05/09/2026
🔑 A very special visitor to Whistlewood
Yesterday, we had a rather unexpected and very special visitor at Whistlewood.
John Jefferys, one of the previous owners of our home, returned to the house with his daughter. It was wonderful to see him standing outside the place that had once been part of his and Priscilla life, and to hear him reminisce about the house and its history.
But he brought something with him that made the visit particularly special.
An old wrought-iron key. 🔑 actually suggested by his wife Priscilla who could not travel with them on this occasion from Australia.
John was very clear about where it belonged. He immediately identified it as the key to the back door of the kitchen — a door whose original lock is still in place today.
Whistlewood dates to around 1875, and the key has all the character of an old Victorian piece. Although the lock is no longer used — we now have a modern Yale lock for security — we have kept the original lock on the door because it is part of the character and history of the house.
And now, thanks to John and Priscilla we have the key that belongs to it. đź’›
We are going to have it carefully framed and keep it here at Whistlewood — not simply as an old key, but as a little piece of the house’s story, returned to the home where it belongs.
There was something rather lovely about watching a former owner return to the house and recognise a key he had known many years ago.
Sometimes history doesn’t have to be found in an archive. Sometimes, it arrives back at your front door — with a key in its hand.
#1875
