This is one of the formal staircases at Kedleston Hall. Very elegant with nice shallow steps so the gentry wouldn't have to strain themselves getting upstairs in all their corseted finery.
Contrast it with one of the servants' staircases.
Spartan to say the least. But mercifully still shallow steps as the poor servants were corseted as well as probably knackered at the end of an average day.
I think it's splendid in its simplicity, but the most interesting part (for me at least) needed to be looked down on.
Look how many times the steps have been repaired over the 260 odd years since they were put there. That's some serious climbing, and the repairs were getting worn down as well. I found myself wondering how many times a day a single servant, say a housemaid, would have had to climb up to the top of the house. Probably carrying coal, laundry or cleaning tools. Not to mention the water that was hauled upstairs before plumbing was invented.
These days we probably wear out a stair carpet over the course of a lifetime, we don't get down to the wood. How lucky we are.
Serious climbing and lugging indeed, poor devils. And such long working hours.
Downton really has gone off, hasn't it? Very panto with a dash of Masterchef this week. As for Mary's accent, thank goodness for the 'mute' button.
Good to see you back, btw.
Posted by: Liz | October 30, 2013 at 11:19 AM
No need to go to Zumba , though .
Posted by: Sonata | October 30, 2013 at 03:48 PM
Interesting post. I've been wondering about those terracotta tile steps we uncovered recently, and if they might have been outside the house at one stage, before it was extended. I would love to know how old they are!
Posted by: rachel | October 30, 2013 at 11:10 PM