As we read more, we learned that some Victorian newel posts were connected to all kinds of clever contraptions:
– Hidden latches that released secret compartments
– Mechanisms to ring service bells in other parts of the house
– Triggers that might unlock panels, doors or built-in storage
Suddenly, our staircase wasn’t just wood and nails. It was a design problem someone had tried to solve in a creative, mechanical way over 100 years ago.
Victorian builders weren’t just carpenters – they were tinkerers. They loved combining beauty with function, hiding utility inside ornate design.
That unassuming post at the base of our stairs had once been part of a system. Somebody put those gears there for a reason. Maybe they moved a latch. Maybe they triggered a bell. Maybe they opened something we haven’t found yet.
Holding one of the tiny cogs in my hand, I couldn’t help but picture the person who installed it – someone who wanted their staircase to do more than just look pretty.
Continue reading on the next page 👇
