Door retention and replacement in listed buildings

Original doors, both external and internal, and their encasements are important elements in listed buildings and wherever possible they should be retained. Their replacement or defacement is often entirely unnecessary. The main features that characterise doors are their size, shape, proportions, the method of construction and individual details such as fanlights or knockers. Timber doors may be sheeted or panelled. The panels may be flush, recessed, fielded and may be decorated with mouldings. Finishes are important as are ironmongery and fittings. Replacement doors should copy the original in the materials, the detail of design and the paint finish. Modern off-the-peg doors are not generally acceptable for use in listed buildings, nor are doors with incongruous design features such as integral fanlights. Furniture such as knockers, letter boxes or moulded details should not be removed or mutilated but retained even if the doorway is redundant.