74
ACCESSIBILITY
Historic Whitby Abbey facilities benefi t from lift modernisation
O
ne of England’s most famous historic monasteries, Grade I Whitby Abbey, has invested in a lift modernisation by Stannah Lifts to offer reliable step-free access to visitors.
Originally founded in AD 657 and occupied by the Anglian community, Whitby Abbey was later rebuilt as a Benedictine monastery. Today,
the 7th-century ruins
remain a popular heritage landmark in North Yorkshire, now housing an award-winning visitor centre repurposed from a 17th-century banqueting hall. Whitby Abbey House Visitor Centre, developed in the early 2000s beside the abbey ruins, includes a souvenir shop, museum and café. The passenger lift is located on the ground fl oor, providing access to the museum and exhibition area on the fi rst fl oor. Due to the age of the existing lift, modernisation work was needed to maintain smooth and reliable operations for visitors who require step-free access. Whitby Abbey is managed and maintained by English Heritage, who issued a tender for the lift works. Following a rigorous tendering process, Stannah, acting as the lift supplier, worked with Cundall consultants to determine the best approach for this modernisation project.
The challenge Whitby
Abbey attracts over 150,000
visitors each year, so keeping the visitor centre open was important to fulfi l the customer experience. The shop’s closure was kept to a minimum to ensure the safe transportation of equipment and initial start of works. This also allowed the on- site team to establish a safety perimeter, prioritising visitor safety.
Following this,
the shop remained open for the duration of the project.
As this was the only functioning lift in the building, it was important to complete the modernisation as quickly as possible to avoid long disruptions to shop operations and visitors.
The solution Working collaboratively with Cundall, lift modernisation was proposed in place of full replacement,
Ben Harrison Photography
www.BenHarrisonphotography.co.uk
cost-effective outcome with minimal impact on day-to-day operations.
By upgrading key mechanical and control components, the lift’s reliability, performance and long-term serviceability are improved while shortening installation time and minimising downtime.
The lift modernisation solution included a new Hydroware control panel to improve reliability and lift response times, a hydraulic tank unit for more effi cient system operation, and a borehole ram to provide safer and smoother travel.
A new stainless steel car operating panel (COP) and landing push stations were installed to improve passenger usability, accessibility and lift reliability.
The installation of a variable voltage variable frequency (VVVF) electronic drive improves ride comfort by delivering smoother acceleration and deceleration, reducing any jerking movements and mechanical wear, while also improving energy effi ciency. The shaft lighting was also upgraded to LED to improve visibility for engineers during future maintenance work. New vinyl fl ooring was chosen to the interior
enhance providing a durable, a recommendation supported by Stannah Lifts to achieve a
appearance while hard-wearing,
and
easy-to-maintain surface suitable for high- traffi c use.
The modernisation package covered all major components,
offering a practical
solution that optimised performance and restored reliability.
Results
The lift modernisation was completed within fi ve weeks. Overall,
these modernisation
upgrades successfully enhanced the lift’s reliability, operational effi ciency, ride comfort, safety and energy performance,
while
reducing the risk of breakdowns frequently associated with ageing components. The new stainless steel COP, updated indicators and vinyl car fl ooring also modernised the appearance of the lift car, providing a more durable, accessible, and user-friendly experience for passengers. Upgraded lift components, such as the VVVF drive, help to deliver a smoother ride while also reducing operating costs by more effi cient motor control and reduced energy consumption. Visitors can now enjoy reliable transportation from the only lift on site to the museum, where they can explore the heritage of one of the UK’s iconic landmarks through its exhibits and displays.
Lift modernisations are particularly effective for systems experiencing frequent callouts, breakdowns, repeated repairs, high running costs from outdated systems that consume a lot of power and worn fi nishes.
01264 343692
www.stannahlifts.co.uk
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF JULY/AUGUST 2026
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78
