Why Important
Escutcheons were always used in Georgian period, except on very minor cupboard doors or where the keyhole was cut into the backplate of a door handle.
What to look for
An escutcheon plate is a flat piece of metal fitted round the keyhole in a door.
Main doors had cast brass oval escutcheons, sometimes with a top- hinged brass escutcheon cover. Important internal doors often had ornately shaped cast brass escutcheon plates, in a style and material to match the door knob.
Minor room and cupboard doors generally had simple oval sheet brass escutcheons fitted with brass pins, while cast iron oval escutcheons were fitted to external cellar and basement doors.
Escutcheon Plate is 1mm larger all round than cover and visible Escutcheons
When to look
When the initial detailed survey is undertaken. Collect photographs of the existing situation.
Undertake annual inspections or when the building has a change of use/occupancy.
How to fix
Ensure that the escutcheon fits properly. Finding the correct size can be difficult, and made need to be made separately.
Avoiding creating problems
When changing door locks, ensure the new keyhole matches the position and size of the orginial, so that the original escutcheon fits properly.
With a heritage building, first impressions matter. Even small signs of inappropriate style or material stands out, and can suggest that unsympathetic changes have made which can devalue the whole property.