This month on the blog we thought we’d go for something a little bit different. At Essex Windows and Doors, we’re all passionate about our work and of course, you guessed it, windows and doors.
With this in mind, we decided to take a look at some of the most famous doors, starting with No. 10 Downing Street, of course, the home of the Prime Minister. Even if you’ve never seen this famous door in person, if you watch the television news it’s instantly recognisable. Guarded by a police officer and sometimes Larry the cat, the door is black, glossy, and made of a bomb-proof material.
Next, the Holy door of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The panelled doors are beautifully ornate and are said to represent Heaven’s gates! However, very few of the tourists who flock to see the doors will ever see them open as the Pope opens them only once every 25 years.
Now on to a fictional door, the door itself is not fictional, it certainly exists but the home’s very famous occupant, Sherlock Holmes never graced this elegant portal. We are of course, as all Sherlock fans will know talking about 221B Baker Street. Despite the householder being the figment of the writer’s imagination, tourists from all over the world still visit, and a policeman in Victorian dress guards the entry.
The door of the home to another fictional character can be found in Matamata, New Zealand. The door is round and green and set into a hillside. Yes, you’ve guessed it belongs to Bilbo Baggins. Fans can stand outside this venerable home, but unfortunately, there are no inside tours available because we humans would never fit through the door.
Some doors are not famous individually, but as a whole, such as Dublin’s Georgian doors, painted in an array of different colours. No one really knows how the trend started but if you do an internet search you will find plenty of pictures of them in all their bright coloured glory.
Lastly, another door made famous by a film, the blue door in the film, ‘Notting Hill’. The door fronted a real home belonging to the screenwriter, Richard Curtis and was at 280 Westbourne Park Road. He sold the house, and the door was eventually auctioned off because the owners were no longer able to pass through it due to the number of tourists taking photos outside.
Of course, there are many more famous doors in the world, but we hope you’ve enjoyed reading our little insights into just a few of them.
