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Author
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Topic: doors
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graham n roberts
Member
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posted 02-15-2003 05:24 AM
  
pleas ecan anyone tell me the reason most castles have metal studs on them ????
i recently took a canadian work mate who comes over 3-4 times a year to work, to skipton castle when he asked the question..
ive taken him to almost every castle in wales so far. many thanks------------------
g.n.r. |
Gordon
unregistered
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posted 02-15-2003 07:43 AM
There are 2 reasons, dependant upon the number of studs and their closeness/ date of the door.
1. Because it was fashionable and provided a gothic look. This is common when castles were being refurbished in the post medieval period.
2. A yett (iron grill gate) was much more effective and so more commonly fitted, but studs if there were enough of them, could help protect the door from axe blows....but not at all a common feature.------------------
'Demeure par la verite'
Visit; Gordon's Scottish Castles Resource Page
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duncan
Senior Member
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posted 02-15-2003 08:08 AM
I agree with Gordon.
Most doors were made of a composite layers of wood with the grain going in opposite directions. Up down with the next side to side and were sometimes made of different woods.
This helped give the door strength when hit with a battering ram or axe.
The studs were often the nails. They were put into the doors to add to the strength and to make using an axe or battering ram more difficult.
They act as a sort of bumper to a battering ram which will hit the metal studs first. It absorbs much of the kinetic energy giving the door minutes if not hours longer to hold together.------------------
Megan and Ralph
Castle Duncan Castle Duncan Better to say, 'Here it is.' than 'Here it was.'
Scottish proverb
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graham n roberts
Member
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posted 02-17-2003 05:50 AM
thank you both for the info,
i suspected that it was a defensive item
but the wood grain changes in the door is incredible bearing in mind the dates involved...and we think we are clever.....
we mimic this in todays bodyarmour by layering the fabrics just like the woodgrain,and belive it or not some b/a companies still use stainless steel chainmail....not to stop bullets but for the age old problem of stab protection..we do have modern alternatives but it still has its place in some applications today...------------------
g.n.r. |
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