A Stannah
Platform Lift is weaving tailored access throughout Whitchurch Silk Mill,
a Grade II*-listed Georgian working watermill undergoing a £2.1m regeneration
into a fully accessible, industrial heritage attraction.
Built in 1815 and
sited on the River Test near Winchester, Hampshire, this historic mill weaves
silk fabrics using 19th-century machinery. One of just four working silk mills
in the country, it is the only one open to visitors.
As such,
accessibility is key to the mill’s ongoing Preserving
the Fabric project, a Heritage Lottery
Fund scheme focused on the mill’s sustainable future via conservation,
repair, extension and new build works.
With three floors of
facilities to access, an access lift was essential, with Stannah the
provider of choice to supply, install and maintain it. However, Environment
Agency and Natural
England constraints made installation problematic, as the lift shaft had to
project over the River Test, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, without the
supporting structure interfering with the flow of water.
Stannah came up with
a design solution comprising a projecting shaft structure supported by struts
on the mill’s exterior, river-facing wall. By reducing the headroom, this shaft
structure blended effortlessly with the roofline.
The lift itself was
supplied and installed in its own structure which eliminated the need for a
dedicated lift shaft, with the integral structure tying into the internal walls
without interfering with them.
Adjusted door
openings and lintel heights on one floor further ensured that the lift fitted
its allotted aperture.
The lift interior
features a ceiling with light and timer, simple push-button operation, grab
rail and intercom. Call buttons are located on the approach wall, and the
neutral aesthetic is complemented by a glass viewing panel in the main
door.
This wasn’t the
first Stannah lift product to serve the premises. Its predecessor was a
long-serving Stannah stairlift.
But, with the upgrade and increasing footfall, this single-person people-mover
bowed out gracefully to its 4-person replacement—as Mill Director, Sue Tapliss,
comments: “We had three rock-solid
reasons to specify a Stannah platform lift:
"Our beloved
stairlift had delivered long, reliable service—thanks to Stannah’s outstanding
customer care. Critically, Stannah was the only company that could deliver a
bespoke solution to accommodate the installation constraints of the Environment
Agency and Natural England.
"We also favour
working with local companies and are reassured by Stannah’s lengthy pedigree in
opening up heritage buildings to people of all mobilities—an important
consideration when it comes to meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
”We are committed to
delivering disabled access, with the lift playing a key role in our access
policy—which is best summed up by one of our lift’s many appreciative
users."
As with all Stannah
lift products, the Stannah platform lift is covered by Stannah’s comprehensive
lift service plan, which includes four service visits in the first year, with
continued lift maintenance by the Southern
England branch of Stannah
Lift Services, part of a nationwide network providing comprehensive lift
servicing and support.
