Beauchamp Tower - Proposed Staircase

When the Beauchamp Tower was opened to visitors in the nineteenth century, only the first floor - which contained most of the historic graffiti left by former prisoners - was opened to the public. The upper and lower floors were occupied by a Yeoman Warder’s family. This proposed staircase would have provided a direct exit from the tower, allowing visitors to leave the building without crossing over on the narrow spiral staircase. This drawing is a more finished version of a related design, and provides information about the steps' dimensions, materials, and construction details. The different materials are shown in different colours – yellow for wood, blue for metal and brown for stone, with the foundations in pink.