Stannah makes for plain sailing with the addition of a new lift at ‘Being Brunel’ museum

Stannah has recently collaborated with Bristol’s SS Great Britain Ship to create the ‘Being Brunel’ dockside museum by adding a seventh Stannah lift to the attraction.

The installation of the Picollo lift is Stannah’s seventh installation at the site, offering an accessible solution where space is limited. The lift is wall mounted within the new section of the building and is an aesthetically pleasing stainless steel and light grey finish. Offering a generous platform, the lift provides independence for wheelchair users.

Stannah Lifts Managing Director, Alastair Stannah explains: “When we were first approached to install lifts on Brunel’s ship we could not help but look at our own company heritage.

“In 1867, whilst Brunel’s engineering achievements were changing life in Great Britain, my great, great, great grandfather, Joseph Stannah was establishing his lift engineering company on London’s dockside, having been inspired by Brunel. Who would have imagined that 150 years later Stannah would provide a seventh lift to the magnificent new ‘Being Brunel’ museum completing almost total accessibility to every corner of this ever-expanding and fascinating site?”

Built from iron with a height, from keel to main deck, of 32’ 6” (9.91m), the logistics of helping mobility compromised visitors navigate three decks posed a unique challenge for Stannah Lifts as, amongst many considerations, access had to be made through the centre of the ship, and through a glass plate into the Dry Dock below.

Drawing upon a mutual history in Victorian engineering, the Stannah lift team has, over a number of years, supported the SS Great Britain Trust in providing access for all by installing a total of seven lifts ranged over the ship herself, the Dockyard Museum, the Brunel Institute (a world-class conservation and education centre sited alongside the vessel) and, in 2018, in the ‘Being Brunel’ museum:

• 3-stop, 8-person Maxilift passenger lift in the Dockyard Museum
• 2-stop Midilifts onboard ship
• 2-stop Midilift on the quay at water level.
• 2-stop Midilift in the Brunel Institute and Library
• 2-stop Piccolo lift in the ‘Being Brunel’ museum

Stannah provides 365 days-a-year lift maintenance to the SS Great Britain Trust’s portfolio of lifts from its Bristol service branch, helping to meet the Trust’s mission for all-round accessibility.

For more information on Stannah’s work with Brunel’s SS Great Britain, you can read our recent article – Stannah and Brunel ship collaboration continues

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