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Designers' groundbreaking creativity has led to the development of contemporary architectural elements that are both stylish and captivating. Yet, some historical features remain equally remarkable, often accompanied by intriguing stories. Here, we present a list of 10 such unique and fascinating architectural elements from the past.
10. Witch Windows
Witch windows are uniquely angled at 45 degrees and installed in the gable-end walls of houses. Their diagonal alignment, parallel to the roof slope, allows them to fit in spaces where standard windows wouldn’t. Some believe these windows were designed to combat Vermont’s harsh winters, as conventional windows often allowed excessive drafts during colder months.
The term “witch window” stems from the folklore that witches couldn’t enter homes through these angled windows. They are also referred to as “coffin windows,” either due to their coffin-like shape or because they were used to remove coffins when no other exit was feasible. Other lesser-known names include “lazy windows,” “sideways windows,” and “Vermont windows.”
9. Widow’s Walks
A widow’s walk is a small, elevated platform with railings, typically found on rooftops, offering an unobstructed view of the surroundings and sometimes even the distant horizon. Traditionally, it is believed that sailors’ devoted wives would spend hours on these platforms, anxiously awaiting their husbands’ return from sea voyages. Sadly, many sailors never returned, leading to the platform’s poignant name, “widow’s walk.”
Another theory suggests that widow’s walks served a practical purpose for sea merchants. Upon hearing of an approaching ship, they would ascend to these platforms to verify if their vessel had safely reached the shore. This alternate use earned them the name “captain’s walks” in some contexts.
Historians, however, argue that widow’s walks were primarily functional during chimney fires. In earlier times, households kept leather buckets filled with sand and water near fireplaces. During a fire, these buckets were carried to the widow’s walk, and their contents were poured down the chimney to douse the flames.
8. Cartouches
A cartouche is an intricate, often scroll-like design crafted from metal, stone, or wood, emerging as a significant architectural element in the 16th century. Some trace its origins to the oval shapes used to emphasize the names of ancient Egyptian royalty. Over time, cartouches have served various purposes, framing everything from important inscriptions and heraldic symbols to landscape and genre paintings in both architecture and decorative arts.
In an era when streets lacked names or numbers and literacy was limited, cartouches played a crucial role in identifying homes and businesses. Many featured signs or reliefs that indicated the occupant’s trade or social standing. For instance, a golden cup within an oval cartouche signified a goldsmith’s residence, while a fiddle enclosed in an ornamental cartouche marked the home of a violin maker.
7. False Doors
False doors were prominent architectural features in Egyptian and Etruscan tombs, as well as Roman villas. In Egypt, these doors, often referred to as “Ka doors,” were installed in tombs and mortuary temples to enable the Ka, a component of the soul, to engage with the living world by passing through or receiving offerings via the door.
In ancient Etruria, false doors were also present in tombs. Some theories suggest they served as entrances to the tomb itself, while others propose they acted as gateways to the afterlife. Another interpretation is that they marked potential locations for future tomb expansions.
In Roman villas, false doors were frequently painted opposite actual doors to create symmetry and give the illusion of a larger space.
6. Devil’s Doors
In medieval churches, the north-facing door was commonly referred to as “the devil’s door.” These doors, constructed between pre-conquest times and the 12th century, are now mostly sealed off, though the exact reasons remain unclear. Some speculate it was done to dispel superstitions associated with the devil.
One theory suggests that the north door was used by Pagans to access the church, which was built on former Pagan worship sites. This connection between the devil and old religions may have led to the name. Another belief is that during baptisms, the north door was briefly opened to allow the exorcised spirit of the devil to escape, then promptly closed to prevent the devil’s return.
5. Priest Holes
Following the arrival of the first Jesuits in England, Parliament passed laws criminalizing the conversion of English citizens to Catholicism. Eventually, Catholic priests were banned from entering the country, and those found sheltering them faced harsh penalties. Priest hunters actively sought out and gathered intelligence to locate these priests.
In response to this dangerous climate, Catholic families constructed secret hiding spots in their homes. These priest holes were often concealed in fireplaces, attics, or staircases and were extremely cramped, offering no space to stand or move. Tragically, some priests perished in these spaces due to starvation or suffocation.
Nicholas Owen, a master craftsman, was renowned for designing priest holes. He created intricate hiding spaces within hiding spaces, often incorporating escape routes and methods to deliver food to priests during extended searches.
4. Sanctuary Knocker
Sanctuary knockers, also known as sanctuary rings, were fixtures on the exterior doors of Christian churches. These ranged from simple metal rings to intricately designed pieces. Under medieval ecclesiastical law, any fugitive—often someone who had killed in self-defense or escaped prison—who touched the sanctuary knocker was granted complete immunity from arrest.
For instance, at Durham Cathedral, refugees who knocked on the sanctuary ring were granted 37 days of protection. During this period, they could negotiate with their adversaries or devise an escape plan. The cathedral also featured small chambers above the entrance where monks kept watch day and night to swiftly admit those seeking sanctuary.
3. Murder Holes
Murder holes were strategically placed near castle entrances and gatehouse passages, allowing defenders to hurl missiles or hazardous materials at attackers. These features were crucial during the medieval era for castle defense. Defenders used murder holes to drop stones, boiling water, hot sand, molten lead, oil, and tar on invaders. Hot oil was used sparingly due to its expense. Occasionally, decomposing materials like dung or animal and human corpses were also thrown through these openings.
Machicolations evolved as an improvement over murder holes, offering defenders a more advantageous position. Initially made of wood and later stone, machicolations extended from the castle walls, enabling murder holes to project outward and above attackers, enhancing the castle’s defensive capabilities.
2. Stumble Steps
During the medieval period, castle staircases were often constructed with a clockwise spiral. This design favored right-handed defenders, who typically held the higher ground. Attackers ascending the stairs would find their sword arms restricted by the central wall, hindering their combat effectiveness. Defenders, on the other hand, benefited from greater mobility and a height advantage. Left-handed families, however, had their staircases built in a counterclockwise direction.
These spiral staircases lacked handrails, allowing defenders to easily push attackers off the steps. Additionally, the stairs were intentionally built with uneven heights and widths, making it challenging for invaders to climb without stumbling.
1. Basque House Lintels
Traditional Basque homes typically featured a lintel above the entrance door, often engraved with the names of the original owners and the construction or renovation date. For instance, a house in the Labourd village in France’s Basque region displays a lintel detailing how a mother built the home in 1662 using funds sent by her son from the West Indies.
The carvings sometimes included the house’s name and symbols like the Basque cross or lauburu, symbolizing the Sun (a sign of good fortune as it dispels darkness and evil), religious motifs, or emblems representing the owner’s traditional trade tools.
