Today we are used to comfortable, quiet and innovatively engineered door and frame systems, but where did it all start? The history of the door is fascinating. As far as we know, ancient doors were all made using the same simple method: that of a frame held in place by two pins inserted into the top and bottom. Perhaps not surprisingly, given their symbolic connotations, many of the world’s oldest doors are found at the entrances to religious buildings.
Neolithic wooden door, Switzerland – 5,000 years old
In 2010, archaeologists found what is believed to be the oldest door ever found in Europe while excavating for a car park. Incredibly, examination of the tree rings of the poplar wood door shows that it was probably built in 3,063 BC.
Oak side door of Westminster Abbey, London – 950 years old
Responding to the year 1050, the year Westminster Abbey was built, experts have claimed it is the oldest door in Britain.
False door, Luxor – 3,500 years old
This red granite door belonging to the tomb of a high official called User and his wife Toy was discovered by archaeologists in 2010. Egyptian tombs contained false doors to bring the spirits of the dead into the afterlife.
Manuscript room door, Al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez, Morocco
One of the oldest libraries in the world, having been founded in the 9th century, the Al-Qarawiyyyn was renovated and reopened in 2016. The age of the manuscript room door is unclear, but we include it for this very interesting detail: the original door had four locks with four keys owned by four people, all of whom had to be present to open it.Times change and that system has been replaced by a four-digit access code.
Stone gates in Hampi, India – around 500 years old
These large stone gates, each carved from a single boulder, now lie on the ground in the former royal precinct of Hampi, once the seat of the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire, which lasted from the 14th to the 17th century. The site is now popular with tourists.
Gates of Balawat, Iraq (now in the British Museum, London) – 1150 years old
The fragments of the remains of these once magnificent gates are in the British Museum, together with life-size replicas and bronze reliefs of the originals.
Bernward Doors, Hildesheim Cathedral, Germany – 1000 years old
These magnificent bronze doors date from around 1015 and show ornate scenes from the book of Genesis. Weighing 1.85 tonnes each, they are made of bronze and cast in a single mould.
Door of Santa Sabina, Rome – 1500 years old
The door of the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome is thought to be the original, dating from 430-2, although not in the portal in which it now stands.Eighteen of its wooden panels still survive, one of which depicts one of the earliest representations of the crucifixion of Christ.
North door of St Edwards Church, Stow on the Wold – 700 years old
The north door of this medieval church effortlessly bridges the gap between architecture and nature, flanked by yew trees – traditional symbols of death.
Entrance to St Botolph’s Church in Saffron Walden – 1,000 years old
We know we’ve mentioned that Westminster Abbey is home to Britain’s most venerable door, but another contender can be found at St Botolph’s, whose Saxon front door is still in use after 1,000 years, making it the oldest still in use in the UK.
However, door engineering has made great strides since the days of these ancient artefacts, find out all about sliding door counterframes in our products section, click here.
