History of Locks
The Humble Night Latch
» » WHEN DISCUSSING THE MOST
popular type of lock throughout history
most would opt for the padlock and that
is true for portable locks, firstly used by
nomadic peoples but still today has that
portable and instant quality. However,
with the development of permeant
homes another style of lock emerged
and it’s equally popular today; The Night
Latch.
The night latch though incorporates
an impressive range of both mechanical
functions and aesthetic qualities.
Additionally, looking at both of these
aspects we begin to understand
something about the nature of man and
at a fundamental level what makes us
human. Everyone engaged in the lock
industry, at some level, is aware of this,
indeed it could be said that diplomacy
and discretion are the first tools in our
toolbox. With all that in mind we briefly
explore the night latch.
As I understand it, and I’m sure I will
be corrected if I’m wrong, a night latch is
self-latching thereby positively holding
the door closed, and might be described
as a latch bolt, whether lifting or sliding,
is operated by a key from the outside
and operated from the inside by turning
a knob or lifting or pulling a lever. It may
be further controlled by a device such
as a dogging snib or key to dead lock or
block its action. Of course, many other
functions may also be incorporated.
As with all ideas; necessity breeds
invention. A door serves many functions
but additionally it generally slows us
down; and so the physical means
of latching the door with its various
functions and enhancements, and,
since they are in the main surface or
An 18th century
Rim Night Latch
(measuring 174
x 148 mm) with
sliding latch bolt,
key operated
from the outside,
and the latch
bolt is simply
pulled back from
the inside. Key
formed by rolling
stem from a flat
sheet and bit and
bow brazed.
Comb style
spring barb key
from 13th/15th
century – one
of the earliest
latch keys.
This example
97mm long.
rim mounted the aesthetics has always
been a feature which the makers have
incorporated.
The principle of a spring locking
mechanism was already well established
in padlocks and by the end of the
‘Dark Ages’ (5th – 15th centuries) and
the start of the ‘Age of Enlightenment’
(c15th century) door locks were already
developed and well in use.
The simplest night latches were
mounted on iron plates and nailed to
the door; with a lifting style bolt latching
much like a Suffolk latch but requiring
a key from the outside. The rectangular
‘an impressive range
of both mechanical
functions and
aesthetic qualities’
iron mounting plates, sometimes, giving
way to plates where the shapes are
inspired by the design of the mechanism;
the ‘fresh air’ parts being removed. In
higher status objects flourishes and
engraving add to the aesthetics very
often reflecting the design ideas of the
day. Some very fine artistic designs can
be found in stately homes and palaces;
but in many of them their functions are
primarily of a night latch.
A giant cathedral lock, measuring
472mm, of the 17th century; its
functions though, are essentially
that of a night latch with dogging
snib and triple dead locking bolt.
A plate-fix night latch of Odell’s style, from
the early 19th century. Size: 178 x 90mm.
76
SEP/OCT 2019
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