As many stiles are used to prevent the escape or access of animals, I would
suspect that this would have a similar purpose. I have a rather vague
recollection of seeing a similar (but more modern) version on a walk. There
was a peg on a chain which prevented the gate from turning but could be lifted
out to allow the gate to turn.
Hope this helps
Frank McAree
Martin Rose wrote:
> Can anyone help me with information on, references to, or pictures of old
> (17-18th) turnstiles? I am researching a 17th century Engish pictorial
> reference in which what appears to be a turnstile takes the place of a gate
> at the entrance to the garden or forecourt surrounding a gentleman's house.
> What was it for? It seems frankly unlikely that it was used to control
> access (and thus that it turned in only one direction, on a ratchet); and
> even more unlikely that it was a counter. In Brussels, where I live, very
> similar apparatus is used at a number of entrances to the royal arboretum:
> a rough timber column with a rotating top made up of two spars crossing
> (i.e. four arms at angles of 90 degrees). Looking at them (they are now old
> and ineffective) it seems to me that they must be traditional and mainly
> symbolic: they wouldn't actually prevent a man or a dog entering, and a
> reasonably agile cow could slip under without much difficulty. I think that
> this was probably so too when they first erected. I'd be very grateful for
> thoughts.
>
> Martin Rose
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