Newel

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A newel is the upright post about which the steps of a circular staircase wind. It is sometimes called a solid newel in distinction from a hollow newel, which is really no newel at all, with the stairs being supported at the walls.

In stairs having straight flights, it is the principal post at the foot of a staircase or the intermediate posts in the center, but never the ones at the landings.

In historic homes, the house plans were placed in the newel upon completion of the house before the newel was capped.^{[citation needed]}

Newel: An upright post fixed at the foot of a stair or at a point of a change of direction and used as a support for a balustrade.^[1]

Newel: A post at the top and bottom of a stair flight to support the ends of an outer string and handrail. Also a central pillar from which the steps of a winding stair radiate.^[2]

Newels : Upright posts into which the ends of the strings and handrails are framed. ^[3]

[edit] Gallery

A sketch of a stair with two quarter space landings showing three types of newel posts.	The bottom joint between the newel post and the outside string showing the housings for the tread and first and second risers.	The joint between the string and newel as seen from the stair well.	The joint between the string and newel as seen from the stair.
A cast iron spiral staircase clearly showing the central newel post that suports the treads, risers and balustrade.

[edit] References

1. ^ Chambers Science and Technology Dictionary
2. ^ Glossary of Australian Building Terms - Third Edition.(NCRB)
3. ^ Carpentry and Joinery - Volume Three - Dowsett and Stevens.

• Dictionary of difficult words

[edit] External links

• Newel post
• Building timber stairs.