Why do spiral staircases go clockwise?

Many castles have spiral staircases that were fashioned in a specific way. Though it’s not always obvious to the eye, most of these staircases were actually designed clockwise. It turns out that the direction of the staircases was meant to make it harder for an attacker coming up the stairs to draw their sword.

Which way do spiral staircases go in castles?

clockwise
Furthermore, for those ascending, the spiral staircase in a castle would be designed to turn in a clockwise direction. This meant that their right hand (their sword arm) would be tight against the narrowest part of the stairs, close to the central pole.

Why do spiral staircases exist?

What Was Their Purpose? Spiral staircases served a very specific purpose when they were first developed and implemented. Spiral staircases were originally built as a form of protection within certain kingdoms. The staircases were often built into castles and were used as an advantage when kingdoms faced an attack.

Why spiral staircases are bad?

Leaves Waste Space. Even though a spiral staircase takes up less room in someone’s house, in almost all situations you end up with a circular footprint in a square room. The disposition for spiral stairs preventing people from using weapons inherently makes it difficult for people to carry furniture up the stairs.

Why should stairs be clockwise?

*A staircase should always be constructed in a clockwise direction, which means that the person climbing should move from north to south or east to west. Presence of anti-clockwise staircase can impact career growth and chances of restarting everything become higher.

Which way did medieval staircases go?

A recent finding by blogger Will Kalif explained, the medieval architects built the staircases to wrap around in a clockwise direction in order to disadvantage any enemies who might climb them.

Is spiral stairs bad luck?

Generally, it is best to avoid a home with a spiral or grand staircase in terms of Feng Shui. But, at least there are cures available to improve such designs to minimize their negative effects. Spend some time learning about the Feng Shui Bagua to ensure proper Chi flow in your home or office.

Why were medieval castles built?

Castles were common in Europe during the Middle Ages and were often the homes of royal families or other powerful people. The main purpose of castles was to protect the people who lived there from invasions. They were also a status symbol to show other people how important a family was.

Why did they build castles?

Medieval castles were built from the 11th century CE for rulers to demonstrate their wealth and power to the local populace, to provide a place of defence and safe retreat in the case of attack, defend strategically important sites like river crossings, passages through hills, mountains and frontiers, and as a place of …

Why do castles have spiral staircases?

Many castles have spiral staircases that were fashioned in a specific way. Though it’s not always obvious to the eye, most of these staircases were actually designed clockwise. They were built this way for one very good reason: safety.

Which direction did the stairs go in a medieval castle?

In addition to the clockwise direction, the structure of each individual stair of the castle also played a defensive role; staircases were designed with uneven steps—some were taller, while others were shorter.

Why did they build castles in medieval times?

The basic reason behind the design of the castle was to provide maximum protection to the inhabitants. The hidden secrets of the looping, narrow and clockwise stairwells was also to act as a defender against the approaching armies. Any attacker who approached the castle usually used their right hand to hold the sword.

Why do castles have curves in walls?

Since most soldiers wielded swords in their right hands, this meant that their swings would be inhibited by the inner wall, and they’d have to round each curve before striking—fully exposing themselves in the process. Just as the clockwise spiral hindered attackers, so, too, did it favor the castle’s defenders.