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Original poster

Do you know what a Paternoster lift is?

238 replies

Pinksands1 · 28/07/2020 05:41

I dont know how I had never heard of this type of lift before. The wikipedia definition says 'consists of a chain of open compartments that move continuously I'm a loop up and down a building without stopping. Passengers can step on or off at any floor they like'.

Anyway, they look bloody terrifying. I am so uncoordinated, I just know I would faff about trying to get on quickly and do myself an injury! Has anyone used one? Are they as scary as they look? Smile

OP posts:
nannytothequeen · 28/07/2020 06:20

There was one at Newcastle Uni too. Think it's gone now.

Lemonylemony · 28/07/2020 06:22

lol looking them up on YouTube, one of the videos is titled “Paternoster: Eastern Europe’s Elevator Of Death”!!!

Tempnamelady · 28/07/2020 06:24

Yes we had one at the NatWest in King Street Manchester ( City Office) when I worked there in the 80’s.

BikeRunSki · 28/07/2020 06:24

Yes. Inee we irked for an organisation tv at still had one in the Warrington office until about 2005.

There was a thread about them on here a little while ago.

paternoster lift thread

Original poster
Pinksands1 · 28/07/2020 06:25

@FredaFrogspawn that made me chuckle the thought of the little hop. I'm the same. Its like getting on and off the log flume at a theme park because they dont stop moving and I always convince myself I wont be able to do it 🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinksands1 · 28/07/2020 06:27

@Lemonylemony ha! I'll go watch that, torture myself some more

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinksands1 · 28/07/2020 06:30

@BikeRunSki thank you, I'll have a read of that thread.

OP posts:
Silvercatowner · 28/07/2020 06:33

Presumably there is a safety feature to stop the lift if anyone trips and falls half in and half out of the lift? Else you risk being chopped in half...

TanteRose · 28/07/2020 06:34

yes, Arts Tower at Sheffield University!
One of the few working paternoster lifts in existence apparently.

loved going over the top and freaking people out! Grin

Charleyhorses · 28/07/2020 06:34

There was one at Leichester University in the 1980s. I was forced to use it in the 1980s and decided not to go there on that basis.

ArriettyJones · 28/07/2020 06:35

@Lemonylemony

lol looking them up on YouTube, one of the videos is titled “Paternoster: Eastern Europe’s Elevator Of Death”!!!
Grin Bit Dramatic!
QueenAnnesHat · 28/07/2020 06:37

@Charleyhorses

There was one at Leichester University in the 1980s. I was forced to use it in the 1980s and decided not to go there on that basis.
Yes, I went for an interview at Leicester in 1978 and didn't accept their offer because I couldn't face the thought of having to use that lift!
MarthasGinYard · 28/07/2020 06:38

I only know what they are as there was a previous thread on here about them.

Never been on one

Fascinated by them though

thefemaleJoshLyman · 28/07/2020 06:39

Yes, I used the one at Leicester Uni pretty much every week for 3 years (1990s). Loved it. They slowed it down at the beginning of the year for freshers. I remember a particularly inventive story in the Ripple (student newspaper) about a couple having fun(ahem) in the lift. You could go all the way around. Was really sad when it was removed.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 28/07/2020 06:46

A friend was at Sheffield uni and the Paternoster life was the highlight of my first visit to see her. No idea how many complete circuits we did - more than one!

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 28/07/2020 06:48

Yes! The one at Northwick Park has recently been renovated, I saw this pop up on Facebook the other day: www.facebook.com/LondonNorthWestHealthcare/videos/309700337104393/?vh=e&extid=Ualp7slMvqYRK147

JulesJules · 28/07/2020 06:50

Yes, there was a Paternoster at St Thomas' Hospital in London when I was a nurse there - in the 80s, it's not still there though. It was brilliant, no queuing and waiting for a big lift, just hop on and off. You could go round the top or the bottom safely - it didn't turn upside down or anything! There was room for 2-3 people . I once got stuck between floors with another nurse when it stopped, we had to shout until a few medical students came to haul us out. This wasn't for the general public to use, only for staff.

Deathraystare · 28/07/2020 06:50

I know of one in London but cannot remember where it is! I am sure there is more than one!!

I am ok in lifts unless they are outside the building or all glass.

Bluemoooon · 28/07/2020 06:52

From google
Word origin
Latin, literally: our father (from the opening of the Lord's Prayer)

Paternoster - NOUN

  1. Roman Catholic Church
the beads at the ends of each decade of the rosary marking the points at which the Paternoster is recited.
Needmoresleep · 28/07/2020 06:53

There used to be one at the LSE. Brilliant. You would be passing and see a friends head appear, stop for a chat which had to end because you were then talking to their feet. Weird also when it broke down. The decision had to be made. Did you slide up or down to escape. I never thought of going round the top. Life is full of missed opportunities.

speakout · 28/07/2020 06:54

Yes I used one regularly some years ago.
Quite daunting,

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 28/07/2020 06:54

Yep Sheffield uni has one. Rite of passage going all the way round haha!

Springquartet · 28/07/2020 06:54

There was one at the LSE in the 80s. I remember my surprise as I hadn't seen one before.

beela · 28/07/2020 06:56

I loved the one in the Arts Tower in Sheffield. We used to go underneath to beat the queue on the ground floor.

ImAncient · 28/07/2020 06:56

Yes I was at Leeds uni & there was one there. It was ace.

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