Conservation & Heritage Issue 50 Winter 2025/Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 13
How Stannah Lifts
tr ansforms historic
buildings with bespoke
lift solutions
Preserving historic elements while improving efficiency and accessibility is a delicate balance
that requires technical expertise and an understanding of how to work with heritage
environments. Across the UK, historic buildings are seeking ways to remain accessible
and relevant without compromising their architectural integrity.
Introducing the first-ever passenger lift in a UK medieval
cathedral
Integrating modern lift systems into these spaces while
protecting centuries-old fabric has become a key speciality
of Stannah Lifts. With decades of experience in complex,
conservation-led projects, Stannah Lifts is uniquely
positioned to deliver bespoke lift solutions that meet today’s
accessibility standards while preserving historic buildings.
Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest medieval Gothic
structures in Europe, is now home to one of the first
passenger lifts ever installed in a medieval cathedral in the
UK, paving the way for other heritage buildings to offer stepfree access for visitors.
Three landmark projects, Winchester Cathedral, the
Elizabeth Tower and the Creamery at Castle Cary,
demonstrate how Stannah Lifts is making meaningful
improvements to step free access within the heritage sector.
Between 2014 and 2019, the cathedral underwent extensive
conservation and improvement works, including adaptations
to enhance step-free access for visitors. As part of this project,
an existing 17th-century staircase was reconfigured to create
Below, Big Ben - Platform lift nestled within the bells
I
Conservation & Heritage Journal
11
I
