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Beccles woman finds an uplifting way to stay in her home: a lift in the larder
Jane Seppings in the lift space with the lift tucked up on the upper floor as she gathers food from the shelves in her larder at her home at Weston. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
Jane Seppings has lived in the same four-bedroom 17th century farmhouse for more than 50 years.
Jane Seppings in her lift arriving on the upper floor of her home at Weston. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
With the 80-year-old suffering from severe arthritis in both of her knees though, climbing the stairs has become more and more challenging.
However, where others in her situation may have had to look for a new home, Mrs Seppings has found an uplifting way to remain in her beloved abode.
The widow, whose husband died 10 years ago, has had her own lift installed in the larder of her Beccles home.
She said: “I’ve lived in this house for 52 years and can’t imagine living anywhere else - it’s my perfect house and I love it.
Jane Seppings with her lift which has been installed in the larder of her home at Weston. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
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“The stairs were becoming more difficult because of my arthritis and I certainly had no intention of moving or downsizing to a bungalow, so I thought it would be a good idea to get something in place to make life easier.
“I wasn’t confident about getting on and off a stairlift which sits on the stairwell, so I thought: ‘why not go for one of these futuristic home lifts instead?’”
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The device, which plugs straight into the wall, has been installed in her larder, as she decided she did not want it in clear view.
She added: “It did mean I had to move all the food out but it is three-feet wide and could be hidden from view in there behind the door - you wouldn’t even know it was there.
Jane Seppings with her lift which has been installed in the larder of her home at Weston. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2017
“The lift travels up to a spare room which I use as a utility room for clothes, so it is extremely useful for carrying up baskets of washing.”
Mrs Seppings moved into Hall Farm in 1965, along with her husband who worked on the farm and at one point kept pigs and geese.
The couple also ran a dried flower business together called Winter Floral, with its own shop on the farm land.
She added: “There is a lifetime of fond memories here for me, which is why I never wanted to leave.”
The lift was installed by home lift company Stiltz, an Australian firm with UK bases.
