Cliff Lift

Cliff lift. Constructed for Margate Borough Council in 1934 in Art Deco style with Egyptian influences. Refurbished in the 1990s.

MATERIALS: concrete walls with flat roof.

PLAN: pylon tower built into the cliffs at the sides and rear, housing a lift shaft for a single car with entrances at both cliff and beach level.

EXTERIOR: the tower is about 30ft in height and 12ft wide at the base, tapering towards the top, which has a stepped cornice.

The north side facing Walpole Bay has a tall central panel from the top to the plinth with five ribs, the upper part of this has four narrow blank openings between these, each with two small circular ventilation holes. The tall projecting plinth incorporates an entrance with recessed pilasters and a rectangular panel above inscribed 'LIFT' in serifs.

The west side has at the top, three recessed blank openings similar to, and at the same height as those on the north side. The lower part of the structure is built into the adjoining cliff and has a wide brick retaining wall with rendered plinth.

The east side also has three recessed blank openings and is similarly built into the cliff but has a further side entrance approached by a staircase, possibly for lift maintenance. The south or cliff elevation has an entrance with a plain entablature inscribed 'LIFT' in serifs, a narrow flat concrete hood, and the wide entrance sides incorporate blank panels. There is a late C20 shutter fronted door.