Folkestone Library Closure: Historic Grace Hill Building Up for Sale After £2.9m Repair Costs and Community Protests

Folkestone’s Grade II Listed Library at 2 Grace Hill abruptly closed in late 2022 after severe water ingress rendered the Grade II listed building unsafe. Kent County Council (KCC) announced its closure in December, citing health and safety concerns due to ongoing leaks despite previous repairs. The decision was taken to protect the safety of both staff and library users. Patrons were directed to nearby branches while further investigations into the damage were underway.

January 2023: Council Cites £2 Million Repair Bill

By January 2023, KCC revealed that bringing the building back into service would require between £1.8 million and £2 million in restoration work. Council officials confirmed they could not commit this level of funding under existing budget constraints, despite expressing a general intention to maintain a town centre library presence.

2018: Early Warnings of Disrepair

Long before closure, community voices had raised alarms about the library’s deteriorating condition. In December 2018, a local advocacy outlet warned “Folkestone Library is falling into disrepair and the holes need to be fixed to stop the rain from getting in.” That report criticised local councillors for insufficient action to address roof maintenance, arguing that neglect had risked “allowing the library… to go to rack and ruin.” These early warnings presaged the more serious structural issues later identified by KCC.

March 2023: Public Protests and Community Backlash

Word of a permanent closure sparked swift and impassioned public reaction. On Grace Hill, dozens of residents protested newspaper-style outside the closed building, chanting “Save our library, shame on KCC!” and underscoring the library’s role as a vital educational and communal space. One participant described it as “one of the last warm, free spaces in the town,” lamenting the impact on vulnerable community groups. Local representatives joined the outcry, urging the council to seek alternative sites rather than necessitate travel to other branches.

August 2023: Temporary Library Services Introduced

Under pressure, KCC arranged a temporary facility in the former Shepway Youth Club nearby. By August 2023, the “Heritage and Digital Access” hub had been announced, later officially opening in November. While it lacked general lending stock, users could access public computers, Wi‑Fi, microfilm readers, and archive materials, with reserved books available for pickup free of charge. KCC’s cabinet member hailed the initiative as essential to restore critical services while long-term plans continued.

April 2024: Deterioration and a £2.9 Million Impasse

An updated structural assessment in April 2024 revealed further deterioration: mold, damp, and failed mechanical systems had worsened the condition, pushing restoration estimates to £2.9 million. For a council facing tight budgets, spending a full year’s maintenance funding on a single site was deemed unfeasible. Officials confirmed reopening the original library was not financially viable without external support, and instead shifted focus to alternative locations and service delivery models—such as considering a move to the former Debenhams unit in town.

June 2024: Fresh Hope as Reuse Options Emerge

Despite the cost barrier, June brought renewed optimism. District council members, community groups, and creative partners (such as Creative Folkestone) began exploring how the building might be reintegrated into the town’s cultural infrastructure. The site was designated an Asset of Community Value (ACV) during this time, giving local stakeholders the right to propose a community-led purchase. Expressions of interest from charitable organisations suggested a possible mixed-use future with a reduced library presence and space for arts or educational programming.

Current Status: Historic Library Building Up for Sale or Lease

As of August 2025, the Grace Hill Library remains closed—but its future hinges on a new opportunity: Kent County Council has placed the building up for sale or lease, inviting bids with or without library reoccupation. The property, encompassing over 14,000 sq ft across ground, first, and basement floors, stands in need of substantial modernization and structural investment—repair estimates remain at £2.9 million.

KCC is open to a range of proposals: outright purchase, lease, or leaseback arrangements that would allow the library service to occupy a reduced footprint alongside a new operator. All bids are assessed under the council’s disposal policy, asset management strategy, statutory obligations, and the deliverability of proposals. The building’s status as an ACV triggers a moratorium: community groups have until 7 September 2025 to mount a bid before any sale can proceed.

The next chapter for Grace Hill depends on whether a viable plan emerges—be it community-led, charitable, or commercial—that balances heritage preservation, financial feasibility, and the continued availability of library services in the town centre.

The Shepway Vox Team

Journalism for the People NOT the Powerful