ABSTRACT
Historically, cast iron, wrought iron and steel o ered a number of advantages over other structural materials traditionally used for the construction of staircases. Long staircases could be designed with relatively few support points that enabled more slender and more elegant designs and also saved space. Castings for strings and balustrades could be made decorative at relatively low cost, enabling the staircase itself to act as an architectural feature as well as being functional (Figure 11.1). e re resistance of iron was also important, exploited rst in textile mills, then in buildings for public, industrial and military uses.
