The History of the Spiral Staircase: Part 1
Spiral staircases provide a neat solution to access requirements, and with their sleek design and use of modern materials, you'd be forgiven for thinking that they were a relatively recent development. In fact, the story of spiral stairs stretches back thousands of years.
In the Old Testament, there is a reference to spiral staircases being a feature in the Temple of Solomon, which if true suggests that they were already in use by around 1,000 years BC. Remains of an early form of spiral staircase have also been found at the site of Temple A at Selinunte in Italy, which dates to circa 480 BC.
The oldest spiral staircase that is still standing today can be found in Rome. This is at Trajan’s Column which was built in 113 AD. A total of 185 steps took people from ground level up the interior of the 35 metre column. At the top was a platform from which visitors could enjoy a sweeping panoramic view of Rome. Around this time, spiral staircases began to find much wider use in Roman architecture.
The earliest known spiral staircases were carved out of stone or marble, and built directly into the walls of the building to support their weight. It took some time for the spiral staircase design that we recognise today to develop, consisting of a more freestanding structure with the steps built around a central newel or pole. From Roman times onward, spiral staircases started to exhibit many of the classic features that we would recognise today.
The influence of the Romans helped to introduce the spiral staircase more widely into building design across Europe. Then throughout the Middle Ages they became a well-established feature of many castles, thought to be due in part to the advantages they may have given when defending against attackers.
With spiral staircases being quite narrow, it was impossible to launch a mass assault, as any attackers would have to ascend one at a time, with little space available for wielding weapons.
The castle defenders often had one other tactical advantage designed into their spiral staircase – in the form of uneven steps! Those living in the castle would be very familiar with the pattern of their stairs and could retreat up them very swiftly. However, the attackers were much more likely to stumble and fall, particularly in the dimly lit confines of the staircase.
Come back to read part two, learn about the further development of the spiral staircase and some prime examples through history. If you're looking for a spiral staircase kit or straight staircase kit and need more information, please contact our friendly sales team who will be happy to assist you with all your DIY staircase kit needs.
