On 26/08/2016 23:02, Andrew Mawson wrote:
"Richard Tobin" wrote in message ...
There's a knob - like a doorknob - attached to the wall on each side
of the fireplace in my Victorian house. Anyone know what they were
for? Attaching a fireguard perhaps?
The fireplace in Alice Through The Looking Glass has similar ones:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Aliceroom3.jpg
It would ring a bell in the servants quarters. Usually wire operated via
'bell cranks' . Bell would be mounted on a snail shaped spring so that
it rang for a few seconds.

A la :-

http://cdn-da.destinasian.com/travel...s/DSCF4260.jpg

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/B8WTFY/clos...dor-B8WTFY.jpg