East Cliff or Harbour Lift was built in 1910, the second of three lifts in Ramsgate, but now the older of the two that survive. The earliest, the Marina Lift, which was built in 1908 further to the north on the East Cliff, was demolished after falling into disrepair. The West Cliff Lift was built in 1926: probably designed by Sir John Burnet and Partners.
At the height of the Victorian and Edwardian fashion for the seaside there was great competition between resorts to offer the best amenities. One of these was a cliff railway or lift to provide quick and easy transit for holidaymakers between the town and its hotels or boarding houses and the beach. In addition to this, East Cliff Lift provided direct transport for passengers between the town and the station.
The lift ceased operations in the 1990s, and the structure subsequently fell into disrepair. In 1999 it was restored as part of a seafront regeneration scheme, and re-opened in April of that year. The renovation of the lift and its superstructure included the replacement of the lift mechanism, and of some of the fabric of the surrounding structure. The tiles around the upper entrance were replaced, and the lower entrance was refurbished, and its front elevation slightly altered.

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