Ipswich High School – The Stairs

By Miss Naomi Limer, Head of English
Visitors to Woolverstone often remark with surprise that there is no imposing central staircase in the main hall. Indeed, in a building with so many other fine features, it might seem an anomaly.
However, in adhering to Andrea Palladio’s style of design, John Johnson (the architect of Woolverstone and countless other notable residential and municipal buildings) ensured that the beauty and space of the entrance hall was not compromised by the functionality of a stairwell.

Palladian staircases were considered more comfortable and less steep than those in previous building styles, but they generally remained encased within a separate walled space, as the ones at Woolverstone are, rather than being a focal point. Symmetry was a guiding tenet in Palladian design, and thus the two flights of stairs are discreetly situated on either side of the entrance behind separate doorways.

This layout enables an arguably far more impressive aesthetic, allowing guests an unfettered view straight through the front entrance and beyond the rear doors to the garden and the statue of Diana.
The stairs that would have been used by the Berners family are undoubtedly more comfortable and attractive than that used by the servants, but they are by no means ostentatious in design.
The most attractive detail is the wrought iron honeysuckle motif balusters which were featured in several of Johnson’s other houses such as Holcombe House, Hatfield Place and Bradwell Lodge.
The servants’ stairs are located to the left of the main hall and unsurprisingly, lack any form of decoration. They are much more basic in design and steeper, and despite a pulley system which would have made easier work of moving cumbersome objects from floor to floor, would have been far more difficult to climb for servants laden with water, coal, and laundry than those used by the family members.

Today, there hangs a sign by the servants’ stairs that reminds students of the original use and suggests that they should feel fortunate to only be lugging school bags up and down the steps.