INDUSTRYNEWS
SPONSORED BY ASSA ABLOY
The locksmith’s view - inside the
mechanism of a high-quality brass
rimlock from the early 18th century,
Compton Verney, Warwickshire.
Early closing - a
good example of
a late 17th century
sectional brass
mortice knob. A rare
survival from a house
in Whiting Street,
Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk, it is one of
the earliest forms of
doorknob design.
Cast iron ring pattern door knocker
circa 1825, from a small artisan
double villa in North Place,
Guildford. Acquired 1972.
Cut and shut - this early example of a cut-glass
mortice knob has its fixing screw in the centre of
the doorknob, threaded into the end of the spindle.
From a high status room in Bowood House,
Wiltshire, circa 1760’s-70’s. Demolished 1955.
Penny plus postal knocker with strong Arts
and Crafts influence, from a large 1900s
villa in Sunningdale, Berks. The design
combined knocker and letterplate in one
unit, and early examples appeared after the
introduction of the Penny Post in 1840.
Security check - in the early to
mid -9th century, this sprung
bell was designed for placing
in a specially made bracket on
the inside of folding window
shutters as a burglar alarm.
Two late nineteenth century
cast iron letter plates
and a postal handle.
THE BROOKING COLLECTION
A remarkable historical resource unique in the UK.
The Brooking Collection of
Architectural Detail is the only major
national resource of its kind in the UK.
Using thousands of carefully-selected
artefacts recovered from buildings
that faced demolition or alteration,
it charts the evolution of Britain’s
constructional elements over the last
500 years.
The Collection’s founder, Charles
Brooking, has rescued architectural
features from all over the British Isles,
from Jersey to John O’Groats. Since
1966 he has retrieved them from iconic
buildings that range from the humble
terrace house and vernacular cottage, to
great country estates and Royal palaces.
This invaluable archive is legendary
in the world of conservation, and has
much to teach anyone with an interest
in Britain’s rich architectural heritage.
It is unique in offering a ‘hands-on’
experience.
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THE MAY/JUN 2014 ISSUE
SPONSORED BY ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions
Close attention is paid to the social
hierarchy of detail, so important in
historic buildings. Pieces preserved
range from the spectacular to the
ordinary, and sometimes the banal.
The Collection does not discriminate
between the humblest and the grandest,’
says Charles Brooking. ‘Nobody else, no
other Collection does this – to embrace
the everyday as well as the privileged.’
“Without Conservation, we have only
imitation,” says Charles Brooking. ‘It’s
more than just preserving the overall
structure. The detail tells you at least as
much. The Collection is the actuality of
an important part of our history.”
The Collection is not just a static
gathering of objects, he says. It is a centre
of learning and can be used to help any
effort at architectural preservation. It
shows traditional methods of repair
that preserve as much as possible, using
methods adopted by such authorities
as English Heritage and The National
Trust.
And there is an economic dimension.
“A house is much more likely to gain
in value if it is preserved or repaired
faithfully, rather than being revamped or
replaced bit by bit.”
Expanding the Collection
Many items are recovered just before
or during demolition or alteration work –
usually, by Charles himself. Information
about potential discoveries can come
by word of mouth or from an alert by
construction companies and property
developers. Offers come also from The
Royal Collection, the National Trust,
English Heritage, local authorities,
owners of country estates, and so on.
Much of the process comes from cooperation, networking and goodwill.
With these over many years, great
reference pieces have now been saved.
To read more, visit www.locksmithjournal.co.uk