British Cheddar Bronze Door Knocker Heraldic Coat of Arms Shield Fleur De Lys C1925

Details

Description

British Small Antique Cheddar Bronze Heraldic Door Knocker – England, c.1925
A compact yet beautifully cast solid bronze door knocker … Read more British Small Antique Cheddar Bronze Heraldic Door Knocker – England, c.1925
A compact yet beautifully cast solid bronze door knocker celebrating the Somerset village of Cheddar. Modelled as a heraldic shield above a named scroll, it’s a characterful piece of West Country architectural hardware from the inter-war years, now around a century old.
Description
The knocker is formed as a shield, quartered with stylised fleurs-de-lis and a central chevron flanked by three scallop shells, echoing arms associated with Cheddar and the Mendip area. Below runs a crisp scroll inscribed “CHEDDAR”, making its regional origin immediately clear and especially appealing to anyone with a connection to Somerset.
Although modest in size, it has strong visual presence. The escallop shells and fleurs-de-lis are cleanly cast with good depth and definition. The shield is hinged to a neat backplate so that it swings freely and produces a clear, satisfying knock in use. The bronze has mellowed to a rich chocolate-brown patina with small natural touches of verdigris in the recesses and around the hinge – exactly the kind of untouched surface collectors and decorators value.
The reverse retains the original integral backplate with screw holes, so it can be mounted directly to a door, gate, or onto a wooden block for display as a small sculptural object.

Historical Note
This piece belongs to the early 20th-century boom in British domestic tourism, when visitors travelled by rail and coach to places such as Cheddar Gorge. Villages and towns often expressed local pride through cast bronzes, plaques and knockers bearing their name or arms. With its combination of heraldry and bold “CHEDDAR” scroll, this knocker sits firmly in that 1920s tradition of regional identity and souvenir culture, while remaining a fully functional item of period hardware.

Dimensions
Approx. 7 cm High x 4 cm wide x 2.5 cm deep

Why It Works in Today’s Interiors
Gives an instant “old English” welcome to any door, from cottage entrance to pantry or studio.
The named CHEDDAR scroll and coat of arms make a natural conversation piece.
Compact yet weighty, equally convincing as a working door knocker or as a small mounted bronze for desk or shelf.
The time-mellowed patina with hints of verdigris offers the depth of colour and texture that’s hard to replicate in modern reproductions.
Appeals across several collecting areas: architectural hardware, heraldry, and regional memorabilia.
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Provenance
West Country private collection; acquired from an architectural antiques dealer in Bristol, the historic port city closest to Cheddar and the Mendip Hills – a fitting regional source for this Somerset knocker. See less