Montacute House undergoing first major restoration in 400 years

For the first time since 1601, major works are underway on the staircases of one of the National Trust’s finest Elizabethan houses, using traditional craft techniques that would have been used 400 years ago. 

Montacute House is known for its architectural grandeur, including the longest surviving Long Gallery in England. But its two arterial staircases, vital both structurally and historically, have been closed to the public in recent years due to safety concerns.  

Now, the project "Montacute House: Saving the Staircases", which is costing approximately £800,000, has entered its construction phase, marking a "pivotal moment" in the building’s preservation. 

According to the trust, Montacute House was a "product of ambition". Built by Sir Edward Phelips (1554–1614), a lawyer and politician whose career peaked with appointments in royal service, including Master of the Rolls and Speaker of the House of Commons.

Until 2023, visitors could move through the same sequence of rooms once used by generations of the family. But those centuries of footfall have taken a toll on the staircases that are made from hamstone, a soft, porous limestone quarried less than two miles from the estate. Worn by thousands of feet, the staircases now need restoration to ensure their future.  

There are two principal staircases at the northern and southern ends of the house, comprising 104 treads and 22 landings in total. They are constructed from large, expertly cut blocks of hamstone fitted together like a jigsaw. Some treads are single pieces of stone, while others are made from two pieces of stone joined using traditional joints. The landings separating the flights are then delicately balanced on the treads through joints. 

Despite reinforcement efforts over the past century, cumulative wear has led to "significant loss of stone", not only in the treads but, crucially, in the joints that hold the structure together. 

In some areas, the depth of the stone has worn away considerably, with visible evidence on the surrounding walls marking where the upper line of the stone once sat. This deterioration prompted the closure of the south staircase in 2018, followed by the north in 2023. Without intervention, further erosion of these joints could result in the complete collapse of the staircases. 

Melanie McCarthy, project manager for Saving the Staircases, said: "Montacute House has been described as belonging to a rare group of English Renaissance country houses which elevated the staircase for the first time to become a principal space. They are not just passageways to the upper floors; they are spaces that command as much attention as the rooms themselves."

She added: "The staircases are structurally vital too – they are built directly into the fabric of the house. 

"That’s why we’ve spent many months working with architects and engineers and holding detailed consultations with statutory bodies, including Historic England, the Society of Protection of Ancient Buildings, and the local authorities. 

"Four hundred years ago, they would have called in the stonemason, carpenter, and blacksmith, and that’s exactly what we’ve done to develop a unique and sensitive solution that protects the structure and preserves these Elizabethan stones."

A key challenge was assessing the structural integrity of each individual step and landing. This was achieved using dynamic load testing – a technique typically reserved for modern materials like concrete and steel. Applying it to Elizabethan stone allowed its flexibility to be measured, while avoiding conventional full load testing that would take the stone to the breaking point.  

Hooper acknowledges the scale of the task ahead, he added: "It’s going to be a mammoth undertaking to ensure each bespoke covering fits the steps perfectly.”

But he will not be working on it alone. Supporting him is apprentice Charlie Cregan, who is gaining hands-on experience in traditional carpentry techniques through the project, ensuring that such skills are not only preserved but actively passed on. 

The first construction phase is the installation of the steel supports underneath the most structurally vulnerable treads and landings. Whilst this is underway, the bespoke coverings will be fabricated. Their installation forms the second construction phase. 

It is estimated that the work will take approximately a year to complete. The ground floor of the house will mostly remain open for the duration of the project, although certain access and areas will be restricted.   

Keri Philips, general manager of Montacute House, said: "It has been a long and considered journey to reach the point of construction. This is a pivotal moment in the conservation of Montacute House — one that will ensure these remarkable staircases can be reopened and enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.

"We are deeply grateful for the generous legacy gifts left to the National Trust in wills, which have made this work possible. Without those contributions, this vital restoration simply wouldn’t be happening."

Once the staircases are repaired and conserved, visitors will once again be able to move through the house as originally intended — experiencing its architecture, stories, and spaces in full.