Historic Home Guide

Ironmongery Introduction Pre-Georgian (up to about 1750)

Buildings in Edinburgh’s Properties as early as the durable material which World Heritage Site, which 15th century survive in the has already lasted some encompasses both the Old Old Town, but not many 300 years. Every piece is and New Towns, are a living of the original doors or therefore unique, although record of the community their original ironmongery there are certain basic that built and used them, remain, because these patterns and styles. Doors reflecting craft skills early buildings have fallen were made out of boards, and available materials, into disrepair over the years ‘cross-boarded’, rather than styles and aspirations or have been remodelled, panels (which didn’t come and personal whims. and have lost their original in until the 18th century) Appropriate door furniture ironmongery in favour and generally hung on is a very important part of new sets or modern strap hinges fixed to the of any historical building, replicas. Any original face of the door, opened especially as it is the ironmongery remaining is by a thumb latch attached first detail you focus on therefore of great value to a flat backplate and and touch as you enter a and should be retained and secured with a large stock building. Its removal and looked after. lock in a wooden case inappropriate replacement fixed to the inside face with modern alternatives Early ironmongery was of the door. Additional gives a ‘fake’ feel to the hand-made (forged) by security could be achieved building and should be local out with large iron bolts. avoided. of , a very

The purpose of this booklet is to help homeowners Latches to understand and enjoy the door furniture of These are vertical handles their homes, and to give fixed to a backplate, in turn guidance on maintenance fixed to the door with hand- and where necessary made nails. A thumb latch reinstatement. In the positioned above the Edinburgh World Heritage Site this subject can be divided into three overlapping historical periods:

• pre-Georgian 230 (up to 1750) • Georgian (1750 - 1830) • Victorian (1830 - 1900)

Please note all measurements are in millimetres (mm) 60 Latch and  Turling Pin Pre-Georgian (up to about 1750) Tirling pins the National Museums of Hinges Scotland are typical, with a A variant on the upright Heavy cross-banded doors leaf-shaped top containing handle is the tirling pin, were hung on iron strap the thumb latch and a the precursor of the bell, to hinges bolted through horseshoe shape at the attract the home owner’s the thickness of the door base. Large base plates attention. This consisted with hand-made bolts or sometimes had additional of a twisted wrought iron nails. These range from central fixing lugs. bar or a serrated bar (often simple horizontal straps, formed into a handle) fixed for example for a cart shed either directly to the door or basement door, to very or more often onto a flat ornate types, such as for base plate nailed to the church doors. The iron door. The visitor would strap was doubled over at run an attached iron ring the hinge end to form a or bar with loop up and 295 loop, so that the door could down the twisted be hung on a metal pin bar to make a noise. Most fixed into the stone wall. examples are mounted on a These doors had no timber shaped backplate, and also doorframe, but would sometimes incorporate a sit into a stone opening, thumb latch. Two examples generally recessed to form salvaged from the Old 110 a check for the door. Old Town and in the care of pins can still be seen in Latch and Turling Pin for Exterior Door stone door openings where new doors have replaced the original arrangement. handle lifts a metal bar circles, diamonds, dates passing through the door or initials. A pull handle, Locks to release the latch inside. often rounded in section, Early locks and their keys is mounted on this plate were very large, formed The earliest dated surviving and is frequently from wrought and cast examples from the Old decorated at the junction iron, to allow space for the Town have large highly with the base plate with hand-made movement, and decorative symmetrical fine curved leaves are generally contained in flat iron back plates cut or scrolls. timber boxes (stock locks). with interlocking curved They are dead rim locks: edges, and often with the Surviving examples on ‘dead’ because they only same pattern repeated at the original doors are have a bolt but not a latch the top and base. These very rare. Acheson operated by a knob which were fixed to the door with House (1633), which was comes later (see Georgian); handmade iron nails or extensively repaired in and ‘rim’ because they pins. Sometimes the plate 1937, has good examples of are fixed to the inside is decorated with incised modern -made face of the door. Stock tool marks or cut-outs with reinterpreted latches. locks were made locally  and their mechanisms are Replacement and suppliers very individualistic. The lock case was generally • Where replacing lost ornate ironmongery such as made of timber, a cheaper decorative latches and tirling pins, true authenticity material than metal can really only be achieved by commissioning an artist which was reserved for blacksmith. Careful research and design is needed the mechanism, and was to establish a suitable pattern. There may be clues of decorated with incised heights, sizes and types of fitments around the original lines, as in the oak example door frame. illustrated. • If this is prohibitively expensive, a good range of simple wrought iron blacksmith-made ironmongery such as pull handles and latches, strap hinges and bolts is available from specialist suppliers by searching on the internet. Ensure that the size of the piece is suitable and that it is unlacquered. • Ironmongery should be wrought (ie heated and worked by hand) and not cast (formed from hot metal poured into moulds), which has a different and inappropriate Locks are often disregarded surface appearance. as very utilitarian objects and as they are often well made they can withstand much neglect. In fact they (about 1750 to 1830) are often a product of very Georgian skilled craftsmanship and By the Within an overall uniformity of historical significance. second half there are subtle variations If a lock is in need of repair of the 18th in the design and quality. seek advice from a skilled century the For instance, the finest locksmith familiar with old construction materials were used on locks. Don’t oil or grease a of doors internal doors in the most lock, as this goes tacky in had changed and the important rooms, less time, affecting the smooth typical Georgian door high quality on external running of the mechanism is six-panelled or later main doors and cast iron and attracting dust and grit, four-panelled. Door on external basement and eventually grinding down furniture developed too, cellar doors. Much of the mechanism. Often, old with the beginnings of the original door furniture locks won’t meet modern the , remains, but a considerable insurance standards. In and greater availability amount, particularly from this situation the original of materials and new internal doors, has been lock should be kept on the machinery. Door furniture lost over the years. When door and supplemented is a very distinctive feature restoring a door, the with a suitable discreet of Edinburgh’s Georgian original furniture should modern lock. architecture. always be retained.

 As in all matters of examples. Most of the – see ‘Maintenance and restoration, when replacing commercially available Suppliers’. Sometimes missing or inappropriate architectural door furniture door furniture has been door furniture, examination described as ‘Georgian’ is replaced in the past with of similar properties not acceptable for use in good quality contemporary which have retained the New Town because it is items and, in this instance, original features will be based on English models. retention of these is invaluable, though care Good reproductions of preferred to replacement must be taken to avoid some Edinburgh door with poor reproduction copying inappropriate furniture are available fittings. Nameplates Nameplates should be , with incised lettering. These were originally filled with black wax, but are now filled with black paint. Small plates for residents’ names are Door Numerals (Original Pattern) screwed to the backplate Numerals on stonework above or of the bell pull outside the adjacent to the door and The earliest numerals door to the common stair formed part of a painted are likely to have been or the flat. Larger brass panel, for example circular small brass plates on plates, used by advocates or shield-shaped with a which Roman or Arabic and other professionals, shaded border. Numerals characters were engraved are usually screwed to painted on fanlights and filled with black the mid-rail (muntin) of were probably a later wax. For restoration the door. When large new introduction. Numerals, purposes, filling with paint nameplates are required by backplates and other is preferable because wax companies these should be items of door furniture crazes in the sun. Brass placed on the wall beside should be secured to plates were superseded by the door and should exactly doors by a threaded rod cast brass numerals, and cover the face of the stone and held in place by a nut six complete and different to which they are fixed. and washer sunk below sets have been identified the inner face of the door in the New Town, two in so that the method of Roman characters and fixing is invisible, or secret. four in Arabic. Painted Numerals, as with all door numerals were probably furniture, should be left on standard on basement when painting a door, and and some common stair the paint taken up over doors. Sometimes the the sides leaving the front numeral was painted face exposed for polishing.  Fixings should always be well clear of edges of the to resemble a cast plate. brass or stainless , stone. The plates should The plate may incorporate either secret fixed or with be of cast or sheet brass the bell pull, bell push or brass covers, and must be covering a timber frame, entryphone.

External handles and knobs Several designs of door handle can be seen in the New Town, the most common being the Edinburgh handle, which is a 19th century design. This design is found on main doors only and has a raised rectangular backplate with a rectangular drop handle. Earlier types of original main door handle include a decorative ‘French’ drop handle on a cast rectangular or occasionally oval backplate, and plain oval, round 255 or octagonal brass fixed knobs. Second-hand cast brass handles 75 can usually be found in Edinburgh’s antique shops and new brass reproduction handles can be purchased in Edina Lock and Key. Edinburgh Door Handle

Bell pulls knobs have been replaced Knockers by bell pushes, retaining These are usually fitted on Originally, it the backplate. A similar or recessed into the stone is said, only system of wires and levers at the side of the door, the doctors had was used to open gates for pull knob being mounted door knockers; access to basement areas. on a flat brass backplate other houses A metal plunger operated or recessed into a cup- and flats by foot is often still found shaped backplate. Wires had bells. on the third step down running in conduits built They were below pavement level. into the internal plaster introduced Some houses (eg Ann with cranked junctions later as Street) were also provided operate the bell. It is decorative elements in with bell pulls beside the still possible to have the brass or, on basement garden gate. bellwire system repaired doors, iron. The temptation or renovated, but where 100 to add new knockers an electrical system is should be resisted, preferred, the original 100 particularly on doors to manually operated pull flats from the common can be retained and stair, where they are converted to operate a inappropriate and noisy for switch. Very often bell pull 60 adjoining occupants.

 Bell Pull Common stair door order is possible. Care should be taken not to crank and lifting damage the zinc conduit apparatus during any replastering Letter plates Letter plates would Tenements originally works, and it is important probably not have been had a manual security to avoid exposed wiring fitted until the introduction system at the common and cranks becoming of the penny post in 1840. stair door. Each flat had paint-bound during the The earliest were of plain a bell, usually located in redecoration of common cast brass, without any the hallway, activated by stairs. decoration, often fitted a bell pull located at the vertically on the centre line common entrance door. of the door. There was also Using a system of wires a narrow roll-edged type. and cranks, similar to that Early examples usually described for bell pulls, have a small opening which the common stair door 275 - is unsuitable for modern was opened by pulling a 300 mail. The configuration lever on the stair landing of the door should dictate which lifted the latch on the size and location of the the common stair door. letter plate. Letter plates Some of these original can be fixed horizontally on levers on stair landings the centre line of the lock still work, but where the 45 51 - 56 rail of a single door. Where system has broken down there is a single door with restoration to full working Door Crank central beaded muntin, or a pair of doors, the letter Entryphones plate should be fixed in Increasingly, electric entryphone systems are being the centre half of the lock installed at the common entrance doors of flatted rail opposite to that of the tenements. Where an entryphone is installed, care doorknob. A letter plate should be taken to choose and install a robust but should never be placed unobtrusive system. If possible, it is best to fix the across the central beaded entryphone plate into the timber doorstop or facing. rail because this weakens Alternatively, it can be fixed into the stone jamb, care the door. Replacement being taken to ensure that fixings and sinkings are kept letter plates should be of well clear of the corner of stonework. Bell pull and cast brass only. Suitable entryphone systems have recently been developed plates are available at using flat or dished backplates of traditional pattern Edina Lock and Key. and a small speak/listen perforated brass plate fixed on the stone jamb, which is preferable to the combined 253 push button plate. This permits the reuse of the original bell pulls suitably adapted to the system. Flats can 97 be identified by name in the customary manner or by relative positions in the stair. Letter Plate  Rim and mortice locks Internal knobs Initially, most doors in the First New Town were As with locks and secured by rim locks, those to principal rooms being external door handles, the of brass with moulded edges and sliding concealed hierarchy of knobs within fixings, only able to be locked by key from the outside a household depended on and secured by a sliding bolt and snib from the the relative importance inside. Locks on secondary rooms were of cast iron, of the rooms. The most able to be locked from both sides and with a locking common knobs were made snib. Occasionally timber-boxed rim locks are found of spun brass and there are on cellar doors, (see Pre-Georgian section) and in two predominant designs some situations there is just a simple latch. Later, by (as illustrated) in the New the mid-1820s, mortice locks were in common use Town, both made in two for main rooms, often incorporating a mortice bolt sizes: the larger is used operated by a small knob similar to the main knob. on main room doors, the When a lock is not working every attempt should be smaller on lesser doors, made to repair rather than replace it, because cast iron such as for bedrooms, locks are no longer available and pressed steel rim servants’ quarters and locks are inappropriate. Most reputable lock makers cupboards. do produce horizontal mortice locks, suitable for use Brass Pattern No. 1 Brass Pattern No. 2 with knobs (as opposed to lever handles). Remember that modern lever handles are set much closer to the edge of the door than traditional knobs, and make sure 48-58 48-52 that replacement locks are large enough to place their handles in the right position - measuring original doors 41-50 45-56 of the right size if necessary to get the spacing correct.

40-48 40-45

140 225 150 180 33-46 36-44 130 75 Later, in very wealthy households, the principal or reception apartments External Main Door may have had ormolu Internal Door Internal Door Latch, Dead Lock and Mortice Lock Latch and Dead Lock Bolt and Striking Plate (Boss Head) (gilded bronze), and later ceramic (china or porcelain with a 150 transparent glaze and 124 140 130 occasionally gold lustre 92 100 decoration, or red earthenware with an opaque blackish glaze),

Internal Door Latch Sliding Latch, Lockable Cupboard Door Lock and Bolt  ebony, cocoawood, bone Escutcheons or horn knobs. An escutcheon plate is a flat piece of The choice depended on metal fitted round the keyhole in a door. the overall decorative Escutcheons were always provided in the New scheme for the room; for Town, except on very minor cupboard doors or example, black wooden where the keyhole was cut into the backplate knobs are found in dining of a door handle. Main doors had cast brass rooms, where the marble oval escutcheons, sometimes with a top- chimneypiece is usually hinged brass escutcheon cover. Important also black. Roses were internal doors often had ornately shaped generally made from the cast brass escutcheon plates, in a style and same material as their material to match the door knob. Minor room knob, with the exception and cupboard doors generally had simple oval of wooden knobs, where sheet brass escutcheons fitted with brass brass was used. Early pins, while cast iron oval escutcheons were brass roses were pressed. fitted to external cellar and basement doors. Later examples may be cast, and generally seem Escutcheons Escutcheon Plate is 1mm Escutcheon Plate is same to have been between larger all round than cover size as cover and hidden 45 mm and 60 mm in and visible diameter, with a range 40-45 65 65 62 62-67 of moulding profiles 50-70 62 and often a milled edge. 36-50 30-35 15-22 Roses were normally 22 22 22 22 surface fixed with brass Brass Brass Wooden Ceramic slotted screws, although occasionally screw common stair door was fixings were hidden at Hinges usually self-closing, with a the junction between Main doors and internal pin and offset crank hinge, the rose and door knob doors to rooms (about 50 while crook and band shank. mm thick) were usually hinges of wrought iron hung on a pair of five- were common on heavy Roses knuckle steel butt hinges. outward-opening external Lighter doors (about 32 and cellar doors. mm thick) for cupboards 52-60 45-58 or water closets were hung on a pair of three- Fingerplates and Ceramic, Wooden, Pressed Brass knuckle steel butt hinges. kicker plates Ebony, Ivory etc Original butt hinges are It is thought that distinguishable from their fingerplates were not used modern counterparts originally in the New Town because they are generally but they have often been larger with fewer knuckles added at a later date and per hinge. The external are commonly made from  brass, glass or ebony. Maintenance and Suppliers New fingerplates should be • New Town brass fittings have a high content of zinc. as discreet as possible. Fittings of aluminium or are inappropriate and 63 should be replaced if possible. • Brass work that has been painted or electroplated can be restored.

270 • Regular polishing will keep brass looking attractive and in the best condition, although chemicals for cleaning brass may harm adjoining paintwork and stone if used carelessly. Covering the adjoining stone or timber with a plastic or cardboard template can make cleaning easier. After polishing, wash the polish residue off with warm soapy water (as brass polishing materials actually promote tarnishing if left on), dry and apply a thin film

Finger Plate of beeswax furniture polish to keep brassware polished for longer. Brass kicker plates fixed to the base rail of doors are • The smallest details make a difference to the overall an inappropriate modern impression. If replacing missing screws use brass addition and should be slotted screws. Modern cross-headed screws are avoided. inappropriate and will stand out. • Interior Georgian brass knobs were spun with a pressed Door closers brass rose. A thick cast brass rose is inappropriate for Door closers are required the early Georgian period. A very good reproduction by the Fire Authority of a spun brass knob, now made in cast brass, with and the Department a pressed rose (back plate) is available from www. of Property Services Periodhouseshops.com - Small Spun Knob Set No on new and upgraded 808. Edina Lock and Key, www.inbrass.co.uk, stock fire and smoke-check suitable numerals, rectangular main door handles and doors. Surface-mounted letter plates. units will cause the least • New brass numerals specially cast to match those damage to the door but most commonly found in the New Town are available are very obtrusive and are from Edina Lock and Key. not always aesthetically acceptable – if used, the • All door furniture should be left on when painting a older style closers are best. door, and the paint taken up over the sides leaving the Alternatively, concealed front face exposed for polishing. door closers can be used, which can be fixed either into the hinge stile or the top rail of the door.

10 Victorian (about 1830 to 1900) The Victorian and so was kept for front Common stair doors, for the period was one doors, reception rooms less wealthy inhabitants, of rapid development in and main bedrooms. were generally brass or cast Scotland with the arrival of Ironmongery became iron octagonal handles on the railways, heavy industry progressively more plain a shaped backplate with and rapid growth of trade for minor rooms, servants’ an upside down ‘T’ cut out in the mid to late 19th quarters and back areas, for the key and the same century. Many items for the which were more likely to system of entry bells and building industry were now use cast iron. wires described in the mass-produced, including Georgian section. door ironmongery. The The Victorian period was wide choice now available eclectic, with fashions The range of ironmongery was displayed in builders’ changing from Regency is too large and diverse merchant pattern books to Neo-Italianate, Gothic to describe as in the and catalogues, and was and latterly Queen Anne. previous sections. only tempered by cost and Designs for front doors Ironmongery chosen fitted the influences of fashions. changed to suit these styles the circumstances as can Brass was much more and their ironmongery was be seen in the following expensive than cast iron selected to follow suit. examples.

In 1867 the first tenement 16th century Old Town under the Improvement buildings. All common Act 1867 was erected in stair doors, including coal St Mary’s Street. The stores on each landing, tenement common stair originally had decorative door simply has a cast cast iron strap hinges, cast iron ball knob, and the iron decorative latches and number 2 is painted on large oval escutcheons. the stonework either side of the door in white on a 55 blue shield shape, all at modest cost to suit the circumstances. 75

Well Court in Dean Village, designed for the working Well Court classes by the architect Iron Escutcheon Sydney Mitchell and built in 1883-86, is in an Arts and Crafts style emulating

11 In contrast the houses designs. However, the in Eglinton Crescent are developer chose grand grand houses designed as but standard brass drop a terrace by John Chesser handles from a builder’s and built by Roberts and catalogue. All the internal Sons from 1877. These semi-glazed doors are houses, designed to again standard brass and impress, were built for the wooden pull handles. Letter upper classes with main plates are a later addition double entrance doors and vary in design, but are and inner vestibule glazed still of interest and should screens with coloured and be retained in-situ. painted glass in varying 267 50

480 Eglinton Crescent Inner Glazed Well Court Cast Iron Straphinge 50 Door Pull 260

Well Court Door Pull Handle

52

12 Replacement and Suppliers Generally the advice on the care and conservation of Victorian ironmongery is the same as for Georgian.

• If replacing missing ironmongery, look for a pattern in similar properties to copy.

• Renewed interest in period features has led to an upsurge in the availability of traditional ironmongery patterns using traditional casting moulds and Eglinton Crescent techniques. The internet has a vast choice. When Decorative Drop Handle buying from the internet ensure that the piece is solid brass, and unlaquered. Ensure that the diameter of the knob is correct ie important rooms have bigger knobs. The thickness of the rose is also important and should be as thin as possible at the outer visible edge.

Eglinton Crescent • Resist the temptation to add extra ironmongery to a Cast Brass Ring Pull door unless necessary.

• All ironmongery should be of the same material, eg all brass or all black iron.

• Where large houses have been divided into flats it is tempting, but inappropriate, to embellish a basement area door, originally for servants, with grander brass fitments. Plain cast iron is suitable.

Eglinton Crescent Cast Brass Escutcheon with Cover

13 Further Information

Bibliography 1. THE MAKING OF 5. THE NATIONAL 9. THE BUILDINGS OF CLASSICAL EDINBURGH TRUST FOR SCOTLAND SCOTLAND. EDINBURGH – A. Youngson Edinburgh GLADSTONE’S LAND by John Gifford, Colin University Press GUIDE BOOK McWilliam and David Walker published by 2. EDINBURGH AN 6. HUNTLY HOUSE Penguin. ILLUSTRATED GUIDE PAMPHLET Published Charles Mackean RIAS by The City of Edinburgh 10. THE VICTORIAN Museums and Art Galleries HOUSE BOOK by Robin 3. THE PERIOD HOUSE 1997. Guild published by STYLE, DETAIL AND Sidgwick and Jackson. DECORATION 1774 TO 7. A GUIDE TO THE ROYAL 1914 by Richard Russell MILE Gordon Wright Steve 11. SCOTTISH Lawrence and Teresa Chris. Savage ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS Published by Phoenix. by John.W.Small. 8. THE CARE AND 4. PERIOD HOUSE CONSERVATION OF FIXTURES AND FITTINGS GEORGIAN HOUSES By 1300-1900 by Linda Hall Davey, Hodges, Ketchin, published by Countryside Milne published by Books 2005 Butterworth Architecture

Articles and papers 1. CARE OF VICTORIAN 3. THE ANCIENT ART 5. WROUGHT IRON HOUSE GUIDE NO.1 OF THE LOCKSMITH by AND CONSERVATION DOORS published by The Valerie Olifent at www. by Chris Topp at www. Victorian Society. buildingconservation.com buildingconservation.com

2. NAILS:CLUES TO A 4. EARLY AND 6. NAILS AND WOOD BUILDING’S HISTORY VERNACULAR DOOR SCREWS by Jonathan by Thomas D. Visser, FITTINGS by Linda Hall at Taylor at www. University of Vermont www.buildingconservation. buildingconservation.com Historic Preservation com Programme

14 Suppliers 1. EDINA LOCK AND KEY www.inbrass.co.uk

2. JAMES SCOTT ANTIQUES – specialises in acquiring Second Hand handles appropriate for some Georgian interior doors

3. PERIOD HOUSE SHOP www.periodhouseshops.com which has a small spun brass knob set Product no. 4808

4. HISTORIC SCOTLAND can advise on specialist Artist Blacksmiths able to make new wrought iron latches etc. Conservation Bureau – hs.conservation.bureau@ scotland.qsi.gov.uk tel:0131 668 8660.

5. www.dalbybrass.com stocks high quality cast brass and other items.

7. A GUIDE FOR RESIDENTS IN ANN STREET AND UPPER DEAN TERRACE, EDINBURGH December 2006 by Andrew Kerr. Acknowledgements National Museum of Scotland 8. DOOR AND WINDOW FURNITURE by English City of Edinburgh Council - Heritage Museum of Edinburgh

15 Historic Home Guide

5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4DR Tel: 0131 220 7720 [email protected] www.ewht.org.uk

Edinburgh World Heritage Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered in Scotland No. 195077. Scottish Charity No. SC037183

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