People have been left mindblown after realising the real purpose of the ‘tiny shelves’ next to front doors.
The head-height ledges are a common feature on the exterior of many homes in the UK – but few know what they’re actually intended for.
The ‘shelves’ are actually called corbels, and they once served a small but mighty function.
Corbels were originally intended to act as foundation posts for a canopy or awning over doors to protect those knocking from the elements.
In a Reddit post on the thread r/AskUK, one confused Brit asked: ‘I’m at a loss, what is the purpose of the tiny shelf thing next to the door?’.
People soon took to the comments to suggest it could make the perfect place to balance a drink, while others joked it would be an ideal spot to place keys after a night out.
One person wrote: ‘That’s for Saturday night, when you need to put your pint down before you rummage in your pocket for your keys’, while another joked, ‘It’s where a mouse hangs his handbag before he pinches your cheese… obviously.’
Another said: ‘That’s for putting your keys on when you go out, so you don’t lose them. You’ll know they’re safe next to the door, when you get back. No chance of losing them, while you’re out.’
Brits are only just realising what the tiny shelves next to some front door were originally used for and the answer surprised many
One Reddit user came up with the outlandish suggestion of it being something to ‘tether your giraffe to’.
The real answer is far more simple: corbels are architectural structures that stick out from a wall to support shelves, brackets, awnings and archways and are often made of stone or wood.
Reddit users said they ‘seem pretty practical’ and suggested that they should still be used today.
Others complained that removing them had left the walls without an extra layer of protection and more vulnerable to the weather and to rot.
But others calmly suggested that their removal was just a sign that tastes had changed.
One person wrote: ‘The wood rots. People’s tastes change over time. You can get more modern looking ones – typically glass etc. that don’t require the little plinths.’
And another said: ‘In addition to maintenance and water issues, they also block a lot of light. On doors like in the original picture with big transom windows, someone might’ve wanted to let more light in.’
People have been left shocked after finding out what the inside handles in cars are actually for (stock image)
It’s not the first time people have been surprised to find out the real purpose of a commonly used object.
Car owners have been left shocked after finding out what the inside handles in cars are actually for – and they’ve more useful than you might expect.
At a first glance, the fold away handles, commonly placed on the car’s ceiling above the passenger seats, may seem fairly useless.
But they’re a standard feature in modern British vehicles for a reason – and can be an important safety feature.
Experts at Check This Car told The Express: ‘When you get inside a car, whether as a driver or a passenger, you might notice those sturdy handles above the windows, commonly referred to as ‘grab handles’.
‘While they might seem like a minor feature, they actually serve a variety of practical purposes.
‘Grab handles provide support when entering or exiting the vehicle. This is especially helpful for elderly passengers, individuals with mobility challenges.’
Elsewhere, on the Reddit thread r/NoStupidQuestions, someone asked: ‘What’s the point of the handles in cars?’
People explained: ‘They help people with problems sitting and standing to get in and out of the car’;
‘Some people call them panic handles. But me, as a tallish person, I grab them to help lower myself into the seat, and again getting out’;
‘For the handlebars in the back seat its for stability. For example when the car is taking a sharp turn the passenger can hold it and then it helps them not lean over.’
One TikToker @sanne_vberkel was also stunned when she discovered a life hack for using the grab handles properly.
After pulling down one of the handles, she realised there was a small catch inside.
When flipped, the catch meant that the handle could stay in place, meaning it was easier to hold on tom while some noted it could be used to hang things up.
People were astonished, saying: ‘I guess you learn something new on tiktok!’
