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Best Staircase (General)
The restoration of the Best Staircase is to recover the hierarchy of Flitcroft’s design.
A Brief History
The stair replaces the original Best Stair that rose to the second floor, thus giving access to the Long Gallery. It was curtailled to connect only ground and first floors by Flitcroft in the 1740s and lead to the suite of principal rooms along the first floor of the west front which he remodelled at the same time. As at Wimploe Hall in Cambridgeshire (Flitcroft 17**), the enriched plasterwork is concentrated at first floor level in support of the grand rooms in that storey. The enrichment of the lower storey by Cowtan c1900 contradicts the original hierarchies and its excessive depth is in sharp contrast to that of the upper walls.
In 1889 a hydraulic lift manufactured by Clark Bennett & Co was enstalled for £175. By 1942 a lift car was inserted for the 5th Lord Lilford (1863-1945) within the stairwell. The lift shaft necessitated the removal of a section of cornice to the face of the floor of landing F11a and a section of paving in G13a to accommodate the base. The first floor balustrade (Fltcroft) was adapted as gates for the lift. In late 20C the lift car was removed.
What's to do
The restoration of the mahogany balustrade to the landing F11a, and the reversal of the alteration to form lift gates. The reinstatement of the ground floor cornice to extend across the landing where cut to remove projections into the lift shaft. The replacement of the paving to match adjacent where removed for the lift pit and subsequently boarded over.
Pictures
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