THE 1671 STAIRCASE at Vintners' Hall, with lion and unicorn finials to the newel posts. The staircase is one of the treasures possessed by the City of London’s ancient livery companies and illustrated in “Halls and Treasures of the City Companies" by G. W. Whiteman (Ward Lock, 160 pp). The Vintners’ staircase, a notable example of the rich, carved decoration of the Charles II period, suffered various indignities during the Victorian era, but after the last war was brought back to its original appearance, chocolate brown paint being removed, and overpainted cement in the carvings of the balusters being carefully picked out There are 84 livery companies in the City of London, of which about 24 maintain halls, several of which are of great antiquity. The book illustrates and describes 14 of the major halls and their historic contents and works of art.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 10

THE 1671 STAIRCASE at Vintners' Hall, with lion and unicorn finials to the newel posts. The staircase is one of the treasures possessed by the City of London’s ancient livery companies and illustrated in “Halls and Treasures of the City Companies" by G. W. Whiteman (Ward Lock, 160 pp). The Vintners’ staircase, a notable example of the rich, carved decoration of the Charles II period, suffered various indignities during the Victorian era, but after the last war was brought back to its original appearance, chocolate brown paint being removed, and overpainted cement in the carvings of the balusters being carefully picked out There are 84 livery companies in the City of London, of which about 24 maintain halls, several of which are of great antiquity. The book illustrates and describes 14 of the major halls and their historic contents and works of art.