Aldermaston Manor House 1851- Staircase and wooden statues (narrative below pictures) Click on each photo to see the whole image.

Staircase in the 1636 house

This photo shows how the staircase was installed in the 1851 house turning in the opposite direction to the original

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Staircase in the 1851 House

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Neptune holds his trident aloft- but later somebody pinched it! See the next two photos

From the same angle as the 1960's photo above- Neptune seems to have been rotated but the holes for the missing trident are evident.

Neptune- now missing his Trident!

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Neptune's Sea Monster

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Close up of head of Neptune's sea monster

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Saturn devouring one of his sons, who he feared would usurp him- compare with the famous painting by Goya. Gruesome!

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Another view of Saturn

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A third view of Saturn, close up of the terrified baby.

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Diana the Huntress- first view

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Diana the Huntress- second view

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Statue of Minerva, 1st view

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Statue of Minerva, 2nd view

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Possibly St Catherine?

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Probably Mercury- at his feet is a cockerel, often associated with Mercury.

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Head of previous statue of Mercury

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Another view of Mercury showing the cockerel at his feet.

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Close-up of the splendid cockerel at Mercury's feet

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Probably Venus, with mirror

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Probably Zeus, carrying a flaming thunderbolt ajnd standing on an eagle.

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Not yet identified

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As yet unidentified. Holding flowers or fruit?

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Staircase detail-1 Possibly a hunting scene?

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Staircase detail no.2

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Staircase detail- Green Man?

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Detail from the staircase- a cannon

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A demon at the foot of a statue

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The top landing which meets awkwardly with the roof. This is one of the first staircases to feature a pierced parapet instead of banisters. The children evidently haven't noticed the gruesome stature of Saturn on the left of this photo, devouring one of his sons!!

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The top landing which meets awkwardly with the roof. This is one of the first staircases to feature a pierced parapet instead of banisters

_{Peter Oldridge, 2012}

To magnify the images above, click on the “plus” sign.

Originally installed in the 1836 Manor House, the magnificent oak staircase and its nineteen cherry-wood statues survived the disastrous fire which consumed most of that building in 1843. Eight years later, Mr Daniel Higford Burr and his wife decided to build a new Manor House but to incorporate many items from the previous building.

In fact, the Higford Burrs rebuilt the staircase rotating the in the opposite direction- and there is a very odd section at the top which does not match the floors of the new building. Photos of some of the magnificent wooden statues are shown above. They include mythical figures from Roman and Greek mythology and also famous and local figures. The first image  shows the staircase in place in the previous, 1636 house while the second photo shows how the staircase as re-installed in 1851 has been “handed” to wind the other way. Noteworthy are the first four photos of Neptune which follow: at least up till the 1980’s he held his trident aloft in his right hand: today his hand is empty, thanks to some unscrupulous visitor or guest! Next, right at the top of the staircase is the most dramatic figure, a bearded man holding a terrified baby. This is presumably represents Saturn devouring one of his sons. Following is clearly Diana the Huntress. While some of the statues have yet to be identified, the above photos give some idea of the extraordinary quality and attention to detail of the carvings. The last image but one, of a leathery demon crouching at the foot of one of the statues, is exceptionally fine. The very last image taken in 2012 shows the top of the staircase under the roof. Interestingly, the staircase does not “fit” at the top.  This was one of the first to feature a pierced parapet instead of banisters.

Thanks are due to Mr Craig Fraser for identifying many of the figures. Suggestions and comments on the identity of these classical gods will be most welcome!

Details of the magnificent stained glass windows can be found by clicking on:

https://www.aldermastonhistory.uk/new-contributions/aldermaston-manor-house-1851-stained-glass-windows-comments-after-the-photographs

All the above photos: Peter Oldridge