or decorated with a pattern; and the balusters would sometimes be flat pieces of wood shaped and pierced in a variety of patterns (Fig. 176). Sometimes, instead of balusters there was a series of arches springing from small columns and following the upward rake of the stairs; as at Ockwells Manor House (Figs. 177, 178), and the Charterhouse (Fig. 181). Or, again, the balustrade would consist of woodwork cut and slightly carved into a version of the favourite strap-work pattern, like that at Benthall Hall, Shropshire (Fig. 179). Not infrequently the space at command forbade the arranging of the flights at right angles to each other; the second flight then returned side by side with the first. In such cases either the newels were increased in width sufficiently to take both the handrails, or the handrail and string intersected each other in the way shown on Fig. 180. Occasionally, when a little space divided the flights, the great newels were carried up and joined to each other by wood arches, as in the instance of a staircase at Audley End (Plate LXXIV.): this kind of treatment occasionally produced a most intricate result, of which a careful study is required in order to make out what are its component parts. [Illustration: 178.--STAIRCASE AT OCKWELLS MANOR HOUSE, BERKSHIRE. PLANS AND DETAILS.] [Illustration: 179.--STAIRCASE AT BENTHALL HALL, SHROPSHIRE.] [Illustration: 180.--STAIRCASE AT WARWICK.] [Illustration: 181.--STAIRCASE AT THE CHARTERHOUSE.] There was no end to the variety which the workmen imparted to the simple constructional features which were the groundwork of the design. The points which were always aimed at were breadth of way, ease of ascent, massive appearance, and very frequently richness of effect. The series of stout newels going up and up in a long procession, each crowned with a handsome finial or heraldic animal, alone is enough to lend stateliness to the staircase; and when these are supplemented with quaint balusters, or a row of arches, or, as in later days, with a carved foliated filling, beyond which is seen the highly ornamented string of the upper flight, the whole effect is particularly striking. As a rule the flights were short, from six to eight steps being considered enough between the various landings, but the number varied according to the height to be attained and the space at command.