Case Study: From derelict pile to hospitality pearl: Stannah updates access in Crossbasket Castle

Throughout its 600-year history it’s doubtful that Crossbasket Castle in Scotland catered for mobility compromised people – until a recent £9m investment and a Stannah Midilift SL platform lift transformed it into a luxury hotel, restaurant and events venue, accessible to everyone.

Moribund and on the Buildings at Risk Register, this Grade I Listed tower house was bankrolled into the 21st century with four years of sympathetic restoration, by new owners Steve and Alison Reid-Timoney.

Set in 14 acres of landscaped gardens on the banks of Rotten Calder Water in High Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Crossbasket Castle offers eight bedrooms, including a 4-floor honeymoon suite, the Albert and Michel Roux Jnr Restaurant, and the Roosevelt Grand Hall, a medieval-style, new-build banqueting/ballroom facility, and home to the Midilift SL access lift.

The platform lift carries mobility compromised patrons, especially wheelchair-users, between the ground-floor Hall and the mezzanine Balcony, a unique dining or meeting space with scenic views of the Calder gorge and waterfalls.

The Midilift SL was specified by Project Manager, John Sneddon, who sourced Stannah after having problems with a previous lift installation in the main building:

"We contacted Stannah because they are a recognised name in the lift industry, and were impressed by their service from the outset – an excellent product backed by professional support from start to finish.”

Complementing the Hall’s glazed roof, the wheelchair lift’s glass door and upper-level, half-height gate blend security with viewability, with the gate providing a cost-effective solution to the restricted head height caused by the sloping ceiling.

Finished in RAL 8016 mahogany brown, the platform lift complements the surrounding woodwork, which also mirrors the aged fixtures and fittings of the main building.

Hydraulically driven and supplied in its own lift enclosure, the lift requires minimal building work, making it a cost-conscious access solution that ensures the owners of Crossbasket Castle comply with section 4.2 of the Technical Handbook (Scotland), and the Equality Act 2010.

As with all Stannah lift products, the Midilift SL platform lift is covered by Stannah’s comprehensive lift service plan, which includes four service visits, with continued lift maintenance by the Scotland branch of Stannah Lift Services, part of a nationwide network providing comprehensive lift servicing and support.