How much to keep
Restoration is mostly the art of deciding what not to touch. On the Oriel stair we replaced three treads out of ninety-two, and spent a year choosing which three.
The test is simple: if a part still does its job and tells the story of the building, it stays, even if it is worn.
Hiding the repair
The new steel tendon runs through the core of the stair where no visitor will ever see it. The only visible sign of our work is that the cracks are gone.
