The Ladders – For such an ordinary, everyday object, not many people give a thought to the humble origins of the ladder.  Today we have so many different types of ladder for specific tasks: a telescopic ladder for easy transportation, a fibreglass ladder for when dealing with electrics, a cat ladder to clamber safely on a roof – the list is endless! The word 'ladder' can be traced back to the Old English word “hlæder” which roughly translated means “something that slopes”.  It is also thought to link to the latin word 'œclathri', which was used when referring to a set of bars or a trellis and you can easily see how this word might have been used to explain the concept of a ladder. Generally used to reach high places in a safe manner, a ladder consists of 2 vertical poles (or “stiles” to use the correct word!) with a varying number of steps ( known as rungs) connected in between. The invention of the ladder can not be attributed to one person; that information has been lost in the annals of time. There are reports of cliff-dwelling people using ladders, but they were one vertical pole with steps either side – not very stable and would certainly not pass muster with the Health & Safety laws around today! It is however, estimated that ladders as we know them have been in use for over 10,000 years. Cave paintings from the Mesolithic era in the Spider Caves in Valencia, Spain were discovered picturing two people with a long, rickety ladder, thought to be made out of woven grass, heading towards a tree with a bees nest in it, in order to collect some honey. As time moved on and tools progressed, we begin to see examples of wooden ladders.  In medieval times, wooden ladders were used to help storm a castle (a process called “escalade”), allowing the soldier to scale the walls and hopefully get inside to open the doors. All the while the defenders would throw down boiling oil and fire arrows to try and stop the siege army getting in.  This was very costly in terms of men lost and soon the siege tower came along.  We still however see examples of this method nowadays, albeit in a slightly different fashion: SWAT teams for instance have been known to use ladders to gain access to high windows in a building to aid an assault. There are two types of ladder: rigid and rope.  Rope ladders are often seen in gyms, or being thrown out of helicopters for rescue purposes and are fixed at the top.  Rigid ladders are made from harder materials such as wood, or more commonly nowadays aluminium or fibreglass and can either be transportable (can be moved to where they are needed and then back to be stored) or fixed (e.g. some roofs have fixed cat ladders on the incline). Nowadays, there are many different types of ladder and some of the terminology can be confusing.  The following are some examples of ladder types and a brief explanation of what they mean: The Extension Ladder:
This is a rigid type ladder that is constructed in separate lengths which can be slid, one into the other for easy storage or can be extended, rung by rung to its fullest size. These ladders can have a rope & pulley mechanism for effortless extension by someone standing on the ground ; it can then be locked securely into position. The Step Ladder:
John Basely from Ohio invented the step ladder in 1862; he put a hinge in between two ladder sides to enable it to be stored more easily. Now, step ladders have stays which assure that the two parts remain at a locked angle. The Folding or Multi-Purpose Ladder:
fashioned like a step ladder, it has one to three hinges that enable it to fold into many varied shapes or configurations. These are perfect for use on ground that isn’t level or stairwells. The Loft or Attic Ladder:
used to gain entry into the loft area or attic and is pulled downward from a ceiling. This ladder is usually extendable or can be folding or of the  concertina design. The Telescopic Ladder:
like a telescope, this ladder fits into itself, but can be “pulled open” and extended to a decent height e.g from only 81cm closed, a ladder could be extended rung by rung up to to 380cm. This makes them ideal portable ladders as they are compact and easily stored, carried or transported in a car. The Hook Ladder:
a rigid type ladder that has a hook at the upper end which will grip securely to window sills. Firemen employ these type ladders. The Cat (or roof) Ladder:
Used to climb an inclined roof, it is light in weight and allows the user to safely climb an inclined or pitched roof…preventing the user from slipping and falling off. The top end of the ladder has a shaped hook and rolling wheels, allowing the user to roll the ladder up the roof and hook it over the ridge so that the ladder hangs from the ridge. The Surveyor's or Sectional Ladder:
this ladder that can be taken apart in sections which are easily transportable. This way, a person can join together as many sections as they require (up to a maximum recommended by the manufacturer) for their needs..

The Orchard Or Tripod Ladders:

a step ladder that has three legs. The third leg will fit between the branches of a tree to make it more convenient to pick fruit.

The Garden Or Hedge Ladders:

generally include a platform to enable garden tasks to be completed safely and stably.

The Combination Ladders:

a ladder which can be used for more than one purpose, Generally, combination ladders combine the functions of an extension ladder with those of a large step ladder and are regularly employed in theatres for accessing lighting rigs quickly and easily. The Fibreglass Ladders:
these are used to enable electricians to work safely (as fibreglass doesn’t conduct electricity) The Escape Ladders:
these can either be fixed to the side of a building, or can be made from rope or chain with large tubular hooks at one end to attach to a window sill. The rope or chain ladder can then be lowered to the ground  and in the event of an emergency help occupants escape from a building. Hopefully, this list has taken a little bit of the mystery away as to which ladders are which! Keep an eye on our blog for further information on ladders, as well as reviews and Health and Safety information.