Surprisingly enough ladders have not always been available at the click of a button, far from it in fact!  But, they have been a vital tool for progression and prosperity for a very long time. From the chimney sweep to the farmer, from the window cleaner to the cook, all trades and all walks of life have probably had to, at some point or another, rely on a simple wooden ladder to complete the jobs for the day.

So Where Did the Ladders Come From?

Back before the days when there were no electrical saws or even necessarily a lead pencil to do your measuring with, how did people make a simple ladder?  It makes sense that wooden ladders were the tool of choice from the Middle ages, being that aluminium wasn't really around and once the basic design was perfected, although no-one knows who perfected the art of ladder-making, new ladders could be created according to specific requirements.  And before you knew it, there were tall ones, short ones, slim ones and stout ones, to access all manner of loft, chimney, basement and roof. The basic design would have been created using a method similar to the one outlined below. First of all, a suitable tree would have had to have been identified and felled to supply the wood for the ladder. In England, where deciduous woodland was abound, oak was a popular choice for its strength and durability.  This was particularly important when building ladders for defence. Whilst the domestic market had considerable demand, in Medieval times there were a lot of castles that needed defending or taking over. Wooden ladders were made in their thousands as part of the artillery; they allowed fighters to climb walls and access those inside the castle. However there is a less positive side to this story; ladders can be pushed over and those climbing the ladder were dangerously exposed to arrow fire. In order to stop this siege towers were invented, allowing attacking forces to wreak havoc and destruction in greater safety! So, once our Medieval builder had his wood, he would have to work out how long the ladder needed to be. I cannot vouch for whether or not it was taken into account that in order for a ladder to be of much use it has to be used at an angle to the vertical surface that it is being used to climb, but we shall assume that it was. The builder would then have had to work out the positioning of the rungs, making sure that the markings on each vertical rail were in the same place to ensure that the rungs are level. It would be even harder to keep your footing whilst scaling a castle wall if your rungs were wonky! These markings would have provided the positioning for the grooves where the rungs would be slotted in. Using a simple hammer, chisel, and saw, our builder would have expertly chipped away at the wood to reveal small square holes which the rungs would have slotted into.  Evidence for this procedure is found in the walls of many castles, where grooves have been cut into the stone for a ladder to slot into comfortably and safely, in order for the inhabitants to access a loft, or a high hanging tapestry that is in need of regular cleaning.

From Siege to Domestic Ladders

It is unlikely that our builder had the luxury of adjustment. These ladders were churned out quickly and efficiently, to replace those burnt up and spat out by any recent attempted siege. Plus, it is very difficult to know exactly where your ladder is going; castles can vary in size quite significantly. A domestic builder of these times may have had the opportunity to survey where his work was to be used, for example, if the ladder was to be purchased by a rich household to reach into the attic.  We should perhaps suppose though that a couple of heights scribbled on a piece of paper or simply a keen eye was all that our builder had to rely on in order to ensure that the length and angle of the ladder was right for the job. Professionals today can use fixed standards to create tools that meet the exacting safety requirements set out by the industry and the user can adjust the angle and height of his ladders easily with purchasable extensions and accessories that help to level the ladder out on uneven ground.  The original ladder, whilst a remarkable achievement, was likely to be a little hit and miss to say the least! In today's modern world, there is no reason why anyone cannot purchase a ladder that fits the bill.  Midland ladders offer a wide range of ladders made from a variety of materials. Wooden loft ladders in particular are sold in a variety of specifications, from the budget friendly Youngman ECO S Line spruce loft ladder to the Titan exclusive 3 part timber loft ladder. This model uses beautiful Scandinavian wood to make the ladder frame; 18mm thick beech treads make up the treads whilst the sides are formed from sturdy 21mm thick lengths of pine. This combination of woods makes for an attractive as well as functional piece of equipment, with a number of features such as a gentler slope of the angle of the ladder for easier access, and rubber feet to prevent any damage to floors and carpets. The Titan Exclusive is an excellent option for a wooden loft ladder, that will provide years of hassle free service and, what with being approved to the latest European standards for insulation, adds both value and convenience to your home.  Thank goodness we have left the dark ages behind us and can now just get the ladder we need at the click of a button!