The Tulip Staircase

The striking staircase, scene of a famous 'ghost' photo.

Location: Queen's House, Greenwich

Description: The delightfully elegant Tulip Stairs in the Queen's House are the first geometric self-supporting spiral staircase erected in Great Britain.

Although it is traditionally called the 'tulip' staircase, it is thought that the stylized flowers in the wrought-iron balustrade are actually fleurs-de-lis - the emblem of the Bourbon family of which Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I) was a member.

It was this staircase that was the location of the Reverand R.W. Hardy's famous 'ghost' photograph taken on 19 June 1966, which, when developed revealed what appear to be two or three striking shrouded figures on the staircase.

Since then there have other unexplained incidents reported in the Queen's House, the most recent being in 2002.

Themes: Architecture Architecture Theme