The Keep of Goodrich Castle, built in the 1100s, only had tiny windows – which meant that little light could enter the castle. Apparently There is a Very Good Reason… September 6, 2016. That is why, in olden days, health officers ensured that all carnival merry-go-rounds were run only in the anti-clockwise direction. Castles were always built with a spiraling staircase that turned clockwise. Science Advisor. why do we climb stairs in clockwise direction? Archived. It would`t be a castle if it didn`t have secret passages, right? It will allow the top of a spiral to go over the base (ie. A lot Read more Why things rotates in anti clockwise direction? (To add multiple sites, list each one in a separate line by pressing Enter.) Stairs always turned clockwise. The reason for this was entirely practical, with stairs forming part of a castle’s internal defence system. This means that anyone coming up the stairs must use their sword in their left hand. Use Yahoo! Source: Pixabay. Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? Aug 11, 2017 - First and foremost Castles are built so they protect their inhabitants from harm. Or perhaps, we could just use “stairs”. Attackers coming up the stairs had sword hands (right hand) against the interior curve of the wall and made it very difficult to swing their swords. Nov 29, 2011 #5 AlephZero. Close. Later castles were usually made of stone, though when a castle was needed quickly it might still be made of wood, and some castles were made of brick. By Heather Whipps 26 January 2013. Search to help find sources. Advertisement. A constant feature in the design of medieval castles was that staircases were built in a spiralling form and always turned clockwise. 6,994 291. When in doubt, please refer to our Community Guidelines. Even if you've visited a medieval castle or two, you've probably never noticed that the spiral staircases are clockwise. Why do the Earth and Moon turn counter-clockwise and our clocks turn clockwise? They were built in a clockwise assent so a right handed, sword wielding intruder would struggle with the centre column whilst a solider defending the castle would have more room to manoeuvre. Defenders had their sword hands on the outside wall giving much room to swing. First of all, the Earth and Moon only turn counter-clockwise when viewed from a certain perspective: above the North Pole. This is supposedly why races are still run anti-clockwise. Apparently There is a Very Good Reason… Do You Know Why The Stairs of Medieval Castles Were Built Clockwise? We do not really know who built the first castle, when the first castle was built, or even what castle it was. If they were right-handed, as most people are, then this would make it difficult for them to swing their sword. Secret Passages. Advertisement. The Straight Dope says: How do these things get started? Apparently There is a Very Good Reason… September 6, 2016. There's a fascinating reason why. Menu. Firstly, why were these castles so dark and cold? The reason that clocks turn clockwise has to do with sundials, which were the first clocks. If we run clockwise, the centrifugal force impedes suction. Why do the riders go anti clockwise? Last Updated: 4th December, 2019 12:32 IST This Is Why Staircases In Medieval Castles Were Built Clockwise This is why staircases in medieval castles were built clockwise as per a recent study in a blog by Will Kalif on the website named All Things Medieval. The Chariots in Roman times raced this way round, and athletic races and most other sports have followed in the same direction. It will place a run with the full number of risers required to meet the stair base and top level properties that you have set. Also, the spiral stairs in castle towers were designed to ascend clockwise, to make the attackers expose more of their body in order to use their swords in their right hands. A medieval castle spiral staircases curves upwards in a clockwise direction from the bottom. Check Spelling Source(s) List any sources like web sites that helped answer this question. In buildings, stairs is a term applied to a complete flight of steps between two floors. I think its an interesting question….not so much because there is an obvious or easy answer…but where the genesis of the answer would come from. Ian Mursell, London, UK ... (similar to spiral stairs in castles). He reached a point in his research where he had to decide if it was better to design stairs that you have to go down clockwise or counterclockwise. Tags: Castles. These early spiral staircases would also have uneven steps both in height and depth, again to outwit unwanted intruders. Why are Races Run Counterclockwise? 1. It does not require a third click for direction – this will normally be counter-clockwise, unless you press the space-bar first. Posted by 6 years ago. Straight Staircases. Well, most Medieval castles were made of stone. Most spiral stairs in castles across Europe spiraled clockwise upward, which allowed a right handed defender the freedom to hack downwards with his sword, while hampering right handed attackers trying to climb upwards. Staircase is also, of course used in the US (and, if I was asked for a long form of stairs, I would say staircase)…why wouldn’t we use that then? A stair flight is a run of stairs or steps between landings. Helical staircases do not have a central column setting it apart from spiral stairs. Shares. Apparently There is a Very Good Reason… Do You Know Why The Stairs of Medieval Castles Were Built Clockwise? Los Santos: eine weitläufige, sonnendurchflutete Metropole voller Selbsthilfe-Gurus, Sternchen und vergessener Promis. The castle defenders coming down the stairs can use their swords in their right hands, giving them the advantage of both height and the sword hand (right). Experiments had been carried out previously and it was known that there is tendency to turn counterclockwise, for example, if you cover you eyes and try to walk straight almost always you will end up walking a little bit to the left. On the other hand, castle occupants descending the stairs would be given the … Straight stairs can be defined as one having a single, straight flight of stairs that connects two levels or floors in a building. Homework Helper. Everyone generally reduces whatever other long form they use to “stairs”….Stairway just doesn’t seem appropriate, considering there are other, more universal and neutral terms. Tags: Castles. A staircase or stairway is one or more flights of stairs leading from one floor to another, and includes landings, newel posts, handrails, balustrades and additional parts. Just as the clockwise spiral hindered attackers, so, too, did it favor the castle’s defenders. Although stone was a perfect material for creating strong, defensive fortifications, Medieval building techniques were basic. First and foremost Castles are built so they protect their inhabitants from harm. There is a link below to a related question, where there is more information. As they descended, they could swing their swords in arcs that matched the curve of the outer wall, and use the inner wall as a partial shield. A fan set to move clockwise (opposite the ceiling fan direction in summer) and run on low speed creates an updraft. Your Answer . A stair, or a stairstep, is one step in a flight of stairs. No spam please! ISTOCK. If you visit a medieval castle, you might be thrown off balance as you climb their uneven, clockwise stairs.As you climb the stairwell, you’ll also find that your right arm’s range of motion is surprisingly restricted, while for lefties arm stretching and waving room is spacious. The spiral stairways in a castle were always turned clockwise. Although not all castle staircases spiral clockwise, the majority of them do, and the reason for this is all to do with defense. The spiral nature of the staircase meant that if you were right-handed, as were the majority of people ‘back then’, then attempting to run quickly up a spiral staircase (than turned in an anti-clockwise direction) with a sword in hand meant that balance became a bit of an issue. October 13, 2015. Do You Know Why The Stairs of Medieval Castles Were Built Clockwise? If you looked at them from the South Pole, they would appear to turn clockwise. Insights Blog -- Browse All Articles --Physics Articles Physics Tutorials ... Why would a clockwise (with 0 at the top, as in compass degrees) or a counterclockwise (with 0 on the right as in trigonometry degrees) coordinate system be considered left or right handed? More than 360 degrees). This was a purposeful design element that served an incredibly practical purpose; the idea was incoming siegers would ascend the stairs, but be given a huge disadvantage in the way of their sword arm, as most people are right-handed. The first spiral stairs were laid on concrete vaults, but by the 13th century they were cut into slabs and fitted into the walls. Eilean Donan Castle perches on a tidal island where three sea lochs—Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh—meet, seen here in an aerial view with the Isle of Skye in the distance. TIL Stairwells in medieval castles curved very narrowly and clockwise. The design meant that attackers ascending the stairs would have their right-hand side against the interior curved wall. Do most bodies in the solar system move counter-clockwise? Do You Know Why The Stairs of Medieval Castles Were Built Clockwise? 1.7k. BY Caitlin Schneider. By combining various materials and designs the possibilities for helical staircases are almost unlimited. 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