1 Archaeologists have discovered what they think to be Europe’s oldest door in Zurich. Using tree-ring dating they estimate that the door is around 5,100 years old.
2 The last time a British monarch passed through the doors of the House of Commons was in 1642 when Charles I attempted to arrest 5 members. In accordance with tradition, the door is slammed in the face of the Black Rod (the monarch’s messenger) upon the State Opening of parliament every year.
3 The largest doors in the world are supposedly at the entrance to NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center. They measure a whopping 456 ft and take around three quarters of an hour to open or close.
4 A Philadelphian inventor by the name of Theophilus Van Kannel received the first ever patent for a revolving door in 1888.
5 According to New York City law, revolving doors are not to exceed a speed of 15 rotations per minute.
6 The Industrial Revolution benefitted the locksmith industry greatly as personal wealth and the economy expanded.
7 Approximately 4,000 years ago, the Egyptians created a prototype of a lock that resembles the pin tumbler locks found in most deadbolts we use today. It was only in 1861 that this form of lock became popular however as Linus Yale, Jr patented a model that opened with a small, flat key.
8 It is thought that the first ever automated door was invented in the first century AD in Alexandria by Hero. The temple doors were opened using counterbalanced, steam-powered weights.
9 You can see a rainbow of colourful doors in Ireland. This is because her residents were ordered to paint their doors black in mourning of the death of Queen Victoria. Instead they painted their doors different colours as an act of rebellion.
10 Feng Shui dictates that you should have an open, clear pathway to the door to support a harmonious flow of energy.
This post was brought to you by Adamson Doors, Fife’s premier door suppliers. Image by anyjazz65.