Walk around Bracknell town centre lifts (yes, again!) inc Princess Square - March 2009

I've been back to Bracknell AGAIN to see how things are now (see my previous videos for more details as to why, but essentially this is a video about lifts in Bracknell which I remember from my childhood)
I start off by visiting the decommissioned lifts in the High Street car park that were shut off to the public. These were Kone Marryatt Scott, but since my last visit they have been refurbished and reopened. This was disappointing as I was hoping to see the originals again!
Next, the original Otis lift is still there at the other end of the car park which was cool!
Then off into Princess Square. There used to be 6 lifts (one was used for Sainbury's trolleys - it was always in 'goods mode'). There were 3 lifts on either side of the lift lobby (total=6). These too, used to be Kone Marryatt Scott when they were installed back in the early 80s when the shopping centre was built. They were modernised to Kone lifts in the 90s. In the late 90s, three of the lifts were knocked down - not quite sure why, maybe 6 was too much and they needed the space? Now only 3 exist on one side of the lobby. No longer Kone lifts, now they have "ALS" engraved into the COP. Some of these buttons (the big ones for "G" and "1") look like Keighley ones!
Out of the shopping centre and into Charles Square. This is a 1970s open paved area with shops. On the side down a passage are two otis lifts (decommissioned - see next video) and two sets original Schindler escalator that go up, past a hotel, along a walk bridge into Car Park 2.
The lifts in this car park are the same as they were on my previous visit, this time I filmed the lift machine a little better through the vent in the door.
Part 2 to follow, uploading tomorrow hopefully.

[@MichalM]

NO WAY! I can't believe they knocked so much of the old Bracknell down! Went there recently and it's looks so different!

[@djFadeOut122]

yeah, i love all that old stuff, and relays. i have already seen that video but it shows good how old equipment looks like, and it is awesome to see that in action.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

@MrUNIXman Cool! Has anything changed? Hope not, Bracknell is my favourite place for finding old lifts. Plus, my nan used to take me round all these lifts when I was about 12-14 yrs and brings back memories (glad they've not updated most of them). But the whole town centre does need updating at some stage though.

[@Markjuk]

3.31 Sainsbury's in Bracknell Princess square is probably the last store in the UK that hasn't been refurbished or had the name changed to plain old Sainsbury's!!!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

These lifts had bells back then, there were 6 lifts here - the 3 on the left side wall are gone. When the lift arrived and you heard the bell, it was difficult to see which lift had actually arrived until the slow doors started to open, which you couldn't see as the lifts are inset into the walls on the upper floors!! What started your interest in lifts Harri? Was it this family connection with your dad's sister's husband? I have been interested in them since I was about 8 years old

[@Klomp1]

Damn!! Bracknell must really be stuck in a time warp! They even have the old style Sainsbury sign at 3:31! Anyone have any idea when or if they are going to re-develop the town centre in Bracknell? Loving the videos!

[@Larkinsmithx]

spoilers... now!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

@drenahmeti22 I'd imagine they are ecodisc, but this is not a MRL installation. The ecodisc machines would have been installed in the old Kone Marryatt Scott motor room on the roof.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Just finished annotations on this vid. Uploading part 2 tomorrow! I too remember the 10p toilets on the 3rd floor! The way to avoid it was to use Bentalls toilets! Thanks for comment.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

The left lift at the end of this video was out of service. They are schindler, updated in the late 80s. Before this, they had the solenoid type 'pop-out' buttons.

[@djFadeOut122]

oh my gosh! those old lifts were replaced with my favourite type of KONE lifts!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Might be because no-one cares about Bracknell anymore! It may stay like this until the massive plans to redevelope the town centre are approved and started, but this probably won't be in the current climate! There are not many big name shops left as everyone either goes to Slough, Reading or even High Wycombe (with our new Eden centre). I love Bracknell though, as it is currently a great place to see old lifts (and that escalator!)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

You know older lifts have 2 noticable speeds, like this...doors close>full speed>(on reaching floor)switch to slow speed for 2-3 seconds, then stop at floor. Well, when these original Kone Marryatt Scott lifts were installed in early 80s, they were one of the first lifts that didn't need the slow down speed. They went from full speed to a smooth stop, leveling correctly every time. Nowadays of course, most lifts do this, but back in early 80s this was new. (continued...)

[@Klomp1]

Damn!! Bracknell must really be stuck in a time warp! They even have the old style Sainsbury sign at 3:31! Anyone have any idea when or if they are going to re-develop the town centre in Bracknell?

[@user-kp6xf4gf7t]

The 1974 Otis disabled lift survived until the car park was closed in 2021.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

@BioXFluX I'm interested in old lifts, and Bracknell is an ideal place to find them. Plus, I remember all of these from my childhood as I stayed with my nan a lot and she used to take me round them. See vid description for full details :)

[@OctoSwift]

works the left lift on the last elevator?

[@djFadeOut122]

my videos are all named "elevator" because that word get used most. the dutch word for lift is also lift. we note the capacity in kilograms and in persons. standard is 75kg=1 person i am very interested in lifts, and i like old ones a lot. i really like your videos, and especially the motor rooms (we call it machineroom). i have some old relays, that came out of a elevator controller that got modernized and replaced with a digital one.

[@caputterz]

great video i do like that old otis lift

[@luginewton9908]

I lived in Ascot years ago when Bracknell new town was first built. I was a teenager and like others I considered Bracknell a boorish place to be. In fact near bye towns such as Wokingham, Windsor , Camberly where far more exciting and entertaining. From what I can see in these videos there’s nothing changed.

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Bracknell has completely changed in the last 3 or 4 years. Most of the old town centre has been demolished and rebuilt. I've not been round since but I doubt anything is much the same anymore.

[@MichalM]

@@mrmattandmrchay Indeed!

[@mrmattandmrchay]

Yes, I can see you've filmed some on your page. I will have a look at more of your videos later. It's amazing how many people are interested in lifts/elevators - I thought it was 'just me' that liked lifts and no-one else is interested. I'm more interested in the older lifts, as these are becoming rare and interesting when I do find some. Also, older control equipment is much more interesting to look at - did you see this... watch?v=MXD5RyhfCpY This is a classic old otis control (cont...)

[@ajs2120]

Good sound at 1:57! I'm sure by now the remaining lifts have been upgraded, shame. No frequency drive here, 50Hz AC straight in there!

[@MichalM]

This lift has been modernised sadly :/

[@akeinro]

Guess it has not changed much. I miss there alot.

[@mushroomcraft]

How do you own a 240p camera? I didn't know cameras that bad existed 🤣 But the audio and frame rate is good though

[@mrmattandmrchay]

This was 2009 - was recorded in 640x480, but during this video's 14 year history, youtube have degraded it all the way down to 240p. Almost unwatchable now.

[@jurgentav]

im looking forward for next years royal ascot meeting but hotels and bed and breakfasts near ascot racecourse are very expensive, does anyone nows a plays near Bracknell where i could stay for 6 nights for the ascot meeting in June 2012.

[@kaashee]

It became really bleak during this time. I remember the ceiling in the lifts and the buttons

[@xpertgaming3419]

Rest in peace bentals

[@autharelevatorcomingsoon1226]

What abandoned Kone 0:20

[@OctoSwift]

@mrmattandmrchay i like that pop out buttons just a pity that so much modernizing elevators in england

[@Indesitlover]

that lift voice is spooky

[@d4nnyb4tten]

Why!

[@gan9e]

I attacked and killed my first zomboid in Bracknell... must of been about 20+yrs after the fall... the place was empty years before the nukes... oh this isn't 2065? sorry... brain chip you see... some times plays up... I'm from the future using my osmicon to transmit... sorry should of said... yeah anyway don't worry, we've got flying cars and shiny boiler suits in the future... oh and beware the one who named himself Corbyn... tat tar... bye for now

[@mrmattandmrchay]

uhm, normally I know roughly how to reply, but this time I'm lost for words LOL :)

[@mrmattandmrchay]

(continued...) equipment, take a look, it's facinating! I found a motor room like this on my video... watch?v=HGVBNdNdhEM

[@yosabe1851]

It's almost post apocalyptic!

[@IsabelleAmelia]

Yo Sabe not anymore hun