In 2025 we were commissioned  to  make and install new bespoke metal handrails on each of the three spiral stairs which connect the exceptionally significant Dean’s Vestry, Minor Canons’ Vestry and Lord Mayor’s Vestry to the historically significant chambers directly above them at mezzanine level. the new handrails were to replace existing handrails that were deemed inadequate and unsafe.

The handrails provide continuous hand support on the inside of all three staircases. Fixing to the inside, around the newel in order to provide a continuous rail at a consistent hand height which cannot be achieved on the outer wall due to windows and other obstructions. Fixings were placed within joints to masonry and kept to a minimum number, balanced with the need for the safety and security of the handrails in use. The proposed handrails will replace existing arrangements which are inadequate and unsafe, and of no historical or aesthetic value. This intervention has minimal impact to the aesthetic heritage value of the stairs. As such the proposed handrails are considered to be of Neutral heritage impact overall.

The spiral stone staircases rising from each of the three vestries are an intrinsic part of Sir Christopher Wren’s ingenious design to provide vestry spaces within the dome bastions, with associated upper chambers at mezzanine level. The mezzanine rooms are in turn connected with the upper levels of the building. Whilst the Lord Mayor’s Vestry is located at Cathedral Floor level, The Dean’s Vestry and Minor Canons’ Vestry are elevated to accommodate the north and south crypt stairs. Wren’s design drawings for the Dean’s and Minor Canons’ vestries date from before construction of the Cathedral commenced in 1675 to soon after contracts were agreed in 1678. No information about the first phase of construction, decoration and fitting out of the Dean’s and Minor Canons’ vestries (or the rooms above them) has as yet been revealed from analysis of the building accounts published by the Wren Society. Details are known for aspects of the fitting out of the Lord Mayor’s Vestry (the coloured marble floor and white marble chimneypiece supplied by John Reynolds in 1684). The spiral stairs have all been subject to modern surface treatments to areas of their ashlar masonry walls and the treads and risers themselves have been painted in parts. As built, the stairs were provided without handrails. There are parts of rope handrails. These limited handrail arrangements currently in place are of no historic or aesthetic value. The stairs and the chambers above the vestries are all part of the first phase of the Cathedral’s construction and form part of the building fabric which is of overall Exceptional (International) significance.

Previous work we have done for St Pauls Cathedral include 430 metres of new  handrail for the main spiral staircase. The handrail design was a bespoke section and was made using genuine wrought iron. We rolled this special handrail section at our workshop in North Yorkshire and formed the scroll end by hand using traditional blacksmithing techniques.

During 2003 – 4 the west front of St. Paul’s Cathedral was fully restored, and we were privileged to be asked to restore all of the metalwork, comprising small items such as boot scrapers, several original (17th to 18th century) window grilles to the large early twentieth century lanterns and their standards, which stand either side of the entrance steps.

While we were working on the outside of the building we were asked to do some emergency repairs to some rather difficult original mouldings in sheet iron, within the south aisle. These were done in charcoal iron by Baptiste Deleau and refitted in the cathedral within a week.