cast iron street furniture

[bobby spray]

One of the most criminal acts of architectural vandalism that that was every perpetrated was done so on a massive scale and with the sanction of the British government. This is of course the completely unnecessary removal of decorative cast iron railings during the war. More about this sorry episode can be read here:
http://www.londongardenstrust.org/features/railings3.htm
In my local area there remain fragments of some beautiful cast iron features. Some of which will have come from the biggest iron foundry in the empire at the time: Walter MacFarlane (Saracen foundry).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saracen_Foundry
walking around the local area you can still see tantalizing glances of what must have been a very smart sight. Some in decent condition and some not so. It is one of the jobs on my list to reinstate the cast iron railings and gate piers to the front of my house. Hopefully I'll get around to it in the next year or so. Has anyone on the forum tackled this? I have attached a couple of pictures to illustrate what i mean...
remnants from a private house:

full railings and piers from a council building:



regards

Bobby

 

[plasticpigeon]

They look super. I have just been to see a friend in Oxford, and the individual owners of the homes in a row of terraces near my friend's house, clubbed together to get the garden walls and railings re made and reinstated. This was done because one homowner foundf a picture of how the houses used to look, and all the neighbours agreed that they wanted the railings back. They needed to apply for planning apparently as the houses are in a conservation area. How wonderful to have a whole row of like minded neighbours. I wish that would happen round where I live.

 

[88v8]

How wonderful to have a whole row of like minded neighbours. I wish that would happen round where I live.

Isn't the problem that you do have like-minded neighbours!
Just not the right sort of minds

What's even sadder is that the cast iron was absolutely no use for the War effort.

And of course any modern replacements are going to be expensive.
But not impossible.
Interesting note here.
http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=31752&sID=8453

Some people have new railings made in what they think is 'wrought iron. But it's not wrought, it's just steel. And steel needs constant painting. And even then it rusts.

Ivor

 

[plasticpigeon]

How wonderful to have a whole row of like minded neighbours. I wish that would happen round where I live.

Isn't the problem that you do have like-minded neighbours!
Just not the right sort of minds

Ivor

Sad but true. They are like minded but not like me.

 

[philpjuk100]

My grandad had square section railings that were removed during the war,it really upset him ,he was told that they would be replaced after the war was over.The stumps of the railings were left.He would always stop when passing them and shake his head.In the early 60s my dad and myself removed the stumps (had to melt the lead and then dig it out)and mixed mortar to match to fill the holes but he still shook his head.After his death when the council yard was moved a huge pile of cut off railings was found!.

 

[bennoa1]

I bought a Victorian lamppost and refurbished it. I used a wire brush on a drill to remove all the old paint then painted it in POR15 (grey) with a top coat of POR15 Blackcote which is UV resistant and 5 years later it looks lik ete day I did it. Its amazing stuff and I use it on all metals.

 

[MatthewC]

Saw this in Havana earlier this year - they do it all over the place:

Pretty effective, I think!

 

[Spoilt Victorian Child]

I chanced upon a row of terraced houses in York recently which all but one still retained their original iron railings. It made the street look so cute (even if the colours were a little non-period!). I can't work out how these houses escaped the chop back in the war? They were just regular modest properties.

See here:
https://goo.gl/maps/KhmyFL3eh9n

I noted one house had had replacement railings, and of course they weren't set into the stone, I guess as this is way more expensive? Does anyone even do that sort of work any more? I'd love to get the front of my house done and set into the stone properly, but I dread the think of the cost? :roll:

This is the house with replacement railings (think this was done after the streetview images were taken)

 

[bobby spray]

Nice find. Coincidently I lived in York for over a decade, less than half a mile from this street. I never pick up on the fact that the railings were original.I believe that railings only escaped the chop if they were either architecturally important (these are not) or their removal would cause a safety issue (again nothing significant). These modest houses were built for the local Terry's chocolate factory workers. Great Indian restaurant at the end of this street!

 

[bobby spray]

duplicate

 

[Owain]

Stirling Council did a railings repair project along with window/facade replacements at Viewfield Place Stirling
3rd row left at
http://www.macduffarchitects.com/projects/conservation

I think I lived in the house with the porch 3rd row right (by lived I mean I lodged in the unheated room in the attic)