The Express Lift Tower
The National Lift Tower
From a pioneering lift-testing facility to a distinctive centre for research, training and engineering.
1980 to today
The tower's story begins with the Express Lift Company.
The National Lift Tower started life as the Express Lift Tower. Designed by architect Maurice Walton of Stimpson Walton Bond, the tower construction started in 1980 and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on the 12th of November 1982.
The tower is 127.5 metres (418 ft) tall, 14.6 m (48 ft) in diameter at the base and tapers to 8.5 m (28 ft) at the top. The only lift-testing tower in Britain, and one of only two in Europe, it was granted Grade II listed building status on 30 October 1997, making it the youngest listed building in the UK at the time.
- 127.5m
- Tower height
- 1982
- Official opening
- Grade II
- Listed since 1997
A testing legacy
British Standards Institution
From the tower's opening, one of our lift shafts was used by the British Standards Institution (BSI) for type testing of lift safety components. The safety gear tests were done by putting the lift cars into free fall down the shaft with rated mass at tripping speeds, to make sure that the lift cars decelerated and stopped within the requirements of the specifications.
Buffer testing was also performed at the lift tower, which involved impacting the buffers with set weights and speeds. This helped make sure that safety components could stop an uncontrolled lift car fall within the required specifications.
Key moments
The tower through the years.
Commissioned
The structure was commissioned by the Express Lift Company.
Construction begins
Work began on the designs of architect Maurice Walton.
Official opening
Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Express Lift Tower on 12 November.
Grade II listed
The tower was granted Grade II listed building status, then the youngest listed building in the UK.
New surroundings
The tower and surrounding area were sold to Wilcon Homes for development.
National Lift Tower re-opens
The tower re-opened under private ownership as the National Lift Tower.
Permanent abseiling
Planning permission was granted for more permanent abseiling from the top.
Drainage research begins
Studor, now part of Aliaxis, began installing the world's tallest drain-testing rig.
The tower today
Built for the next generation of testing.
Aliaxis UK runs its Training and Research Centre at the tower, supporting research, development and practical training for high-rise drainage, waste and ventilation systems.
The facility includes a 75-metre soil stack, the world's tallest drainage testing installation, which can recreate real-life high-rise conditions with up to 40 flushes in a single test.
We also host testing for safety equipment, lift-industry training and abseils that raise thousands of pounds for local and national charities.
Read about the Aliaxis Training and Research Centre →