Although wrought iron declined in popularity as steel became the common metal for manufacturing and construction, the term ‘wrought iron’ is still used to describe steel gates and railings which have been ‘wrought’ or worked by hand. The vast majority of wrought iron products today are in fact made from mild steel, and not iron as the name suggests. The fact is, mild steel is a much better material; being stronger, easier to work and weld than iron, and is much more resistant to corrosion. These properties make mild steel the ideal material for gates and railings, along with a myriad of other products including pipe work, nails, screws, etc.
Wrought iron gates and railings have been popular in the UK since the sixteenth century and were to be found on almost every urban street and surrounding almost every stately home or public park. However many of Britain’s railings were removed during WWII as part of the war effort, leaving only the stubs behind. In more recent years, many home owners have been replacing their long lost railings with designs which echo those of the period the original railings were fitted, or updating the look with contemporary gates or railings.
The beauty of wrought iron is that it natively, the choices of decorative features which can be incorporated in to both gates and railings are almost endless. Design details such as arching, swooping or twisted pickets, decorative finials & knuckles and sweeping scroll work can all be easily incorporated into any design. Wrought iron railings and gates can be designed and manufactured to match any home, be it a modest country cottage, a large stately home, a Victorian town house, a seafront villa or more modern housing.
Wrought iron is also ideal for commercial premises where security is a main concern. As the fence panels and gates can be made to almost any height or length, with finials topping each picket acting as both a security and an aesthetic feature, means that wrought iron gates and railings can protect against intruders on almost any commercial or industrial site. For the ultimate in defensive railings, heavy duty palisade fencing can be installed along with electrically operated security gates.
With over four hundred years having passed by since wrought iron was first used for gates, railings and fencing applications, the designs have changed very little, as have the processes used in their manufacture. The only difference being wrought iron was replaced with steel around the late nineteenth century, but that’s a minor detail. The basic design and purpose of wrought iron railings and gates still hold true today, and will do for many years to come.
By Carl Liver and Barry Summers
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