Half Landing Newel - Opening Victorian Understairs Cupboard

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I'd like to open-up an understairs cupboard in a victorian terrace house.
The staircase is a "quarter landing with winder" according to diag. in http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/feature/staircase-design
Sides of staircase (strings to floor) are clad in t&g - cupboard accessed via door beneath 1/4-landing.
I'd like to remove t&g panelling & door so I can put a piano beneath the stairs, but there's a problem...
The newel post that should support 1/4 landing down to floor level has been cut off and now sits on 4"x2" door-frame... not ideal, but it's supported the landing for the last 20years!
To fit the piano I need to remove cladding and doorframe, so I'll have to find a new way to support the newel.
If I just reinstate the original post down to the floor I won't be able to sit at the piano!!!
Anyone got any experience with removing this newel? - I'd wondered about a steel bracket on the party wall cantilevering out beneath the top tread of the 1st run of stairs, onto which the cut-down newel can be fixed......
I can't believe I'm the first person to want to open out such a staircase and wondered if anyone could advise of the simplest solution!
 
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Why not? If one can support a chimney breast with brackets, why not a landing....
You may get a good sized cast-iron bracket from a salvage yard, or you could make a decorative bracket out of oak or even softwood, and fix it to the wall with coach screws/plugs. After all, Westminster Abbey roof is supported by wood brackets.
As it will be on show, it needs to be well executed of course, otherwise a future house buyer might cock a snook.
Does the house have a porch supported by brackets, or are there other cantilevered roof features from which you could pick up architectural detail.... make it look as if it's always been there....

Post a pic of the problem via Photobucket.

Ivor
 
Thanks Ivor - We had a carpenter take a look at it the other night and he suggested exactly the same thing - an oak gallows bracket supporting the newel - looks like that's the way forward
Cheers
James
 

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