Blog| Workhouse photographer on top of Northampton Lift Tower. |
| Wednesday, 29 July 2009 18:48 |
|
Yesterday Workhouse Studios photographer Woody (Andrew Woodhouse) had the amazing opportunity to visit the Northampton Lift tower.The lift tower was built by the Express Lift Company as a place to test their lifts. It was commissioned in 1978 with construction starting in 1980. The lift tower was opened in 1982 by the Queen. The lift tower has never been open to the general public, so to be able to go to the very top was an honor indeed. The lift tower has been closed since the late nineties after it Express Lifts were taken over by Otis. The lift tower is currently in the process of being restored to it's former glory with plans for a visitors centre and restaurant. It was nearly torn down after a "concrete cancer" scare, although this was later revealed to have been a ploy to use the land for development.Perhaps the lift towers biggest claim to fame is when it was nicknamed the "Northampton Lighthouse" by the BBC's Terry Wogan on his morning radio show. The lift tower is one of only two in europe and is the only one of its kind in the UK. The future is looking much brighter for the lift tower as it has recently been given listed status.
Images courtesy of Andrew's friend Ian Blackett. www.blackettphotography.com
|
