Issue 45 Feb 25 web - Flipbook - Page 22
A perfect fit for
a modern glass lift
The reimagined Creamery building at the heart of Castle Cary railway station now boasts a striking,
all-glass passenger lift from Stannah. This modern addition combines style with accessibility, offering
a transparent and elegant way to visit the trackside restaurant and working creamery.
This historic structure, which has been a part of the area
since 1912, recently underwent an extensive renovation
to enhance the safety, stability and user experience. The
Creamery is renowned for its tower, ‘La Belle Epoque’,
which still stands tall today as a symbol of industrial
innovation and artistic flair.
Originally established by brothers G&C Prideaux as a
milk factory, the creamery processed milk delivered by
local farmers into cheese, then transported to London
via the railway. Today, The Creamery is open to the
public and has been transformed into a community hub,
featuring a restaurant and shop, and offering a range of
delightful food options to travellers, visitors, and train
passengers while reviving its cheesemaking heritage.
The client
The Creamery is owned by Koos Bekker and his wife, who
also owns The Newt in Somerset, which was recently
awarded the World’s Best Boutique Hotel at The World's
50 Best Hotels 2023. Ken Biggs Contractors were
appointed as the principal contractor on this project and
made contact after being impressed by Stannah’s
distinctive refurbishment of a vintage passenger lift at the
YMCA in Bristol.
Working with architects Stonewood Design, and Ken
Biggs Contractors, Stannah Lifts worked to deliver a lift
that was both modern and harmoniously integrated with
the early 20th-century aesthetic of the building.
The project’s vision was to blend the 1912 style with
contemporary elements, which also resulted in Ken Biggs
Contractors reconstructing the entire Creamery.
The work
Stannah Lifts collaborated with architects to incorporate
the new lift into the design of the re-imagined Creamery.
The project commenced with the installation of vertical
rail guides to keep the lift aligned within the elevator shaft,
followed by the mechanical first fix in 2023 and the
completion of the mechanical package. Shortly after,
works commenced on the glass lift shaft and car.
Below, the all-glass passenger lift
