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An important lift modernisation at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
The original Sunderland Museum was established in 1846 and moved in 1879 to larger premises, where it remains adjacent to the city centre’s Mowbray Park. Over time, the museum’s Grade II listed building has undergone various refurbishments and was extended in the 1960s and then again in 2001, following lottery funding which helped to create a new Winter Gardens extension.
Today Sunderland Museum is considered to be one of the most visited museums outside of London. It boasts a ‘Designated Collection of national importance’, including the only known British example of a gliding reptile, the world’s oldest known vertebrate capable of gliding flight. The museum, with the added glazed and enclosed tropical glass rotunda and winter gardens, is now one of the city’s most popular attractions.
In 2023, as part of an ongoing relationship Jackson Newcastle has with Sunderland Council, we were asked to provide a report and estimate to modernise a failing hydraulic lift that was causing problems. As with all requests of this type, one of our Sales Engineers, operating from our Newcastle offices, visited the museum to undertake a detailed lift survey to establish exactly what was needed to reinstate the lift into full service.
Our survey found that the hydraulic valve, its associated equipment, and the lift controller were approaching end-of-life expectancy, offering no viable repair options. As a result, the decision was made to undertake a full modernisation of the hydraulic drive and control system. We also provided the museum’s management with a plan for upgrading the less essential items that were also approaching end-of-life expectancy.
Following budget approval in 2023 from the museum, Jackson engineers working from our Newcastle Offices undertook the modernisation of the lift’s hydraulic system, which included a new lift controller, tank, and valve.
Our work was undertaken in a fully operational building, with our engineers taking extra care to overcome any additional inconvenience to the museum’s visitors or staff. With the modernisation completed, we fully tested the lift prior to returning it to full service.
During 2024, we commenced work on phase two of our work at the museum which included upgrading the museum’s scenic lift located in the rotunda with a new door operator. Also, as part of phase two we replaced the worn car operating panel in the museum’s passenger lift with a new panel with tactile lift buttons.
Again, Jackson engineers working from our Newcastle office undertook the modernisation work, testing and reinstating each lift into full service.