For Richard and Helen Campbell, everyday tasks had become increasingly difficult in their top-floor apartment at the historic Bretby Hall in Burton-on-Trent. Accessing their home meant climbing 37 steps, and carrying shopping upstairs had become what Richard describes as "the worst five minutes of the week". Installing a home lift offered a practical solution that would make daily life easier while preserving the character of their Grade II listed home.

Richard and Helen live in a top-floor apartment within the 200-year-old Bretby Hall, formerly the home of the Earl of Chesterfield before later serving as a hospital and eventually being converted into apartments. While they remained happy in their home, repeatedly carrying shopping and heavier items up multiple flights of stairs prompted them to consider a lift that would improve accessibility without compromising the building's heritage features.

The new lift now allows them to transport shopping, luggage and other heavy items directly to their apartment, reducing the physical strain while helping future-proof their home.

Requirement

"There were 37 steps that came up to our apartment, and we used to have what we described as the worst five minutes of the week which was when we brought the shopping in," explains Richard.

"It was just very, very hard work and none of us are getting any younger. I'm still happy to use the stairs but we wanted a lift primarily for carrying and shifting."

Installing a lift within a Grade II listed building presented several challenges. Bretby Hall's historic layout included unconventional spaces, while listed building requirements meant any alterations needed to be carefully considered to preserve the property's character.

The Campbells required a lift that could fit within the available space, integrate sympathetically with the building and provide reliable access to their apartment without extensive structural alterations.

Why Aritco?
The Aritco HomeLift offered the flexibility needed to meet the property's unique constraints while providing a compact, stylish solution suitable for heritage homes.

"Every aspect of this project required careful planning because of the building's age and listed status," says [Name], [Job Title], Gartec. "The Aritco HomeLift allowed us to create a practical access solution that worked within the available space while respecting the character of the property."

Installation
The installation was carefully coordinated alongside the wider renovation works and completed with minimal disruption to the historic fabric of the building. The finished lift blends seamlessly into the renovated entrance hall while providing easy access between the ground floor and the Campbells' apartment.

"It has completely changed how we use our home," says Richard. "We no longer dread carrying shopping upstairs, and it has made everyday life so much easier."

Specification
Lift: Aritco HomeLift
Project: Grade II listed apartment, Bretby Hall, Burton-on-Trent
Reason for purchase: Easier transport of shopping and heavy items, improved accessibility and future-proofing the home