Comments on: The Staircases Of Old London

By: Lydia Deane

Lydia Deane — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 02:26:56 +0000

Grand staircases for grand buildings, occasions, and homes but prior to elevators, stairs are also interesting in their use to enable people to establish homes vertically. The recent Spitalfields Life series of photos of historic London pubs, often with living quarters above them, are good examples. As they were torn down for “urban renewal” they were replaced by multi-story buildings, often for high-rise living quarters, that would have been unthinkable without elevators to reach them.

By: Russell

Russell — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:46:13 +0000

Beautifully written story, GA! I wish I could attend your upcoming lecture, but . . .
Keep up the good work, and be careful on those stairs.

By: Crystal Lindsay

Crystal Lindsay — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 09:47:47 +0000

What a wonderful set of pictures: thank you so much for providing us with this marvellous magic lantern into a lost land!
A story about a staircase, which must represent the artery of any house, and also the human activity within it: my friend once awoke from afternoon slumber to the agitated yowling of his cat, only to see, across the landing of his Georgian house, a woman gliding up the staircase, hair coiled over her ears in early 19th century-style.
A transportation for them all, although where that was taking place, one cannot tell! A house is a receptacle for multiple lives, and aspirations.

By: Valerie C.

Valerie C. — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 07:51:42 +0000

A fascinating collection of pictures. A quick Google reveals Cromwell House in Highgate currently to be in use as the embassy of the Republic of Ghana. It would be interesting to know how many of the other less well-known buildings survive.

By: Jeremy Brown

Jeremy Brown — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:47:41 +0000

Another amazing staircase can be found at City of London boy school ..