Staircases by Campbell, James W.P. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Contributors Acknowledgements Preface Introduction

AIM of this Book Current Literature Layout of the Book A Brief Note on Terms and Definitions Scope

Part One: History, Development, Identification and Dating

1. An Outline of the History and Development of the Staircase

Earliest Stone Stairs Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece

Invention of the cantilevered stair

The Orkney and Shetland Islands The Roman World

Other types of Roman stairs

The Minaret The Medieval Stair Late Gothic and Early Renaissance Spiral Stairs The Renaissance Palladio and the ‘Cantilevered’ Staircase

The cantilevered staircase in Syria Palladio and the Convento della Carita

Straight Flights and Grand Stairs

The invention of the staircase hall

Baroque and Rococo The Nineteenth Century

Iron

The Early Twentieth Century Now and the Future Notes

2. The British Staircase

Background Earliest Examples Staircases in Norman Britain Forms of the English Spiral Stair Chronological Development Spiral Stairs in Medieval Monasteries and Churches Straight Flights of Stairs in the Middle Ages Staircases in other Medieval Building Types The Great Changes of the Sixteenth Century Changes in House Plan in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries From Carpentry to Sophisticated Joinery Jacobean Stairs Caroline Stairs Cantilever Stairs The Iron Balustrade Other Developments on Plan Lighting the Staircase Hall Open-String and ‘Cantilever’ Timber Staircases in the Late Seventeenth Century Early Books on Staircase Design Developments on Plan in the Eighteenth Century Gothic Revival Technical Advances and Stylistic Changes in the Nineteenth Century Mass Production Staircases and Late Victorian Civic Pride Books and Journals in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries Modernist Stairs in the UK Notes

3. Dating Through Details

Introduction Medieval Stairs Winder Stairs Newel Stairs Well Stairs

Closed well Open well

Dog-Leg Stairs Baluster Design

Turned Gun-barrel balusters Tenoned and pegged balusters Vase and bottle balusters Twisted balusters Carved or moulded balusters Balusters joined by arches Wall balustrades and painted balustrades Splat balusters

Diamond Balusters

Pierced balustrades Metal balustrades Stick balusters

Newel Posts

Turned newel posts Relief carving on newels Rusticated newel posts Panelled newel posts Double newel posts on dog-leg stairs

Finials and Pendants Handrails and Strings Open-String Stairs

Types of wood: parquetry landings

Dog Gates Conclusion Notes

4. London Staircases

Pattern Books Innovation vs. Tradition Types of Staircase Materials Decorative Elements Notes

5. Survey and Analysis

Introduction

The challenges of archaeological recording Archaeological features and dating techniques

Levels of Survey

The desk-based assessment and statement of significance Visual inspection Archaeological evaluation Survey as mitigation

Measured Surveys

The basic survey record More complex instrument-based techniques

Conclusion Case Study: Whitestaunton Manor Notes

Part Two: Designing the Staircase

6. The Geometry of Staircases: Their Comfort, Safety and Setting Out

Accidents and Deaths on Stairs Injuries from Treads and Obstacles Causes of Falls Nosings Open Risers Stair Layouts Handrails, Guard Rails and Balustrades

Handrails Guardrails Balustrades

Treads and Risers Simple Setting Out

Width Headroom The junction of wall and step

The Balustrade/Guardrail and Landing Problem Curved Handrails Spiral and Helical Staircases Summary Notes

7. The Engineering of Staircases

Historical Background to the Involvement of Engineers Design Procurement: New Stairs Materials and Design Constraints: New Stairs and Existing Stairs

Associated structural issues

Summary of Engineering Involvement in the Twenty-First Century How this Involvement Works Out in Practice The Problem of Torsion Specific Problems in ‘Cantilever’ Stairs Problems of Diagnosis: The Case of the Geometrical Stair at St Paul’s Landings in ‘Cantilever’ Stairs Newel and Spiral Stairs Carriage Beams and Stringers Winders and Open Newels Reinforced Concrete Glass Deflections and Vibration Stair Wells and Surrounding Walls Handrails Conclusion Further Reading Notes

Part Three: Conservation and Repair

8. Curating Staircases: Cleaning and Maintenance

Introduction Understanding the Materials What is Grime and How does it Get there? How We Cleaned in the Past Cleaning

Dusting Wet cleaning Waxing and polishing What to wax Painted surfaces

Good Maintenance and Damage Limitation

Protective measures

Accessibility Conclusion Notes

9. Repair and Conservation of Timber Staircases

Introduction Planning the Work

Safety and access Assessing the major issues

Repair

Worn treads Copying details Resin repairs Glues Beetle infestation Wet and dry rots

Types of Stairs: Specific Problems

Stairs in a cupboard or cottage stairs Quarter landing and closed-string stairs Cut and curved string stairs Housed string stairs Handrails

Conclusion Case Studies: Adaptation and Reproduction

Dauntsey Park, Wiltshire 15 Queen Square, Bath

Notes

10. The Repair of Stone Staircases

Why do we need to carry out this repair? Has the cause of failure been addressed? How is the staircase constructed? What are the steps made of? What is the history of the structure within which the staircase is built? Types of Stone Staircase

Rectifying worn treads

Localised Mechanical Damage

Structural movement Expanding ferrous material Removal of surface coatings

Case Study: Sharpham House, Devon Case Study: The Night Stair, Bristol Cathedral Notes

11. Repair of Iron and Steel Staircases

Introduction Materials, Properties and Recognition

Identification of cast iron, wrought iron and steel Shape and design Surface appearance Connections Date of original construction Testing

Construction

Balustrades

Surveying Iron and Steel Staircases

Paint Condition survey: what to look for Non-destructive investigation techniques Survey report quick checklist

Conservation Strategy

General conservation principles and options Dismantling and reassembly

Repairs

Hot repair techniques Soldering and welding processes Hot-set riveting Cold repair techniques Plating Studding Carbon or glass-fibre repair and strengthening Stitching

Coatings

Surface colouring/patination and electro-plating Traditional paint coatings Modern paints

Conclusion Notes

Glossary Bibliography Index

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