Staircase House

Staircase House is one of Stockport’s hidden gems. It sits there in the middle of town but many people walk past it without noticing its beauty. They’re missing out.

Stockport is as gentrified as they come nowadays but Staircase House was once owned by landed gentry. How’s that for posh? To lovers of niche historical esoterica it’s one of the most renowned buildings in the country – one of only three with a cage-newel staircase.

The museum showcases life in the house from the 1400s to the 1940s with a detailed audio guide but it’s the oldest bits that are most interesting. The house has been refurbished since a fire in the 1990s but many original features remain. 

As you look at the building, you can see the layers of history, from the modern viewing platforms opening up the house to evidence of wattle and daub construction. As for the Jacobean staircase which gives the house its name, it’s a stunning restoration which really lets you appreciate the grandeur.

With uneven sloping floors, tallow candles and a four poster bed, there’s a real sense of atmosphere. And although the juxtaposition of different periods in different rooms can be a little jarring, it really makes you think about the changes from one era to the next.

A word of warning – if you visit in the winter, this place is pretty much as cold inside as the weather outside so dress accordingly.