For all enquiries please call
01663 750716
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sales@britishsc.co.uk
Crafted by Hand, Designed for You
29 July 2022
Home improvement and renovation projects can be an exciting process, allowing you to pick and choose every element to create a space that is truly yours. However, when you are working to a budget, it is important to prioritise where to spend your money and where you can look for savings with cheaper, more standardised […]
12 July 2022
When creating pieces for period properties, capturing the original spirit of the building is often a key part of the design process. That was certainly the case when we were approached by a homeowner looking to replace the balcony on their early 20th century costal property. We worked with the owners to create a bespoke […]
16 March 2022
2022 is set to be an important year here at British Spirals & Castings as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary in May. The business has changed a lot over the years, growing from a two-man operation in an old shed, to the company we are today with over 20 staff, our own foundry and workshop, […]
11 February 2022
We are very proud of the fact that all our staircases, railings and balconies are produced right here in Britain and our foundry is a key part of that. It supplies all the aluminium components for our pieces and means we have total control over the quality of both raw materials and production. Following an […]
18 January 2022
We love a challenge here at British Spirals & Castings. For our recent project on an Edwardian home, we had to use all our skill with CAD design to overcome the building’s quirks and create a truly bespoke Scandinavian style staircase. The staircase was being installed as part of a loft conversion and needed to […]
18 December 2021
When deciding on what stair design best suits your property, the often fiddly and confusing Building Regulations can turn a dream do-over or DIY renovation into a logistical nightmare. The team here at British Spirals & Castings can help walk you through these requirements as we design your staircase, but we know some customers like […]
01 November 2021
Ever wanted to live in a Jane Austin style mansion? At Churchgate House we worked with the homeowners and interior designer, Fenella Pledger, to help recreate a Georgian aesthetic within a much newer home. This included cast iron railings and a matching gate, a large Victorian Spiral Staircase and wrought iron balustrading for a stunning […]
04 October 2021
These days, lots of new homeowners are looking to return original features to their properties, whether it be fitting fireplaces back in bedrooms, installing sash windows or reinstating external railings. Of course, before you can fit anything, you need to get a clear idea about what would have been there originally. Here are a few […]
24 June 2021
Whether you’re embarking on the new-build of your dreams or just getting to the next stage on your doer-upper, period or modern railings can add character to your property whilst keeping loved ones safe. The Building Regulation and planning requirements for these features in the different regions of the UK can be a little confusing, […]
18 May 2021
In cities across Britain, it’s fairly common to find larger townhouses from the Victorian and Georgian periods which have been converted into separate flats over time with an external staircase fitted to reach the upper floors. With older conversions in particular, this can lead to some odd internal arrangements. For this project in Scotland, […]
17 April 2021
Before designing a bespoke piece for a client, whether it be a staircase, balcony, balustrade or railing, we always sit down with them (either in-person, on the phone or via email) to try and get a clear idea of their vision. Customers are often surprised by the amount of choice and design decisions they need […]
13 April 2021
If, like us, you’ve spent the recent lockdowns browsing the internet for your dream holiday, this project might just be for you. Chalet Marmotte is a beautiful, catered ski and holiday chalet located in the La Plagne region of France. During the last year, the Lovely Chalet Company has been hard at work carrying […]
23 March 2021
After the year we’ve just had, we could all do with some spa treatment and if you live in and around Berkshire what better place to book than the luxurious Nirvana Spa. Back in 2018, we worked with the Spa to provide two decorative spiral staircases for guests at their new Colosseum Suite. We had […]
18 March 2021
Here at British Spirals & Castings, we take real pride in the fact that all our pieces, whether they be staircases, balconies, balustrades or railings, are produced by craftspeople right here in the UK. By taking this approach, we can ensure that everything we produce meets our high standards and provides pleasure for customers for […]
18 February 2021
External metal railings are a great option to add a little more character and security to the outside of your property. We offer hundreds of railing components within our cast iron store and can also manufacture bespoke railings for longer runs (over 5 metres in length). As with any significant change to the exterior of […]
20 January 2021
Spiral staircases are often chosen for projects where space is very tight, but they can also provide a graceful feature within much larger spaces. For Ash Tree Barn, a luxurious 5-bedroom property from Vanmark Group, we created a large diameter Scandinavian spiral staircase within the library, which provides a focal point both inside and out. […]
27 November 2020
For over a century the Science Museum in London has been inspiring visitors from across the world with the wonders of science. The museum’s world-class collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical advancement from across the globe and includes objects ranging from Robert Hooke’s microscope to the Enigma machine and Tim Peake’s […]
Update – 27/11/20 We’re pleased to announce that our showroom is reopening to visitors by appointment from 2nd December. To book a visit, please contact us via phone (01663 750716) or email: sales@britishsc.co.uk. Our workshop and foundry continue to operate as usual with safety measures in place. If you have any queries, please get in touch via […]
11 November 2020
Balustrades add an important safety barrier to staircases, particularly if you have young children running up and down them. In our experience, we’ve found that even professionals can find the regulations here in the UK a little confusing and, as a result, think they need either a higher or lower railing than is necessary. This […]
02 October 2020
If you’re looking to repair or restore sections of the original metalwork outside your property, there are a few things you need to consider. As we discussed previously, design tastes varied considerably over the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian periods so it is important to try and accurately estimate the age of the metalwork (the clue […]
04 September 2020
A staircase is a fairly unusual purchase so when our customers first get in touch with us, they have usually done some looking around. One thing we hear all too often is that they’ve been advised that they can only order their spiral staircase in specific diameters. Nothing could be further from the truth! The […]
05 August 2020
The ‘clear width’ is the unobstructed width of a staircase. For example, if you are fitting a spiral staircase with an inner and outer handrail (typical for commercial installations) then the clear width is the distance from the inside of the inner handrail to the inside of the outer handrail as shown below: Alternatively, if […]
03 July 2020
Barn conversions offer a rare blend of a characterful and storied structure with an almost blank internal canvas for homeowners to explore and develop. The high ceilings within these buildings makes them particularly suitable for adding extra levels. We’ve crafted staircases for a number of these projects over the years to complement the homeowners preferred […]
29 May 2020
A great deal of care and attention goes into the design and creation of each bespoke staircase here at British Spirals & Castings, and our focus is not only on creating stairs which look the part when installed, but will continue to bring pleasure for decades to come. For that reason, it is particularly rewarding […]
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 […]
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. […]