Deanery hallway has stood the test of time

Despite The Troubles and the damage the strife inflicted on our built heritage over the years, a small scattering of beautiful wooden staircases in their original forms have survived the test of time in the City, and one such gem exists on Bishop Street Within.

The stairwell in the Deanery has not changed for over 130 years, with suitably attractive decor giving it a timeless chic that no modern home can match. It is truly majestic.

The rich deep red shagpile carpet which begins at the front door and leads through the foyer into the hall and winds its way up the staircase has the subliminal effect of making every visitor to the Deanery feel that they are someone special.

As you enter the Deanery your sense of spectacle is increased by the huge companion portraits of Bishop William Alexander and his famous hymn-writing wife, Cecil Frances Alexander, but your field of vision is dominated by the stairs.

Draped in red carpet, which has been vaccumed to within an inch of its life, the exposed wood has been painted brilliant white with a gloss finish to dramatic effect.

However, the real gem in this hallway and stairwell is the designer wallpaper by artist, philosopher, poet and designer, William Morris, no less. William Morris was, arguably, the single most influential designer of the 19th Century, and even today remains one of the best known of all British designers. This is due in no small part to his extraordinary talent as a pattern designer, although he had, by all accounts a colourful and inspiring life story, forceful intellect and personality. A fervent socialist, scholar, translator and publisher, Morris was also an environmental campaigner, writer and poet and his love of nature is certainly on display in the Deanery wallpaper, which is around 125 years old - if not more.

The deep green paper is awash with interlocking hunting and forest scenery, with riders on horseback, dogs, stags, and fruit-laden trees.

Despite the headache that keeping the hallway in spectacular condition entails, the Dean, Rev Dr William Morton, and his family are very fond of their surroundings, which also on occasions get used as a cricket crease and for the occasional game of goal shoot by their family of three boys.

"Apparently this design of warrior, deer and horses and trees and shrubbery and foliage is all a significant feature of Morris. Somewhere in this house we have a book of designs that Morris used, but this, apparently has been on the walls of the Deanery for a phenomenal number of years.

"I remember being absolutely amazed when we had a vacancy inspection of the house before we came here - it was about October 1987 - and the Diocesan architect Caroline Dixon was here and the Rural Dean and the Glebe Wardens from the Cathedral, and I remember being startled by the fact that she was saying that this wallpaper at that stage, 12 years ago, was on about 125 years in this house. This is original Morris wallpaper," he said.

"It is amazing paper and even with the light that has come in all over those years, the paper is in remarkable condition, although the colours in it would probably have been a little brighter."

From a distance you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at tapestry above the dado rail, but below it is the most intricately worked plaster work.

"This has always been this particular shade of green as long as we remember it. We would have been in this house in Dean Orr's time, and I do not remember anyone saying that they remember it another colour."

There may be those who would balk at the idea of not decorating for over 130 years, but, the Deanery hallway bears testament to the fact that classic designs never date.