This ancient door, dating back 900 years, has been identified as the oldest door in the United Kingdom. It was installed in Westminster Abbey around the year 1050, during the reign of Edward the Confessor, the founder of the Abbey.
This door is the only remaining one from the Anglo-Saxon era in Britain. In 2005, the age of the door was determined for the first time through a process known as dendrochronology. The study shows that the door is made from a single tree that grew between the years 924 and 1030 AD in eastern England, likely from forests owned by the Abbey in that area, possibly in Essex.
The door consists of five panels and measures 6.5 feet in height and 4 feet in width. It leads to the Pyx Chamber, where monks would gather daily for prayers in the 13th century.
When Henry III rebuilt the Abbey and the Pyx Chamber in 1245, the door was retained but resized to fit in its new location. In the 19th century, it was noted that the door had pieces of cowhide on it, leading to the legend that the hides were human. The prevailing belief was that someone caught committing desecration or theft in the church was flayed, and their skin was hung on the door as a deterrent to others.
This is a picture of Westminster Abbey, a historic church located in London, United Kingdom. The Abbey is one of the most prominent examples of Gothic architecture, and it is the site for the coronation of British kings and queens and the burial location for a number of prominent historical figures.