Walnut Stairs
Summary
Stairs. The Walnut Stairs (G50) are located on the west side of the ground floor and form part of the original building designed by Samuel Hauduroy between 1692-4. The stairs rise to the first floor providing access to the rooms along the west and north range. As early as 1703, these stairs were known as the “Old Staircase”, presumably to distinguish them from the Cedar Stairs (G61) in the newer range, which were known as “The Best Staircase”. The stairs later became known as the Oak Stairs, having been known as the Wallnutree Staircase, the Grand Staircase and Back Staircase. It later became the West Staircase and is sometimes called the White Staircase, although it is usually now called the Walnut Staircase. Records show that in 1693 a Robert Henley informed William Blathwayt that an agreement had been reached in London with a joiner who will ‘go down to Dirham to make the Stair Case &c’ (MSS 9734, British Library). The original woodwork was undertaken by Robert Barker of London, the principal joiner, and there exists a reference of 1703 relating to John Long, who was to “varnish…so much of ye walnut….on ye West Staircase and all the window shutters’ (GRO: D1799 E243). The room is depicted on the Vitruvius Britannicus, plan of the principal floor in 1717 and reflects the current layout of the space. Paint research has confirmed that a layer of dirt and old varnish precedes the paint layers on the walnut woodwork, suggesting that it remained unpainted for some time. It seems likely that the stairs were first painted in the later eighteenth century. Two or three greyed white paint schemes have been found that predate the Colonel’s nineteenth-century work. The Colonel had all the woodwork grained – twice. The first layers on the supporting column coincide with this, suggesting that the Colonel put it there during his repairs to the house. Paint research shows that after re-plastering the walls, the Colonel painted them crimson.
Provenance
Architectural Exteriors, Interiors, Features & Decoration forming part of the transfer of Dyrham Park to The National Trust by the National Land Fund in 1958 (house and garden) and 1961 (estate).