A Lift That Never Stops
Paternoster lifts are unique passenger elevators made of continuously moving open compartments, usually designed for two people each. Unlike conventional elevators, they do not stop; passengers step on or off while the lift keeps circulating in a vertical loop. First used in offices, libraries, and factories, they became one of the most distinctive elevator systems in history.
Invention and Early Expansion
The first patent for a system resembling the paternoster was filed by British architect Peter Ellis in July 1866. Two years later, he installed one in Oriel Chambers, Liverpool, making it the earliest known example. In 1878, engineer Frederick Hart patented further improvements, and by 1884, the firm J & E Hall of Dartford installed its first “Cyclic Elevator” in London. These innovations set the foundation for widespread adoption in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Popularity and Global Reach
By the early 20th century, paternosters became popular across Europe, especially in public buildings where they could move more passengers per hour than traditional elevators. In Germany, over 230 installations remain operational today, and the Czech Republic has 68. Outside Europe, only three are known to exist—in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Peru. One of the tallest systems ever built was located in Stuttgart’s Tagblatt Tower, completed in 1927, which spanned 16 floors before being replaced by conventional elevators in 1959.
Safety Challenges and Modern Restrictions
Despite their efficiency, paternosters have a significantly higher accident rate than standard elevators, estimated to be about 30 times greater. Accidents often occur when passengers misuse them, such as transporting bulky objects. In September 1975, a fatal incident occurred at Newcastle University’s Claremont Tower when a car derailed at the top, forcing two others into the winding room.
In October 1988, another non-fatal accident followed, leading to its eventual closure and replacement with a conventional lift in 1990. In 2012, an 81-year-old man died after falling into a paternoster shaft in The Hague.
Due to safety concerns, West Germany banned new installations in 1974, and several other countries imposed similar restrictions. Attempts to close all existing systems in 1994 and again in 2015 met with strong public opposition, allowing many to remain in use. In 2009, special permission was granted to build a new paternoster at Solon’s Berlin headquarters, showing that interest in the technology has not entirely disappeared.
Step into an elevator that never stops: the paternoster.
Open two-person cars loop endlessly, riders hop on and off mid-move.
Born in 19th-century Britain, it spread across Europe, moved crowds fast—and sparked decades of bans, accidents, and fierce public pushback…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/nv7WmrKbmn
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) September 2, 2025