Architectural Ironmonger: AC Leigh
Client: H&R Strood, ADS
The Project:
A former coaching in, The White Horses hotel has over 300 years of history within its walls. Throughout this time, the hotel has welcomed weary travellers and local residents to enjoy refreshments and top-notch food. With sea views and individually designed rooms, this hotel is something special. So, when a full refurbishment took place in early 2024, it was important to find an entrance handle that showcased the high quality within but retained a classic elegance. This hotel is the pioneer in the new Everly Hotels collection, so is setting the tone for this bespoke, boutique brand.
Knowing AC Leigh’s reputation for providing long-lasting, premium ironmongery, H&R Strood and Greene King turned to them, requiring something special for the front entrance to the building. With a cosy, natural theme featured strongly throughout, a brass handle fitted the theme perfectly. Thanks to a solid partnership built over several years, AC Leigh decided that Instinct Hardware would be the perfect manufacturer for this bespoke item.
The Work:
Initial Design
Greene King and AC Leigh had a strong vision for the front of the building, taking inspiration from 1930’s architecture. The C shaped pad handle designs were received from AC Leigh, which were checked over by the Instinct design team and weights/3D renders added. The initial designs worked well with the overall aesthetic and were signed off swiftly, meaning work could start on the manufacture of the handles.
Manufacturing
Needing strength as well as finesse, the decision was made to carve the handles from 10mm thick satin waxed brass. This meant making use of the waterjet cutting machine. The final design was converted into DXF files, which can then be programmed directly into the waterjet.
This waterjet machine easily slices through metal up to 200mm thick thanks to its 60,000PSI pressure, meaning the brass was quickly cut to size. Waterjet cutting allows for a smoother cut, meaning there is less finishing needed when it comes to polishing edges. Using water rather than heat to cut also means that the brass is exempt from a heat-affected-zone. This means the structure of the brass itself is preserved in full.
As always, the handles were then drilled and tapped. Suitable pillars were chosen to ensure the weight of the brass was correctly supported. These were welded into place by the Instinct team.
The handles might be sizeable, but still needed a delicate touch. To give a more natural hammered finish, the handles were hand hammered by one of our senior team members.
A final finish to make sure the fixing points were perfectly blended into the pad handle itself and a once over to make sure the handle was perfect, and this was sent out, ready to be fitted to the hotel’s grand entrance doors.
The End Result
The brass pad handles sit perfectly on the stunning navy entrance doors for the building alongside complementary door furniture, exuding class and sophistication. Here’s to the next 300 years of providing a warm welcome to visitors to and locals of Rottingdean alike!
If you are looking for bespoke entrance handles with the wow factor, contact us today to see how we can help. Alternatively, why not check out our standard range of outstanding handles – all with a 25-year guarantee and short lead times.
