Grand Shaft Stairs And Attached Railings

The Grand Shaft stairs, built between 1803 and 1805 by Sir Thomas Hyde Page under Lieutenant Colonel William Twiss, are an underground spiral staircase made of brick and cast iron. The structure features three concentric flights of winder stairs surrounding an open shaft, with the top opening leading to curved stairs that ascend to the former parade ground in front of the barracks.

The stairs are complemented by iron railings with urn finials at the top of the shaft and along the stairs, as well as a lamp standard on the stairs. Historically, these stairs connected the Grand Shaft Barracks, which have since been demolished, to Snargate Street at the base of the cliffs, facilitating the quick movement of troops between the barracks and the shore. The three flights of stairs were designated for different groups: 'gentlemen and their ladies, officers and their wives, and soldiers and their women.' This construction is noted as a bold and imaginative solution to communication challenges and is recognized as a unique piece of military engineering.