Re: Stairs
Originally Posted by
shropshiregirl
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Hi Pesta, I live in an old house. There are eleven stairs leading to a left-turning 'kill step'. (so-called because it was a wider step where when foes fought with swords etc, they had the advantage if standing on the kill-step) then there is one more step (making 13 in all) before standing on the landing.
That's interesting.
I'm not sure about the 'left turn' at the 'kill step', though.
I know that if you look at spiral stair cases in old buildings, they are inevitably clockwise-turning as you ascend.
The reason for that, of course, is that the defenders above can defend with their swords in their right hands (it seems that everyone was right handed, even before the Victorians made their schoolchildren write with their right hands!) but the attackers below were obliged to use their left hands!
I can see how such a 'kill step' might be an advantage to someone fighting from below, though, as there would be space for them to turn to face their enemy using their right hands.
I'm right-handed, BTW. All the best people are!