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Crafted by Hand, Designed for You
22 May 2020
‘False balcony’ is another name for a Juliet balcony or balconet. Despite their many names, these features are actually relatively simple. Unlike a full balcony which projects out from the structure, false balconies have no flooring deck and are just a railing which sit across the outer face of a window. Why install a false […]
07 May 2020
When you’re dealing with a period property, any alterations to the building exterior can present a challenge, not least to obtain planning permission. British Spirals & Castings have a great deal of experience designing and manufacturing staircases, balconies and other metalwork to exacting heritage requirements, ensuring they fit beautifully within your property and receive […]
04 May 2020
Update – 04/05/20 Following the latest guidance from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, we have re-opened our workshop and offices and are taking orders as usual. We would like to sincerely thank all of our customers for your patience and understanding in this difficult time and reiterate that we will work tirelessly to […]
09 April 2020
Since we began creating bespoke staircases back in the 1980s, creativity and attention to detail have been hallmarks of our work. In our collaborations with Jonathan Lees Architects, we have found kindred spirits. Each project is a new adventure and finished details are everything, making everyone involved with the project up their game to […]
12 March 2020
Cast and wrought iron railings may appear to be indestructible, but take it from us, these features can easily fall apart if they’re not cared for properly. Over the years we’ve helped a number of clients restore parts or entire sections of period railings which have fallen into disrepair. With a little care and attention, […]
28 February 2020
We’ve all had a go at a bit of DIY from time to time, whether it’s putting together some flat pack furniture or replacing broken guttering, but how about building your own staircase? Whilst the dimensions and weight can certainly present a challenge, installing a staircase is actually much easier than you might think – […]
07 February 2020
The last time we see our staircases in person is usually when they’re being boxed up in our workshop ready to head out to projects all over the globe. Often the installation itself is carried out by a local builder or tradesman chosen by the owner, but occasionally homeowners also fancy tackling it themselves. […]
06 January 2020
During a typical week, we receive many phone calls asking us about whether we supply cast iron staircases? Over the course of the conversation, it usually becomes clear that what they are actually looking for is a traditional design of staircase such as our decorative Victorian spiral staircases or our Georgian style LCC staircases. […]
29 November 2019
Accurate design has been the bedrock of our production process since day one. When we started out this was all done by hand but over time, we have moved over to computer aided design (CAD). Last month we welcomed a new member to our team – Katie Lees – who is helping us to take […]
13 November 2019
There’s a growing movement here in the UK to restore the decorative parts of period homes that have been lost or covered up over time. Just take a look at the #victorianterrace tag on Instagram and you can see countless examples of homeowners stripping out modern-style plastic windows to replace them with more traditional sash-style […]
29 October 2019
The bespoke nature of our products mean we often work with buildings or homeowners who have very particular requirements for their property, and we’re equally happy producing work for both individual homes and much larger estates. In the past we’ve helped developers to reinstate large runs of railings around London townhouses and to create balconies […]
11 October 2019
No matter where you are in the world, you’re never too far away from a British Spirals & Castings staircase or balcony. Around one in six of our spiral staircases are sent overseas for buildings in places such as the US, Canada, Japan, Germany and New Zealand. Whilst we handle many of these orders directly […]
02 October 2019
Decorative metalwork helps to define the character of many period homes, adding charm and splendour. It’s no surprise then that when homeowners are looking to make changes to these properties, they want to ensure any railings, balusters or stairways match the style. As specialists in period metalwork, we’re always looking to ensure any metalwork […]
14 August 2019
Steep staircases in older homes can be a bit of a nightmare to use, feeling like a mountain climbing expedition on the way up and a balancing act on the way down! If you’re adding a staircase to a new or existing space, it makes sense to ensure that it is safe and simple to […]
06 August 2019
Situated within a Dark Skies area in England’s most northerly national park, Greystead Institute offers guests an unforgettable taste of the borderlands. The former Victorian church hall has been converted into a beautiful holiday let by the Monroe family and they commissioned British Spirals & Castings to create a solid oak spiral staircase and a […]
11 July 2019
British Spirals & Castings manufacture bespoke spiral staircases for clients all over the globe. It may therefore surprise you to know that in 95% of our builds we never actually visit the property yet are able to create a millimetre perfect staircase. The secret is helping our client (whether it be the homeowner, architect or […]
31 May 2019
Railings can add decoration to your property, help to separate it from the street and even provide some additional security. We design and produce bespoke railings in lengths beginning at 5 metres in both cast iron and wrought iron. In addition, we also offer a range of individual railing components within our cast iron store. […]
03 May 2019
The use of natural materials can make a real difference to how you feel when you enter a room. They can add warmth and texture, create contrast with the modern environment and draw the attention of guests. One of the most effective ways to introduce these materials into your property is with a hardwood staircase. […]
28 March 2019
We received some exciting news this week as the plans for the new buildings at our Staffordshire foundry were finally granted planning permission. The Milton foundry was first opened back in the 1950s and it is where all our cast aluminium staircases, balconies and railings start their life before going on to homes and businesses […]
13 February 2019
There is a genuine pleasure in being able to bring the metalwork designs of past generations to life for the modern day. Typically, we are asked to do this work when replacing or reinstating iron railings, balusters and gates which have been damaged or lost to time. Recently, however, we had the opportunity to authentically […]
17 January 2019
We are no stranger to unusual design requests here at British Spirals & Castings, but the phone call we received back in 2016 was quite a shock! Disney were producing a sequel to the beloved classic, Mary Poppins, and needed an upside-down spiral staircase for one of the film’s most memorable musical numbers, featuring Meryl […]
16 October 2018
When working with period homes, you must be able to handle the occasional obstacle. Quirky building features and tougher planning requirements are common issues. We had to deal with both on a recent external staircase and balcony order which included a decorative metal side-screen. Restoration The staircase was manufactured for a 19th Century villa […]
17 September 2018
Fine ironwork has long been a defining part of the London street scene. Many homeowners are now reinstating the beautiful railings and balusters outside their properties, which were removed as materials for the war effort. Earlier this year, we helped one family to do just that on their home in South West London. The five […]
30 August 2018
A staircase is rarely just a staircase. As you climb or descend you are taken somewhere new or, on rare occasions, somewhere extremely old. The Etches Collection: Museum of Jurassic Marine Life sits in the Dorset village of Kimmeridge, along England’s Jurassic Coast. It is home to a unique collection of some 2,500 fossil specimens, […]
30 July 2018
Here in the UK, metal railings, gates and balusters outside homes and other public buildings are almost always black. Scratch below the surface, however, and you’ll find most of this metalwork has a much more colourful past. Deep Blue Mid-century metalwork was typically painted to help protect it from corrosion. By the 1600s, the […]
18 June 2018
It’s no exaggeration to say that a balustrade can make or break a staircase. Achieving a premium finish is not only about the quality of the styling and materials, but also the precision of the design and manufacture. There are few better examples of this than a project we recently completed in London where we […]
07 June 2018
When you start looking to purchase a staircase, you’ll quickly become aware of a whole new world of weird and wonderful terms. To help you to make sense of it all, we’ve collected the most common terminology together in this glossary. Types of Staircase Straight — The most common type of stairs. They rise in […]
25 April 2018
Small metal studs are a common sight on the tops of walls surrounding many older British properties and public spaces. These often-unnoticed features are all that is left of the original gates and railings. In this blog, we’ll take a look at why these railings were removed, and what you need to do if […]
12 March 2018
The landscape around our workshop in the High Peak is well known for its gritstone hills, open moors and farmland. Despite its undoubted beauty, visitors these days might be surprised to know that this whole area was once a Royal Forest. Indeed, the name of our village – Chapel-en-le-Firth – roughly translates to “chapel in […]
05 February 2018
External metal staircases offer a practical solution for building owners looking to provide a safe means of evacuation. Usually customers who need these functional pieces tend to opt for simple designs such as our LCC or Diamond staircases. On a recent refurbishment, however, we had the opportunity to create a grander set of fire escape […]