This floating post-tensioned stone staircase was designed, manufactured and installed by Carvero for The Old Mill, a remarkable historic mill conversion near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.
Set within a Grade II listed mill recorded in the Domesday Book, the staircase sits close to the historic heart of the building, where the original milling machinery once connected the floors. The project was led architecturally by WGP Architects, whose design carefully balanced the character of the old mill with the creation of a new contemporary family home.
Realising the staircase required close collaboration between architect, engineer and stonemason. Within the constraints of the listed building, the retained mill fabric and the hidden structural requirements, every part of the staircase had to be carefully resolved from design through to installation.
The staircase was created using post-tensioned stone construction. This allowed the solid limestone flights and landings to work together structurally, giving the staircase its floating appearance with very little visible support. It is a contemporary intervention, but one made from a material that feels entirely at home within the historic setting.
Retained stone walls, exposed timber beams and the presence of the old water channel beneath the mill give the space its depth, while the limestone staircase introduces a calm, flowing movement through the interior.
One of the most striking features is the soffit. From below, the underside of the staircase forms a continuous helical surface, almost like a quiet ribbon of limestone moving through the space. The heads and soffit were given a lightly considered brushed finish, softening the surface and allowing light to move gently across the stone. This subtle finish gives the underside of the stair a tactile, architectural quality, while the pale limestone brings lightness against the older masonry and timber.
The contrast between old and new is carefully balanced. The staircase does not try to imitate the historic building, and it does not overpower it. Instead, it adds a new layer of craftsmanship and engineering to a structure with a long history. The slender waxed steel balustrade keeps the staircase visually light, while the phosphor bronze handrail introduces warmth and a subtle crafted detail that sits beautifully alongside the old stone and timber.
Carvero also created additional architectural stone features for the project, including a stone balcony. This wider involvement helped the staircase and surrounding stonework feel part of one considered architectural language.
As expert stonemasons based in Leicestershire, Carvero works across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, the Midlands and the wider UK on bespoke stone staircases and architectural stonework for high-end homes. The Old Mill reflects the kind of project we value most: technically demanding, architecturally sensitive and deeply connected to its setting.
The result is a floating limestone staircase that feels calm, confident and quietly extraordinary — a luxury staircase in natural stone, designed for a historic home entering a new chapter.
