 21st century and is the newest structure of its type in the country. Built of brick, with rendering to match the adjacent cliff steps and buildings, the lift has the capacity to carry 14 passengers, is some 53ft (16.2m) high, and is hydraulically operated. Access at the foot of the lift is directly from the beach, whilst at the top, passengers enter the single car via a timber-decked bridge. Although relatively simple in design, some feature brickwork can be found at the entrances, and a large full-length window running down the front of the structure affords passengers an impressive view across the bay.