Heritage Brass Mortice Knobs and Rim Knobs: The Complete UK Guide

Supplied by Trade Door Handles, trusted UK supplier of architectural ironmongery since 1976, with quick nationwide delivery.

At Trade Door Handles we offer the full range of Heritage Brass architectural ironmongery products, and mortice knobs are one of the most requested items in our Kendal and Carlisle showrooms. Whether you are restoring a Victorian terrace, fitting out a 1930s semi or specifying door furniture for a new build, choosing the right door knobs makes a real difference to how every door looks, feels and works.

This guide explains how mortice knobs and rim knobs differ, which Heritage Brass designs suit which properties, and how to pick the right latch, size and finish. It is written by our ironmongery team, who have supplied joiners, builders, architects and homeowners for over 50 years.

Both are turning door knobs supplied in pairs on a spindle, but they operate different types of lock. Knowing which lock you have is the first step to ordering the right product, and you can compare every brand in our mortice knobs and rim knobs collection.

Mortice knobs operate a latch or sashlock that is cut (mortised) into the edge of the door, so the mechanism is hidden inside the door. They are the standard choice for internal doors in most British homes. Browse our full range of Heritage Brass mortice knobs to see every design in one place.

Rim knobs operate a rim lock, a box lock screwed to the face of the door. Rim locks are common on cottages, ledged and braced doors and older properties. Heritage Brass makes rim versions of its Reeded, Victoria and Suffolk designs, which you will find in our Heritage Brass rim knobs collection.

• Lock position: mortice knobs work with a lock hidden inside the door; rim knobs work with a lock fixed to the door face.
• Typical doors: mortice knobs suit panelled and modern internal doors; rim knobs suit cottage, ledged and restoration doors.
• Interchangeability: rim knobs are made for rim locks only, so they cannot simply replace a mortice design.
• Look: matching designs mean you can mix both types in the same house with a consistent style.

The Heritage Brass range comes in two main formats. The right one depends on whether your door needs a keyhole, a bathroom turn or simply a latch.

A rose is the round base that fixes the knob to the door. Rose knobs give a clean, traditional look and are ideal for latch-only doors. Popular rose designs include Victoria, Richmond, Chester, Goodrich, Kensington, Westminster and the ornate Aydon. Concealed fixing designs such as Whitehall, Hampstead and Chelsea hide the screws for a smarter finish.

Backplate knobs put the knob and the keyhole or turn on a single plate, which gives a matched look and covers old fixing holes. Our Heritage Brass mortice knobs on backplate collection includes Beehive and Victoria on reeded plate, Victoria on a plain plate, the Art Deco Charlston and Broadway, and the low profile Balmoral. Each comes in four functions:

1. Lever Lock - a standard keyhole for a mortice sashlock, for bedrooms and studies.
2. Lever Latch - a plain plate for passage doors fitted with a tubular latch.
3. Bathroom Set - a privacy turn inside and an emergency release outside.
4. Euro Profile - a cut-out for a euro cylinder, useful for keyed-alike systems.

Because the Balmoral plate projects only 3mm, it needs a door at least 44mm thick and a 38mm bore for the spring mechanism. Check your doors before ordering.

The beehive knob, with its stepped rings, is one of the most searched-for period designs in the UK. Heritage Brass offers it on a round rose, as a rim knob and on a reeded backplate. Compare every version in our beehive door knobs collection.

Oval knobs are easier to grip and turn than round knobs, which makes them a practical choice for older users and busy family homes. Mayfair, Suffolk and Chelsea are all shown together in our oval mortice knobs collection.

Porcelain door knobs, often called china door knobs, were a staple of Victorian homes. Heritage Brass makes them in Plain White, Gold Line, White Crackle and Cream Crackle, on porcelain or solid brass roses. See the full porcelain mortice knobs range.

For contemporary schemes, the Knightsbridge and Owen knurled knobs add a tactile, textured grip. For 1930s homes, the stepped Charlston and Broadway plates recreate original Art Deco hardware.

This is the detail most people miss. According to the M.Marcus 2025 catalogue:

• Sprung knobs (most Heritage Brass mortice knobs) need a lightly sprung or standard 76mm (3 inch) tubular latch.
• Unsprung knobs (Kensington, Westminster, Mayfair and all porcelain designs) need a 76mm heavy duty tubular latch. Both are available in our locks and latches range.
• Using the wrong latch can make a knob feel stiff or fail to return fully.

Check the door thickness, the stile width (backplates range from 42mm to 65mm wide) and the latch backset. Because you grip a knob rather than lever it, a generous backset keeps knuckles clear of the frame. Full dimensions for every design are in the Heritage Brass mortice knobs catalogue.

Heritage Brass mortice knobs are made from solid brass and offered in a wide choice of finishes, including:

• Satin Brass, Polished Brass and Antique Brass for warm, traditional schemes.
• Satin Nickel, Polished Nickel, Satin Chrome and Polished Chrome for cooler, modern interiors.
• Matt Bronze and Matt Black for contemporary contrast.

To complete the look, pair your knobs with matching finger plates and push plates, escutcheons and hinges in the same finish.

Mortice knobs are not right for every door. For anyone with arthritis or limited grip strength, lever handles on rose or backplate are easier to operate, and you will find matching designs in our Heritage Brass door handles and knobs range. For rustic oak doors, black iron knobs from the wider M.Marcus range may suit better. We also stock door furniture from Carlisle Brass, From The Anvil and other leading brands, so our team can compare options across manufacturers rather than pushing a single range.

Trade Door Handles is part of T.H. Wiggans Ironmongery Ltd, supplying architectural hardware since 1976. Our strapline is "More than just door handles" - we supply over 30,000 products and supply architects, builders, joiners, developers, hotels, schools, hospitals and councils as well as homeowners. When you order from us, you are dealing with a local, experienced team who can check latches, spindles and finish matches before you order.

As well as architectural ironmongery, we supply window furniture, kitchen and cabinet hardware, hinges, electrical accessories and hardware accessories such as bolts, hooks and brackets. Because we have supplied joiners and builders for decades, we also stock trade essentials including hand tools, power tool accessories, screws, nails, fixings and fasteners, adhesives and building chemicals and workwear and PPE. Visit the Trade Door Handles home page to explore the full range.