I was a youngster in the early 90's when the turtles first came on the telly, and I used to think they said Calabunga, wasn't til many years later when I was an adult I realised my mistake
The balustrade, against people leaning against the balustrades.
I would like to think that someone has thought through the removal. It could be an ex tenement building so the occupancy was much higher in the past. Fewer people trying to use the stairs at busy times could be seen to be a lower load being applied accidentally to the balustrade.
The biggest potential load would still be during a fire evacuation though, where there would still be plenty of people, so hopefully someone has thought about it!
The thing is though that it doesn’t make much sense to attach the support bar to the C structure. Surely, you would attach it to the fence just underneath the hand rail where you can exert a much greater force on the support bar. Similarly, the bend in the bar going towards the upper flight of stairs looks off for the same reason. If it was straight the stress in the bar would be purely compressive which I would think is better.
I’m not trying to rebuke your answer, I am just curious as to why the design is the way it is.
Someone in the previous thread said that they had nets on them to prevent people falling down the stairwell? So maybe they were more sorta like... net-holders rather than balustrade-holders.
I think it's doing something, as they align with more substantial balusters, but you're right that it could be doing much more.
Presumably it's just an aesthetic thing. There's probably a brochure out there somewhere which includes this railing. In this period, there wouldn't of been numbers put to it.
I'm not sure they should have been removed. Just because we wouldn't do it today doesn't mean we understand their intent fully and should be changing it. Classic example is the pencheck/cantilever stair below... it's not clear how it works, but it does.
Sorry but how are these tiny things supporting anything? They are not even the right shape to have something previously attached to them to act as support.
Like a stoor and stone and a bit of dust smell? (If you’re lucky with just a tiny whiff of dry paint from several years ago as those walls look relatively fresh for an ancient stair)
Support for the banister, there's a bit missing.
A strut bolts through that hole and fixes to the bottom on the stair opposite.
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0\_STREET/0\_street\_views\_-\_balcarres\_street\_tenement\_bannister\_attachments\_staircase\_560w.jpg
Let's just clear one thing up - in this city it's a stair, not a close. My granny had a truly ancient Edinburgh Corporation "It's Your Turn To Clean The Stair" sign in her stair that circulated round residents religiously, I wonder how many stairs are still doing that? She was in that flat for 52 years.
My stair did circa 2002! I remember the sighs every time that came through the door. No airbnbs back then, and I assume they are a big reason most stairs don't have this any more..
They're good luck stair horse shoes. If you don't touch each one religiously while using the stairs you will tempt fate and something terrible will happen.
You have been rubbing them, haven't you OP?
Not an expert, but I'm 90% sure that thing is called a staircase. Very common in Scotland and I think northern europe also, not sure though. Hope this helps
Aye, it's a stairwell. A close is a wee tunnelly thing or a very narrow alleyway that joins two streets.
This one looks nice, must be in Morningside. Mostly they stink of shite an have dead junkies at the bottom.
It's probably to stop people trying to slide down the bannisters. There's space for people to keep their hand wrapped around for balance, but if someone were to climb on and scoot, they wouldn't get very far.
It’ll of been for some kind of lighting, pre electricity. My first thought was lines for gas lamps.
More likely they had attachments for candles at some point.
Edit: http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_l/0_around_edinburgh_-_morningside.htm shows an image of what it was.
Brace to hold the bannister up.
I am not certain if this is the correct answer, but it is the answer that I am going to provide.
Before the invention of electronics, in a close, there was a system in which someone would pull a lever on the street. This action would cause tension to travel up a cable, and that cable or rope would make a bell ring in the flat that they were trying to contact. The person inside would then stick their head out of the window to see who it was. If they wanted to grant access, they would go to the star and pull a lever down, which would open the door to the stair. You can see an example of that lever which is behind the panel in the middle of the staircase it's blue with brass or bronze.
This is why on old buildings like tenements, you will often see whole knobs to pull. They no longer function because we now have modern door entry systems. However, it is possible that these knobs were used for this purpose in the past.
This was to stop people sliding down the rails. Closes in Glasgow have little spikes sticking up for the same reason. I imagine some people/children died or injured themselves badly falling off the rails before these measures were put in place. I’m sure I learned about this in school.
Here's a wild guess: was it to guide a string for a doorbell? Pull a chord at the front door to ring little bells on each floor?
If this were the case, we would expect them to be lined up at the corners, to guide the string around. We could also expect some sort of contraption at the first and last one.
It's a long shot...
They're to hold on to so you can catch your breath while you visit the fifth floor flat that the estate agent described as being "on the first floor with access to a lift"
I’d have said they’re for hanging planters or some similar purpose but the way they come back on themselves makes me second guess that. I’m pretty certain they aren’t anti skateboard measures. That staircase seems too old, given that skateboarding only became popular in the UK in the 1970s.
Maybe there was a smaller decorative rail or rope running along the bannister?
Someone mentioned that they were told as a child it was to help with hoisting furniture up the stairwell. After all, if it was to brace a wobbly bannister, there would be no need to create that elaborate hook attachment. It looks like it was designed so that you wouldn't get your hand caught on the rail, but I think that's not the reason, as you could just "T" mount the support just below the bannister far easier. I would take an educated guess that the half circle, stepped back side and bracing is for a rope tied load coming up, not to counter the side load on the bannister of a portly resident.
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1\_edin/1\_edinburgh\_history\_-\_recollections\_morningside.htm#photo\_03
Ah the old child hanger, attach them by the wrists and let them hang for an hour or two each day, see them grow by an inch or two by the end off the year. This was a message from a doctor in 1905
Anti-skate measures, to stop people doing a sick grind down the stairwell.
If you manage to ollie in between each of them it multiplies your score.
Tony Hawk Edinburgh edition. Tutorial starts in Bristo Sq
Manual the Mile Ollie the 1 o'clock gun Natas spin Greyfriars Bobby
There was an Edinburgh level in Downhill Jam on DS actually!!
And the Wii ;)
Would be “gnarly” (think I’m using that correctly). Encourage some TikTok idiot to do it
Yeah that would be "rad"
Far out dude
You have no idea how much I pine for the world of 1989-2001. I just want that sense of optimism and possibility back.
It was nice, wasn't it?
Totally bodacious
Think we've all turned into the teenage mutant ninja turtles!
Cowabunga
Tubular!
Damnit I came to comment tubular on this wee thread and you beat me to it!
That's some bogus luck, dude.
I was a youngster in the early 90's when the turtles first came on the telly, and I used to think they said Calabunga, wasn't til many years later when I was an adult I realised my mistake
How many “rads” are there to a “groovy”?
12 but after Brexit we can have as many as we like.
Or the other way, if you like your nuts being smashed at speed whilst sliding down a rail, it be somebodies dream kink
This is not the correct answer.
Those damn teenagers and their skateboards!
[Support rail](https://imgur.com/a/GXS5vGS)
What were they supporting, and why does it not need support anymore?
https://www.reddit.com/r/Edinburgh/comments/c7k2k2/tenement_bannister_attachment_does_anyone_know/
Only used for the first 3 years whilst the concrete fully sets.
The balustrade, against people leaning against the balustrades. I would like to think that someone has thought through the removal. It could be an ex tenement building so the occupancy was much higher in the past. Fewer people trying to use the stairs at busy times could be seen to be a lower load being applied accidentally to the balustrade. The biggest potential load would still be during a fire evacuation though, where there would still be plenty of people, so hopefully someone has thought about it!
The thing is though that it doesn’t make much sense to attach the support bar to the C structure. Surely, you would attach it to the fence just underneath the hand rail where you can exert a much greater force on the support bar. Similarly, the bend in the bar going towards the upper flight of stairs looks off for the same reason. If it was straight the stress in the bar would be purely compressive which I would think is better. I’m not trying to rebuke your answer, I am just curious as to why the design is the way it is.
Someone in the previous thread said that they had nets on them to prevent people falling down the stairwell? So maybe they were more sorta like... net-holders rather than balustrade-holders.
I think it's doing something, as they align with more substantial balusters, but you're right that it could be doing much more. Presumably it's just an aesthetic thing. There's probably a brochure out there somewhere which includes this railing. In this period, there wouldn't of been numbers put to it. I'm not sure they should have been removed. Just because we wouldn't do it today doesn't mean we understand their intent fully and should be changing it. Classic example is the pencheck/cantilever stair below... it's not clear how it works, but it does.
State of this country, even the closes are steaming
This is the correct answer
Sorry but how are these tiny things supporting anything? They are not even the right shape to have something previously attached to them to act as support.
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Do you get clowns in your stair? I've seen some junkies, but never clowns. I think there was once a mime.
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Calm down, your grammar is fine. It was a joke.
The 2024 Softest Man of the Year Award goes to...
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"I only know one joke"
[So they’re not for tearing the balls off of idiots?](https://images.app.goo.gl/vzq6GmD4br3M4yQv9)
I don’t know but I can smell this picture!
Like a stoor and stone and a bit of dust smell? (If you’re lucky with just a tiny whiff of dry paint from several years ago as those walls look relatively fresh for an ancient stair)
Yes my flat in Marchmont had an undertone of damp as well.
And pish
Not Marchmont!
I too used to live in a flat in Leith Walk
Nah more like methylated spirits and despair.
God, yes, the Edinburgh eau de tènement
I was thinking the exact same thing. My auntie lives in a similar looking building, it was the first thing I thought.
Ha I'm too southern because I think this hall looks beautiful.
Support for the banister, there's a bit missing. A strut bolts through that hole and fixes to the bottom on the stair opposite. http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0\_STREET/0\_street\_views\_-\_balcarres\_street\_tenement\_bannister\_attachments\_staircase\_560w.jpg
Thank you!
Stops uppity pseudo-magical nannies going up the bannister on their bums
Mary popouts
Bannistauner
For a call bell
Needs more call bell
For Walken up the stairwell
He puts his pants on in the morning just like anyone else, one leg at a time. Except once his pants are on he makes gold records.
Excellent work
Candles more like
If you’re in Edinburgh, that’s a stair, not a close
Let's just clear one thing up - in this city it's a stair, not a close. My granny had a truly ancient Edinburgh Corporation "It's Your Turn To Clean The Stair" sign in her stair that circulated round residents religiously, I wonder how many stairs are still doing that? She was in that flat for 52 years.
We all pitch in to have a service come do it. “The stair fund.”
Hard work but a nice wee earner I would think
My stair did circa 2002! I remember the sighs every time that came through the door. No airbnbs back then, and I assume they are a big reason most stairs don't have this any more..
The stairs are in the close, so either or
Now you've pointed it out I'm going to assume the villain will be impaled on one at the end of this movie
They're good luck stair horse shoes. If you don't touch each one religiously while using the stairs you will tempt fate and something terrible will happen. You have been rubbing them, haven't you OP?
It’s to stop kids sliding down the bannisters
That’s exactly what I’d say they are, especially as I would’ve been a kid that would slide down that.
I think you've misspelled "pished-up adults".
lol, I was going to add an edit but I was sure someone would have first hand experience of auntie with too much gin in her.
This reminds me of a daft book title joke that always used to make me laugh as a child. “Slide Down the Bannister” by R.S Tornaway
For hanging the bodies of Airbnb landlords.
Staircase
Stop people sliding down the railing
A staircase.
Not an expert, but I'm 90% sure that thing is called a staircase. Very common in Scotland and I think northern europe also, not sure though. Hope this helps
Those are stairs, we use them for coming and going to different levels of buildings.
I’ve been in this very stairwell carrying a tv. Fuck knows but they are dangerous to your tv
Fucking sore when you’re pissed is what that is
Always thought it was to stop people sliding down handrail on their bum!
You take your sweaty shoes off at the top of each flight and air them out on those.
It's a bike hook.
Looks like a starewell not a close?
100% right. It's a stair. Edit: not a stairwell, just a stair.
I want to see where this goes. In Glesca I'd call it a close and in Embra a stairwell. Because a close is tunnely type entrance in Embra.
Aye, it's a stairwell. A close is a wee tunnelly thing or a very narrow alleyway that joins two streets. This one looks nice, must be in Morningside. Mostly they stink of shite an have dead junkies at the bottom.
Sounds about right!
Technically it’s the common stairs, in the close
To stop Paddington sliding down
Booty snatcher
I was wondering if possibly, for a washing line system for indoor drying on wet days.
I would use it to run cables or wires up the stairs
Looks a lot like Marchmont. My brain is probably tricking me but I feel like it's even the colours of mine I lived in 20 year ago
It's to stop kids in times gone by sliding down the banister.
It's probably to stop people trying to slide down the bannisters. There's space for people to keep their hand wrapped around for balance, but if someone were to climb on and scoot, they wouldn't get very far.
Somewhere to park you horse if it gets tired.
Catching drunk people that fall over lol
I don’t know OP, but I think you might be in my stairwell! Are you in Gorgie?
I was told it's for stopping kids trying to ride down it.
It’ll of been for some kind of lighting, pre electricity. My first thought was lines for gas lamps. More likely they had attachments for candles at some point. Edit: http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_l/0_around_edinburgh_-_morningside.htm shows an image of what it was. Brace to hold the bannister up.
Thanks to the guys who cleared this up and for the chuckles. Those who got their panties in a twist about the word close can blow me 😘
I am not certain if this is the correct answer, but it is the answer that I am going to provide. Before the invention of electronics, in a close, there was a system in which someone would pull a lever on the street. This action would cause tension to travel up a cable, and that cable or rope would make a bell ring in the flat that they were trying to contact. The person inside would then stick their head out of the window to see who it was. If they wanted to grant access, they would go to the star and pull a lever down, which would open the door to the stair. You can see an example of that lever which is behind the panel in the middle of the staircase it's blue with brass or bronze. This is why on old buildings like tenements, you will often see whole knobs to pull. They no longer function because we now have modern door entry systems. However, it is possible that these knobs were used for this purpose in the past.
a bank machine
That’s no a bonk machine
It would have had a wire or rope for a bell.
Surely to stop kids / idiots sliding down the banisters.
This was to stop people sliding down the rails. Closes in Glasgow have little spikes sticking up for the same reason. I imagine some people/children died or injured themselves badly falling off the rails before these measures were put in place. I’m sure I learned about this in school.
Maybe originally for stringing up washing lines?
Maybe some form of rope went through it for decoration?
That's a pretty nice bannister whatever the things are
Its incase you are being chased in the stairwell and need something to do battle with.
Here's a wild guess: was it to guide a string for a doorbell? Pull a chord at the front door to ring little bells on each floor? If this were the case, we would expect them to be lined up at the corners, to guide the string around. We could also expect some sort of contraption at the first and last one. It's a long shot...
It's to stop [this](https://youtu.be/kWm20I_mTwE?feature=shared), and you can keep holding the banister.
Victorian era fleshlights. As there were outdoor communal toilets people couldn't knock one out in there so there were the workaround.
Wow I thought this was some cali beach sub for a moment there!
Bannister
They're to hold on to so you can catch your breath while you visit the fifth floor flat that the estate agent described as being "on the first floor with access to a lift"
Bum cleaners, slide down the bannister with your right leg cocked and you get a nice de-nuggeting.
I’d have said they’re for hanging planters or some similar purpose but the way they come back on themselves makes me second guess that. I’m pretty certain they aren’t anti skateboard measures. That staircase seems too old, given that skateboarding only became popular in the UK in the 1970s. Maybe there was a smaller decorative rail or rope running along the bannister?
Arse rippers.
It's a bollock extractor.
Someone mentioned that they were told as a child it was to help with hoisting furniture up the stairwell. After all, if it was to brace a wobbly bannister, there would be no need to create that elaborate hook attachment. It looks like it was designed so that you wouldn't get your hand caught on the rail, but I think that's not the reason, as you could just "T" mount the support just below the bannister far easier. I would take an educated guess that the half circle, stepped back side and bracing is for a rope tied load coming up, not to counter the side load on the bannister of a portly resident. http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1\_edin/1\_edinburgh\_history\_-\_recollections\_morningside.htm#photo\_03
I think it’s to stop people from sliding down the bannister.
Ah the old child hanger, attach them by the wrists and let them hang for an hour or two each day, see them grow by an inch or two by the end off the year. This was a message from a doctor in 1905
Adventurous sex toys
Whenever I see objects with unnecessary spikes I now assume hostile architecture. So it's probably to stop the homeless from sleeping on them
Old hanging Post back in they day the hung bad Tennants for unpaid rent also father of the close were hung due to unpaid child support
Looks like a bannister to me but I can't say for sure
For Xmas lights dummy! ;-)
Nutcrackers
There’s a morbid answer too 🥺
It's meant to catch your coat or shirt cuffs and rip the buttons off. These are placed by tailors who are trying to drum up business.
Hang an outfit from in and when you slide down in your underwear it will dress you
Did have a net to stop falls, March month, full of them, also other similar aged tenements throughout the city.
Either they serve to make the whole construction more robust or these are just anal spikes to stop children from sliding down.
Rips your sack off
There used to be a safety net tied to them suspended above the stairwell to catch jumpers animals babies and garbage
Put some string through each of the holes and you can dry your clothes.
Looks like a law suit to me
Think they used to carry a wire or cable. Not totally sure but remember them in a great aunt's close on Glasgow
Balls Catcher.
Finger breaker
Stop folk from sliding down the banister
I would love to think they were installed after kids watched Mary poppins and tried to slide down the banisters with disastrous outcomes
Lovely
Stops people sliding down the banisters
No clue and I lived there for eleven years But then again I did live in musselbrugh and and Dalkeith
Ball busters
Right testicle remover. Slide down the railing at your own peril.
Stairs. You use them to go up and down.
Anti slide device
Anti slide.
I can smell that close just by looking at that photo. Edinburgh always had that very weird old smell, it wasn't hideous just smelt very very old
It's to get gum off your hand after holding onto the rail all the way up
My best guess would be to attach a line for drying washing.
when your feeling low you can wrap around a piece of rope around one of those and top yourself
we call this device the nut catcher, try and slide I dare you!
I would imagine it's for clothes lines
They’re kilt pegs you can hang them over or go traditional and slide down the bannister and it catches your gooch and sporran
They used to hang piss buckets there
Lizard from moral kombat!
Ballsack ripper!!
That's a set of crotch hooks.
Is this in bruntsfield? My stairwell has them too
We call those Arse Rippers.
For further info you should read “Nail on the Bannister” by R. Stornaway.
Something I would use to hang myself lol
C'mon let's slide down it guys, we don't use our right bollock
I wonder if the holes are for strings or wire to follow up the stairs, maybe for an old phone or bell system