At the University of Essex Colchester campus, a type of lift invented in the 19th century has become a novelty. Videos of the paternoster in action have caused a social media stir, with one post on the university’s TikTok account surpassing 2.3 million views, the BBC reported in March. This 55-year-old lift has 14 open compartments and runs on a continuous loop. One of only three of its kind in operation in the U.K. today, the unique elevator was installed in the Albert Sloman Library in 1967.
The paternoster was invented in the 1860s by Peter Ellis, an architect from Liverpool. The lift gets its name, which is Latin for “Our Father,” from the system’s resemblance to rosary beads. Once commonly found throughout Europe, the paternoster has become a rarity in recent years due to safety concerns and maintenance costs.
The University of Essex lift was temporarily taken out of service from 2020-21 to receive a new traffic light system that lets passengers know when to get on and off, improving safety.
Reviews from TikTok commentors are mixed, with some expressing safety and accessibility concerns (“do you need to sign a waiver … “) and confusion (“What happens at the top?”) and others defending the lift (“guys it’s no different than an escalator”). The University of Essex replied to some comments, assuring users that there is also a conventional elevator nearby.
“To see videos of the lift go viral on TikTok is fantastic and shows how genuinely intrigued and fascinated people from across the world are by it,” Director of Library and Cultural Services Jonathan White said of the response.
Though social media’s interest may rise and fall unpredictably, the paternoster remains constant in its circular movement, offering further proof that everything will come back into style eventually.
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