Abstract: A support for the lower end of a newel post, comprising: a screw having a first screw thread at one end portion, a second screw thread at the other end portion and a third screw thread at an intermediate position along the screw; and a base plate having a centrally located threaded hole and auxiliary holes arranged around the periphery of the base plate; wherein the first screw thread is for engaging within a substrate for the newel post; the third screw thread is adapted to threadedly engage with the centrally located threaded hole to retain the base plate on the screw so that the base plate abuts the surface of the substrate engaged by the first screw thread; the other end portion of said screw is adapted to extend through a longitudinal passage in the lower end of the newel post and to terminate within an intersecting transverse opening spaced upwardly from the lower end of the newel post so that a nut screwed onto the second screw thread can apply a loading to the newel post to clamp the lower end against