To ask what kind of wood this is?

[Greatbighole]

Does anyone know what kind of wood this is, and is it likely to be original in a 1910 house?

It's hard to tell from photos, but based on the grain it's stained pine.

Yes, I think stained pine too.

The other contemporary option is oak, but I'd expect oak grains to be wider, softer, and more uneven/organic shapes.

Pitch pine?

Architectural historian here.

It is pine, as others have said.

The style is sort of okay for 1910, though possibly too fussy for a modest house (how big is the house and what style, Op?) but some things make it look inauthentic to me, especially the applied moulding to create fields on the frieze. That and the finials make me think it’s possibly a replacement.

I'd say pitch pine which if stripped and waxed can look gorgeous.

@MsAgnesDiPesto

Architectural historian here.

It is pine, as others have said.

The style is sort of okay for 1910, though possibly too fussy for a modest house (how big is the house and what style, Op?) but some things make it look inauthentic to me, especially the applied moulding to create fields on the frieze. That and the finials make me think it’s possibly a replacement.

It’s a 4 bedroom / 3 reception room double fronted semi. I thought it may not be original and that makes me feel better about potentially painting it as I know some people don’t agree with painting original wood

It looks in nice condition. We have similar on our stairs, and ha painted part but left newel posts and banisters just stripped and lacquered which I’m happy with.

It’s a 4 bedroom / 3 reception room double fronted semi.
I thought it may not be original and that makes me feel better about potentially painting it as I know some people don’t agree with painting original wood

Well, you can rest assured that it would originally have been painted, then! Pine was cheap and always painted until very recently. The Edwardians would have wanted it to look as though it was really hardwood, and it would have been painted a light colour accordingly.

It looks great whatever it is.

This is ours, not as grand as yours but hopefully you get the idea

Thanks everyone

Pitch pine,lovely.

It’s in very nice condition, OP.

Sadly the same cannot be said for my pitch pine, similar period staircase which has been well and truly buggered with the 80’s orange staining trend. We’ve lived here for donkeys and haven’t done anything about it as there’s SO much of it and it’s an overwhelming task (lots of stairs, doors and architrave). The sort of thing, once you start, you’ve got to keep going.

Pine. It’s lovely, really nice graining.

It's identical to mine! Mine has been painted as long as I've lived here though.