Express Lift Tower,Northampton -2011

[skeletonkey]

Express Lift Tower,Northampton-Feb-2011

The lift testing tower was built by the Express Lift company in 1980.
The structure was commissioned in 1978 with construction commencing in 1980,
It was designed by architects Stimpson and Walton and was opened by The Queen in 1982
built of 4,000 tons of reinforced concrete.



The circular tower is 127.45 metres high,(418.1feet) tall,
There are six lift shafts of varying heights and speeds, including a high speed shaft with a travel of 100 metres and a speed of 4 metres per second.

The Express Lift company closed after being sold to another lift manufacturer, Otis, and the last 500 workers clocked out on Thursday 30th January 1997.


The tower became a Grade II listed building in October 1997 and is now renamed the National lift tower
The surrounding land was sold to Wilcon homes for development.



The tower's renovation was officially completed in July 2010.
Additional building work is ongoing,
Ed Wright, manager at the Lift Tower, said: "Completing the renovation marks a milestone in our plans for the tower.
"There are three phases to the project. The first phase was to rescue Northampton's landmark from demolition.
"The second phase was to complete repair works and put the building back in use as a working lift-testing tower.
"This is where we are now, with several projects already underway on the premises.
"The third phase will be to extend the tower's usefulness and appeal, a large part of which is erecting a new coffee shop and conferencing centre next to the tower.
"We will also be installing a scenic elevator near the top of the building".



Plans are formulating regarding a jaunt to the top in the near future.
Truely a strange sight to see smack bang in the middle of a houseing estate

Thanks for looking in SK

[coops]

Nice to see they left it up

[skeletonkey]

ace, have you been to the top?

No the place is secure but have contacted them as they do charity absails from there so a good oppertunity

[Nicola]

I love how it's just there in the middle of a housing estate - and good luck getting up it!

[blackbunkers]

oooh, legs gone to jelly just looking at the pics.... and im not even scared of heights!