The staircases at Southwell operate on a double and separate system so that no group of inmates ever came into contact with another group. The stairs are bare and the only light comes from either the door into the work yard or from the window at the top. Once more, the decoration comprises cream and beige paint on bare brick. It is possible to see where the stairs have been worn away by long use: there is a slight dip in the centre of each tread.