★ Plate 2.
(facing
page 13)
(facing
page 13)
CHAP. XIII.
Of the Stair caſes, and their different Sorts, of the Steps of the Stairs which
ought to be in odd Numbers, and how many. Of the reſting Places, of the
Tunnels for carrying away the Smoke. Of Pipes and Conduits for carrying
off the Water, and of the proper Placing of Wells and Sinks.
ought to be in odd Numbers, and how many. Of the reſting Places, of the
Tunnels for carrying away the Smoke. Of Pipes and Conduits for carrying
off the Water, and of the proper Placing of Wells and Sinks.
The placing of the Stairs is a Work of
ſuch Nicety, that without deliberate
and mature Conſideration you can never place
them well: For in a Stair-caſe there meet
three Apertures: One, the Door by which you
enter upon the Stairs; another, the Window
that ſupplies you with Light to ſee the Steps
by, and the third, the Opening in the Ceiling
which lets you into the Area above; and
therefore it is ſaid to be no Wonder, that the
Stairs ſhould perplex the Deſign of a Structure;
but let him that is deſirous to have the Stair
not hinder him, take Caré not to hinder the
Stair, but allow it a determinate and juſt Por
tion of the Platform, in order to give its free
Courſe quite up to the Covering at the Top
of all. And do not let us repine that the
Stair-caſe ſhould take up ſo much of the Area,
for it furniſhes us with very many Conve
niencies, and is no Inconvenience to the other
Parts of the Building. Add to this, that
thoſe little Vaults and Spaces under the Stairs
are very ſerviceable for a great many Purpoſes.
Our Stair-caſes therefore are of two Sorts (for
as to thoſe Steps or Ladders which belong to
military Expeditions, I ſhall not ſpeak of them
here.) The firſt is that which has no Steps, but
is mounted by a ſloping Aſcent, and the other
is that which is mounted by Steps. The An
cients uſed to make the ſloping one as eaſy
and as little ſteep as poſſible, and as I have
obſerved from their Works, thought it a con
venient Aſcent when the higheſt Part of its
Perpendicular was raiſed one ſixth Part of the
Line at Bottom. In making of Stair-caſes
with Steps, they recommend the making of
the Steps in odd Numbers, and eſpecially in
their Temples: Becauſe they ſaid that by this
Means we always ſet our right Foot into the
Temple firſt; which was accounted a Point
of Religion. And I have obſerved, that the
beſt Architects never put above ſeven, or at
moſt nine Steps together in one Flight; imita
ting I ſuppoſe, the Number either of the
Planets or of the Heavens; but at the End of
theſe ſeven or nine Steps, they very conſider
ately made a Plain, that ſuch as were weak or
tired with the Fatigue of the Aſcent, might
have Leiſure to reſt themſelves, and that if they
ſhould chance to ſtumble, there might be a
Place to break their Fall, and give them Means
to recover themſelves. And I am thoroughly
of Opinion, that the Stairs ought to be
frequently interrupted by theſe landing Places,
and that they ſhould be well lighted, and be
ample and ſpacious according to the Dignity
of the Place. The Steps they never made
higher than nine Inches, nor lower than fix,
and in Breadth never leſs than a Foot and a
half, nor more than a Yard, The fewer Stair
caſes that are in a Houſe, and the leſs Room
they take up, the more convenient they are
eſteem'd. The Iſſues for Smoak and Water
ought to be as direct as poſſible, and ſo built,
that they may not lie and gather within, or
ſoil, or offend, or endanger the Building For
this Reaſon too the Tunnels of the Chimnies
ſhould be carried quite clear from all Manner
of Wood-work, for fear ſome Spark, or their
meer Heat ſhould ſet Fire to the Beams or
Rafters that are near them. The Drains alſo
for carrying off the Water ſhould be ſo con
trived, as to convey away all Superſluities, and
in their Paſſage not to do any Harm to the
Houſe, either by ſapping or dirtying it. For
if any of theſe Things do Miſchief, let it be
ever ſo little, yet by Length of Time and con
tinuation, they will in the End be of the utmoſt
ill Conſequence; and I have obſerved, that
the beſt Architects have contrived either to
throw off the Rain by Spouts, ſo as not to wet
any body that is going into the Houſe, or car
ried it thro Pipes into Ciſterns to ſerve for Uſe,
or elſe brought it together to ſome Place
where it might waſh away all the Filth, ſo that
the Eyes and Noſes of the Inhabitants might
not be offended with it. Indeed they ſeem
to have been particularly careful to throw the
Rain Water clear away from the Building,
that it might not ſap the Foundations, as well
ſuch Nicety, that without deliberate
and mature Conſideration you can never place
them well: For in a Stair-caſe there meet
three Apertures: One, the Door by which you
enter upon the Stairs; another, the Window
that ſupplies you with Light to ſee the Steps
by, and the third, the Opening in the Ceiling
which lets you into the Area above; and
therefore it is ſaid to be no Wonder, that the
Stairs ſhould perplex the Deſign of a Structure;
but let him that is deſirous to have the Stair
not hinder him, take Caré not to hinder the
Stair, but allow it a determinate and juſt Por
tion of the Platform, in order to give its free
Courſe quite up to the Covering at the Top
of all. And do not let us repine that the
Stair-caſe ſhould take up ſo much of the Area,
for it furniſhes us with very many Conve
niencies, and is no Inconvenience to the other
Parts of the Building. Add to this, that
thoſe little Vaults and Spaces under the Stairs
are very ſerviceable for a great many Purpoſes.
Our Stair-caſes therefore are of two Sorts (for
as to thoſe Steps or Ladders which belong to
military Expeditions, I ſhall not ſpeak of them
here.) The firſt is that which has no Steps, but
is mounted by a ſloping Aſcent, and the other
is that which is mounted by Steps. The An
cients uſed to make the ſloping one as eaſy
and as little ſteep as poſſible, and as I have
obſerved from their Works, thought it a con
venient Aſcent when the higheſt Part of its
Perpendicular was raiſed one ſixth Part of the
Line at Bottom. In making of Stair-caſes
with Steps, they recommend the making of
the Steps in odd Numbers, and eſpecially in
their Temples: Becauſe they ſaid that by this
Means we always ſet our right Foot into the
Temple firſt; which was accounted a Point
of Religion. And I have obſerved, that the
beſt Architects never put above ſeven, or at
moſt nine Steps together in one Flight; imita
ting I ſuppoſe, the Number either of the
Planets or of the Heavens; but at the End of
theſe ſeven or nine Steps, they very conſider
ately made a Plain, that ſuch as were weak or
tired with the Fatigue of the Aſcent, might
have Leiſure to reſt themſelves, and that if they
ſhould chance to ſtumble, there might be a
Place to break their Fall, and give them Means
to recover themſelves. And I am thoroughly
of Opinion, that the Stairs ought to be
frequently interrupted by theſe landing Places,
and that they ſhould be well lighted, and be
ample and ſpacious according to the Dignity
of the Place. The Steps they never made
higher than nine Inches, nor lower than fix,
and in Breadth never leſs than a Foot and a
half, nor more than a Yard, The fewer Stair
caſes that are in a Houſe, and the leſs Room
they take up, the more convenient they are
eſteem'd. The Iſſues for Smoak and Water
ought to be as direct as poſſible, and ſo built,
that they may not lie and gather within, or
ſoil, or offend, or endanger the Building For
this Reaſon too the Tunnels of the Chimnies
ſhould be carried quite clear from all Manner
of Wood-work, for fear ſome Spark, or their
meer Heat ſhould ſet Fire to the Beams or
Rafters that are near them. The Drains alſo
for carrying off the Water ſhould be ſo con
trived, as to convey away all Superſluities, and
in their Paſſage not to do any Harm to the
Houſe, either by ſapping or dirtying it. For
if any of theſe Things do Miſchief, let it be
ever ſo little, yet by Length of Time and con
tinuation, they will in the End be of the utmoſt
ill Conſequence; and I have obſerved, that
the beſt Architects have contrived either to
throw off the Rain by Spouts, ſo as not to wet
any body that is going into the Houſe, or car
ried it thro Pipes into Ciſterns to ſerve for Uſe,
or elſe brought it together to ſome Place
where it might waſh away all the Filth, ſo that
the Eyes and Noſes of the Inhabitants might
not be offended with it. Indeed they ſeem
to have been particularly careful to throw the
Rain Water clear away from the Building,
that it might not ſap the Foundations, as well
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