Heritage Brass Door Handles and Knobs

Brass Door Handles and Knobs by Heritage Brass

Shop Heritage Brass door handles and knobs by M.Marcus, the British door hardware maker founded in 1940. This collection brings together brass lever handles on backplate and on rose, mortice and rim door knobs, door pull handles and flush pulls in a wide range of brass, bronze, chrome, nickel and black finishes, so you can match every internal and front door in a period home, a new build or a commercial refurbishment.

Trade Door Handles is the online shop of T.H. Wiggans Ironmongery, an independent ironmonger trading since 1976. Both our Kendal and Carlisle showrooms carry a large Heritage Brass display, so our team handles these door handles every day and can help you choose the right design, finish and lock for each door.

Shop Heritage Brass Door Handles and Knobs by Type

Heritage Brass door handles on backplate, brass lever handles on rose, brass mortice door knobs, rim knobs, centre door knobs, brass door pull handles, flush pull handles, multipoint door handles.

Shop Door Handles on Backplate by Function

Backplate handles have the keyhole or turn built into the plate. Choose the function that matches the lock in the door:

lever latch door handles, lever lock door handles, euro lock door handles, oval lock door handles, bathroom door handles, bathroom thumb turns.

Shop Brass Door Handles by Finish

Heritage Brass is made in traditional and contemporary finishes. Satin brass, sometimes called brushed brass, has a soft low-shine look; polished brass is bright and classic; antique brass and matt bronze give a darker, aged look for period homes.

polished brass door handles, satin brass door handles, antique brass door handles, matt bronze door handles, polished chrome door handles, satin chrome door handles, polished nickel door handles, satin nickel door handles, unlacquered brass door handles.

Traditional and Period Door Handle Styles

For Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes, choose shaped levers on long backplates or round and beehive mortice knobs. For a modern home, the Bauhaus and Gio designs have clean lines, while reeded and hammered designs add texture that works in both.

reeded door handles, reeded door knobs, Edwardian door handles, Georgian door handles, Victoria door handles, Windsor door handles, Bauhaus door handles, Charlbury Reeded door handles.

Choosing the Right Door Handle

Lever or knob: lever handles are easier to use; mortice knobs suit period doors but need a 3 inch latch for knuckle clearance.
Backplate or rose: backplate handles cover old fixing holes and include the keyhole; rose handles give a cleaner look, with a separate escutcheon or thumb turn where the door locks.
Function: latch for most internal doors, lock for doors that need a key, bathroom for toilets and en-suites, euro lock for doors with a cylinder.
Finish: choose one finish for the whole house, and match hinges and accessories to it.

Locks and Latches to Match Your Door Handles

Heritage Brass door handles and knobs are sold without a lock or latch. The York Security locks and latches range from M.Marcus is made to fit behind them, with faceplates finished to match: a tubular latch for latch handles and knobs, a sash lock for lock handles, a bathroom lock for bathroom handles, a euro sash lock for euro handles and a night latch for the front door. Finish the door with matching Heritage Brass hinges and door furniture accessories, or browse the full Heritage Brass range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Heritage Brass door handles solid brass?
Heritage Brass door handles and knobs are made by M.Marcus from brass and then plated or lacquered in the finish you choose, from polished and satin brass to chrome, nickel and matt bronze. Only the unlacquered range is left as bare brass to age naturally.

What is the difference between brushed brass and satin brass?
They are the same look. Satin brass is brushed to a soft, low-shine finish that hides fingerprints better than polished brass.

Should I choose lever handles or door knobs?
Lever handles are easier to use, especially for children and older people. Mortice knobs give a more traditional look and suit period properties. On a knob, fit a longer 3 inch latch so your knuckles clear the door frame.

Do the handles come with a lock or latch?
No. Heritage Brass door handles and knobs are sold without a lock or latch. Choose a York Security tubular latch, sash lock, euro sash lock or bathroom lock to suit each door.

Can I match handles across the whole house?
Yes. Choose one design and finish, then pick the latch, lock, bathroom or euro version of that design for each door so every room matches.

Front doors and external doors

Brass Door Handles for Front Doors and External Doors

A front door is the first thing visitors see, and brass has been the traditional choice for it for over two hundred years. Our Heritage Brass external door hardware collection brings together everything for the outside of the door, so the handle, knocker, letter plate and keyhole all match.

Front door handles and knobs: a brass centre door knob is the classic choice for a Georgian or Victorian panelled front door. For composite and timber doors with a multipoint lock, choose multipoint door handles on a long backplate. For a large, modern statement, fit long brass door pull handles on the outside face.

Finish the front door: add a brass door knocker, a matching brass letter plate, a keyhole escutcheon and brass door numbers. Most front doors also need a night latch or a euro sash lock from York Security. Always check what your insurer requires before you choose a lock.

Which finish outside? Lacquered brass keeps its colour for longer, but on a south-facing or coastal door the lacquer will wear in time. If you like the look of brass that darkens and ages with the house, choose unlacquered brass door furniture. For a darker look that hides weathering, antique brass door handles and matt bronze door handles are a good choice.

Advice from our showroom team

Choosing Brass Lever Handles and Door Knobs for Every Room

Our Kendal and Carlisle showrooms both have a large Heritage Brass display, and the same questions come up every week. Here is the advice we give when someone is choosing brass door handles for a whole house.

Start with the finish: pick one finish and use it on every door so the house feels joined up. The most popular are antique brass lever handles for cottages and period homes, polished brass door handles and knobs for a bright traditional look, and satin brass door handles (often called brushed brass) for modern interiors. If brass is not right for you, the same designs come as matt black door handles, polished chrome door handles, satin nickel door handles, polished nickel door handles, satin chrome door handles and dual finish door handles.

Then choose the style: Victorian and Edwardian homes suit shaped levers on long backplates, such as the Edwardian and Victoria designs, or oval mortice knobs. For modern brass door hardware, look at the clean lines of the Bauhaus range, or the textured knurled and hammered ranges.

Then match each door: most rooms need brass lever latch handles. Bathrooms and en-suites need brass bathroom door handles with a turn and release, or rose handles with separate bathroom thumb turns. Studies and store rooms need lock door handles with a keyhole. Pull doors, pocket doors and sliding doors need flush pulls.

Planning a whole house? Send us your door list and we will check the handles, locks, hinges and finishes before you order. You can also visit either showroom to see the finishes side by side.

Brass Door Handle Questions

How do you clean brass door handles?

Most Heritage Brass handles are lacquered, so clean them with a soft, damp cloth and dry them. Do not use brass polish or abrasive cleaners, as they break down the lacquer and leave patches. Only unlacquered brass can be polished with a brass cleaner, and many people leave it to age naturally.

What is a mortice door knob?

A mortice knob is a door knob on a round or shaped rose that works with a mortice latch or sash lock set into the edge of the door. They suit period panel doors. Read our mortice and rim knobs guide or shop Heritage Brass mortice knobs.

Can brass door handles be used on external doors?

Yes. Brass has been used on front doors for centuries. Lacquered brass will slowly weather outside, so many people choose antique brass, matt bronze or unlacquered brass for front doors. See our external door hardware range.

What do I need for a brass bathroom door?

Choose a bathroom backplate handle with a built-in turn and release, or rose handles with a separate bathroom thumb turn. Fit them with a York bathroom lock in a matching finish.

What is the difference between antique brass and polished brass?

Polished brass is bright and reflective, the classic gold brass look. Antique brass is darkened to look aged, so it suits older homes and oak or painted doors, and it shows fewer fingermarks.

Can you paint brass door handles?

We do not recommend it, as paint chips quickly on a handle that is used every day. If you want a dark handle, choose a factory finish such as matt black or matt bronze, which is far more hard wearing.

Can I see Heritage Brass door handles before I buy?

Yes. Our Kendal showroom and Carlisle trade counter both have a large Heritage Brass display, so you can compare designs and finishes in person. Our team can also help by phone or email if you send us your door list.