Stannah stairlift helps open up Dumfries House, East Ayrshire

In time for the Spring opening season on 4th April, the magnificent 250 year old Dumfries House

in Ayrshire has been fitted with a special addition to add to its historic furnishings.

An iconic Stannah Stairlift has been installed on the stately home’s grand staircase, helping the less able-bodied to explore the first floor of the Adam-designed building.

The family-owned, British manufacturing firm has delivered the bespoke curved Starla stairlift for Dumfries House, which was saved for the nation by a consortium led by HRH The Prince of Wales (known as The Duke of Rothesay in Scotland).

Dumfries House was designed and built for the 5th Earl of Dumfries, William Crichton-Dalrymple, between 1754 and 1759. Set in a 2,000 acre estate, the House is now open to the public for the first time in 250 years and boasts some of the country’s best examples of Chippendale and rococo furniture.

Patrick Stannah, joint managing director, Stannah Lift Services, said: “It has been a privilege to play a small part in bringing previously inaccessible parts of the house into the reach of its less-able bodied visitors. The stairlift proves that a sympathetically-designed, modern mobility aid can fit, unobtrusively, into a beautiful eighteenth-century building.

Sir Brian Ivory, Chairman of Trustees, The Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust, said: “Since we began the restoration of Dumfries House we have improved access facilities for less able-bodied visitors.  The installation of the Stannah Stairlift will mean that another floor is accessible and we are very grateful for this welcome addition to the House.”

Stannah is run today by fourth generation joint chairmen Alan and Brian Stannah, who launched the revolutionary Microlift and Maxilift in the 1960s and the Stannah stairlift in the 1970s. Today they are supported by the fifth generation of the family – Jon, Patrick, Alastair and Nick Stannah – who are proud torchbearers for Stannah’s long-held family spirit and traditions.

Stannah now operates in more than 40 countries and has subsidiaries in nine countries including Holland, Italy and America.

For more information visit corporate.stannah.com