Old Riyadh Wall
Old Riyadh Wall, was a fortified wall that encircled the old city of Riyadh. It was built by the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud in 1902, after he recaptured Riyadh, and it was demolished after about half a century. One of its names was “The Protector”, because it provided protection for the residents of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from assaults and raids.
Description of the Old Riyadh Wall
The Old Riyadh Wall was constructed from adobe and pure clay, fermented for several days, and is characterized by sturdiness. Its construction took between forty and sixty days. The wall contained several towers, some reaching a height of twelve m.
Orientalist John Philby described Riyadh when he visited it in 1917, saying: “It was completely surrounded by a thick wall of brick and dried mud, twenty-five feet high, interrupted by forts and mostly circular guard towers, slightly tapering at the top; a few were square or rectangular, ranging between thirty and forty feet high, generally projecting outside the line of the wall to facilitate the defense of the city, and the wall had a number of fortified gates.”
Gates of the Old Riyadh Wall
The Old Riyadh Wall had several gates, which were called “darawiz”; some were large and main, and others were small for pedestrians, called “Al-Naqab”. The gates would be opened after the dawn prayer until the night prayer, and they would not be opened at night except for the King’s envoy or one of the commanders.
Among the main gates in the Old Riyadh Wall was Bab Al-Thumairi, located to the east of the city. It is attributed to a man from the people of Huraymila’ named Hassan Al-Thumairi, who was killed at this gate during the era of the First Saudi State, in the incident of “Dalqah”. It is also said that this gate took its name from a guard who stood in front of it in the early reign of King Abdulaziz, who was called “Al-Thumairi”. The gate was previously known as “Bab Al-Marwah” and “Al-Ahsa Gate”. Bab Al Suwaylim is located to the north of the city and is attributed to a well-known family of this name who lived next to this gate. Bab Dakhna is located to the south of Riyadh, and it acquired its name from its proximity to a water well or a neighbourhood known by this name. Bab Al-Madhbah, also called “Al-Badi‘ah”, is located to the west of the city; butchers and slaughterers used to slaughter camels, cattle and sheep outside it, then transport the carcasses inside. Bab Al-Shumaisi is located to the south-west of Riyadh, and it acquired its name from its connection to a settlement outside the city bearing this name; it is also called “Darwazat Al-Murayqib”.
Among the secondary gates in the Old Riyadh Wall was Al-Qaryah Gate, which was added later. It faced Bab Al-Thumairi from the east. Manfuha Gate is located to the east of Riyadh, and it was named for its view over the Manfuha district, in addition to the “Masaddah” Gate, located to the south of the city. To the north of Riyadh there is Darwazat Al-Zuhriah, which was named after a neighborhood located next to it.
Rebuilding the Old Riyadh Wall
Urban expansion led to the removal of the Old Riyadh Wall during the period between 1950–1952. However, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City decided to rebuild the wall on the remains of the old eastern wall in the area east of the Suwaiqah Commercial Complex, and it marked its route on the street in the sections that were not rebuilt using stones of colors different from the color of the asphalt.
Studies conducted by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City identified the locations of the gates and towers, the course of the Old Riyadh Wall, and the materials used in construction. These sites were designed in their original form and character, and traditional building materials were used in the construction works: the bases of the gates were built of natural stone and their walls of adobe. Tamarisk beams and palm fronds were also used in the finishing, and clay reinforced with straw was used for plastering. Local craftsmen were engaged to build these elements.