Front Doors have a long history spanning from the ancient Egyptians right up to present day, as they are necessary for heating, security and completing the style of the house and inhabitants.
The first door, was represented in drawing from ancient Egyptian tombs. In Egypt, where the climate is exceedingly dry, there would be no fear of the doors warping, but in other countries it would be necessary to frame them. The most ancient doors were in timber, those made for King Solomon’s temple being in olive wood (I Kings vi. 31-35), which were carved and overlaid with gold. Besides olive wood, elm, cedar, oak and cypress woods would have been used.
All ancient front doors were hung by pivots at the top and bottom of the hanging stile which worked in sockets in the lintel and sill, the latter being always in some hard stone such as basalt or granite. The ancient Greek and Roman doors were either single doors, double doors, sliding doors or folding doors, in the last case the leaves were hinged and folded back
The first foot-sensor-activated automatic door was made in China during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui (604–618), who had one installed for his royal library. In the Renaissance period the Italian doors are quite simple, their architects trusting more to the doorways for effect; but in France and Germany the contrary is the case, the doors being elaborately carved, especially in the Louis XIV and Louis XV periods, and sometimes with architectural features such as columns and entablatures with pediment and niches, the doorway being in plain masonry. One of the oldest doors has been found by archaeologists in Switzerland, dating back 5,000-years.
In British History people have used their front doors to exhibit their wealth, style and personal tastes for passers-by and visitors to see. Colour finishes, glass panelling and door furniture such as knockers and numbers all give an indication of the owners’ sense of fashion and many people decide to have personalised home names displayed on their front door.
In the Georgian period of Front Doors typically would have been a simple six panelled design without glass. The two smaller top panels may of been changed to glass in the later Georgian or Victorian period.
Within all the different styles and types of Front doors, Architectural World will work with you to determine what you want your front door to say about your home. See here for examples of our work with Front Doors.