Leas Cliff Hall

LEAS CLIFF HALL, THE LEAS

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1387728
Date first listed:
27-Jul-1999
List Entry Name:
Leas Cliff Hall
Statutory Address:
LEAS CLIFF HALL, THE LEAS
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Date:
2005-09-05
Reference:
IOE01/14659/35
Rights:
© Mr Peter Keeble. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1387728
Date first listed:
27-Jul-1999
List Entry Name:
Leas Cliff Hall
Statutory Address 1:
LEAS CLIFF HALL, THE LEAS

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
LEAS CLIFF HALL, THE LEAS

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Kent
District:
Folkestone and Hythe (District Authority)
Parish:
Folkestone
National Grid Reference:
TR 22402 35510

Details

TR 2235 NW FOLKESTONE THE LEAS
(South side)
737/5/10009
Leas Cliff Hall

II

Seaside pavilion with concert/dance hall. Designed in 1913 by J L Seaton Dahl but built between 1925 and 1927 with some 1980 refurbishment and alterations. Neo-Grec style building built directly into the cliff face. Concrete pier construction with ferro-concrete main floor and steel columns and girders filled in with brick where necessary. Two lower floors are finished in sand-faced stucco and colourwashed, the two upper floors clad in faience. Three balconies, the lower one cantilevered, with metal balustrading. Flat roof with terrace and 1980 octagonal pagoda style entrance, replacing original neo-Grec entrance. Four storeys; 15 bays to three lower floors and 10 bays to top floor, metal-framed windows, some original, others of similar design, with much of the glass replaced by bronze tinted glass c.1980. Third floor is recessed and projects a few feet above the level of The Leas with ornate metal balustrading with piers at regular intervals on three sides and steps down to balcony above second floor. Elaborate cornice with modillions, brackets and lions' head masks. Triple windows with circular motifs above. Central semi-circular dome. Second floor has wide cantilevered concrete balcony with metal balustrading and central 13 window bays, including central 3-light curved bay, have half-columns, end bays have paired columns and sides have pilasters and pedimented entrances with panels bearing the emblem of Folkestone crowned by acroterion and flanked by dolphins, pilasters, cornice and double doors. Cornice is decorated with wreaths. First floor has windows in two tiers with central three windows to round-headed bay having small cantilevered balcony with metal balustrading. Ground floor is set back with a colonnade of square piers.
INTERIOR: Grand staircase of terrazzo with Carborundum inlay to the treads (since carpeted) and metal balustrading and main hall 122 feet by 67 feet and 28 feet high with coffered ceiling, Composite columns, semi-circular recess for orchestra and balconies with metal balustrading. There was also a smaller reading room.

[BOE North East and East Kent p328.
J M Paine and K S Paine "The History of the Leas Cliff Hall and Leas Shelter, Folkestone", pamphlet produced for Folkestone and District Local History Society. ]


Listing NGR: TR2240235510

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
475716
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Newman, J, The Buildings of England: North East and East Kent, (1969)
Paine, J M, Paine, K S, The History of the Leas Cliff Hall and Leas Shelter Folkestone, ()

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Leas Cliff Hall

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 02:19:55.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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