Let \(K\) be a field, and let \(X = (X_{ij})\) be an \(m \times n\) matrix of indeterminates over \(K\). A ladder in \(X\) is a subset \(Y\) of \(X\) such that the following holds: if \(X_{ij}\), \(X_{kl}\) are in \(Y\) and \(i \leq k\), \(j \leq l\), then \(X_{il}\), \(X_{jk} \in Y\). \(K[Y]\) denotes the polynomial ring \(K[X_{ij} |X_{ij} \in Y]\) and \(I_t (Y)\) the ideal in \(K[Y]\) generated by the \(t\)-minors of \(X\) which solely involve indeterminates of \(Y\). The factor ring \(R_t (Y) = K[Y]/I_t (Y)\) is called a ladder determinantal ring. – The author shows that ladder determinantal rings are normal. In case \(Y\) is a one-sided ladder (which is defined in a nearby way), he computes the divisor class group and the canonical class, and proves a characterization of the Gorensteinness of \(R_t (Y)\) in terms of the shape of \(Y\).