The next few posts will be on things that didn’t exist during the Regency and some things I forgot.
Doorknobs that turned did not exist during the Regency. It was not until June 8, 1878 that American Osbourn Dorsey filed the patent for a turning doorknob, called a Door-Holding Device. That did not mean there were no non-moving round door knobs, they as well as lever and oval shapes in all sorts of materials were very popular.
Here are some latches.
Before then locks and keys were used to secure a room. By the Regency, one could use a latch to keep a door closed. The only catch was that locks were expensive.
So, what did one use if one couldn’t afford a lock and key? A latch-string. That worked by making a small hole in the door, running a string, or leather piece through the whole to a wooden bar. When on pulled on the string, the door opened. At night, the string would be pulled inside.
Here is a video showing how one works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz7bbZfvS8M
As you might have guessed, I’m a little obsessed by details. When I lived in England we owned a house that had started bring built in the late 15th century. It even had carved wooden beam that we’d been told were original to the house. The previous owner decorated the poor house in the Victoria style, even going so far as to cut off the bullnose bottom step so that her carpet would fit. I took every room of the house back to it’s original period. That required a lot of research. Two books that were of enormous help were Period Details, and More Period Details by Judith Miller.
#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalRomance #RegencyRegency
As always, Ella, you never cease to amaze. Such great information. I might have used the words “door knob” a few times in five books, so it’s good to know there may have expensive ones that turned. Have a great day.
They didn’t turn, Sandra. They were merely a way to push or pull a door open or closed.