STAIRCASES 



355 



FIG. 280. Staircase at Denham Place, Buckinghamshire. 



that no stair carpets were contemplated, a point which is 

 emphasised elsewhere by the fact that the landings and treads 

 were often inlaid with different woods cut into patterns. Most 

 of the staircases of the time were broad and of easy gradient, 

 the balusters were short, and were either turned in graceful 

 outlines or were twisted as at Melton Constable. At Denham 

 Place, in Buckinghamshire (Fig. 280), the effect is quite satis- 

 factory, although the stairs are narrower and steeper than 

 usual, and the balusters are longer. This effect is obtained 

 by the care bestowed upon the proportion and outline of the 

 balusters. 



Towards the close of the eighteenth century another form 

 of staircase came into votjue. This consisted of a continuous 



