A newel, also called a central pole or support column, is the central supporting pillar of a staircase. It can also refer to an upright post that supports and/or terminates the handrail of a stair banister (the "newel post"). In

stairs Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...

having straight flights it is the principal post at the foot of the staircase, but the term can also be used for the intermediate posts on landings and at the top of a staircase. Although its primary purpose is structural, newels have long been adorned with decorative trim and designed in different architectural styles. Newel posts turned on a lathe are solid pieces that can be highly decorative, and they typically need to be fixed to a square newel base for installation. These are sometimes called solid newels in distinction from hollow newels due to varying techniques of construction. Hollow newels are known more accurately as box newel posts. In historic homes, folklore holds that the house plans were placed in the newel upon completion of the house before the newel was capped. The most common means of fixing a newel post to the floor is to use a newel post fastener, which secures a newel post to a timber joist through either concrete or wooden flooring.

In popular culture

A loose ball cap

finial A finial (from '' la, finis'', end) or hip-knob is an element marking the top or end of some object, often formed to be a decorative feature. In architecture, it is a small decorative device, employed to emphasize the Apex (geometry), apex of a d ...

on the newel post at the base of the stairway is a plot device in the 1946 classic ''

It's a Wonderful Life ''It's a Wonderful Life'' is a 1946 American Christmas by medium#Films, Christmas Fantasy film, fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet ''The Greatest Gift'', which Philip Van Doren Stern se ...

''. The same is used in jest in the 1989 film ''

Christmas Vacation ''National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'' is a 1989 American Christmas film, Christmas comedy film and the third installment in National Lampoon (magazine), ''National Lampoon'' magazine's National Lampoon's Vacation (film series), ''Vacation'' f ...

'', in which

Clark Griswold ''National Lampoon's Vacation'' film series is a comedy film series initially based on John Hughes' short story "Vacation '58" that was originally published by '' National Lampoon'' magazine. The series is distributed by Warner Bros. and consists ...

, in an emotional meltdown, cuts a loose finial off a newel post with a chainsaw. He casually exclaims, "Fixed the newel post!" and carries on.

Gallery

File:Quarter-space-landings.gif, A sketch of a stair with two quarter space landings showing three types of newel posts. File:Newel-string.gif, The bottom joint between the newel post and the outside string showing the housings for the

tread Tread may refer to: Arts and media * ''Tread'' (film), a 2019 American documentary film about Marvin Heemeyer * Tread (Transformers) * Tread, a character in the novel series '' Transformers: The Veiled Threat'' * Tread rap, subgenre of trap that b ...

and first and second risers. File:String-joint-newel.gif, The joint between the string and newel as seen from the stairwell. File:Newel-post-joint.gif, The joint between the string and newel as seen from the stair. File:Newel (PSF).png, Illustration of a box newel File:Spiral-staircase-malacca.jpg, A cast iron spiral staircase showing the central newel post that supports the treads, risers and

balustrade A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its con ...

. File:15 28 031 hawkins.jpg, Central newel of spiral staircase at Fort Benjamin Hawkins File:Loretto Chapel.jpg, There is no newel in Loretto Chapel's spiral staircase (the "Miracle stair") in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. File:Jacobean newel post 3073.jpg, Box newel and

of a Jacobean staircase in Boston Manor House, United Kingdom. File:Spring Hall Halifax 002.jpg, Arts and Crafts movement, Arts and Crafts newel designed by William Swinden Barber, W.S. Barber, at Spring Hall, Halifax

References

External links

* Stairways Architectural elements Stairs {{architecturalelement-stub