The Georgian Group Guides IDRON WORK A Brief Guide to Georgian IronworkFroxt Covin Rants, Clocks Frou Toe Lert Deva oF Jean Tyo asus Pow Wika a7 Haro ‘Court PalAck: GEES anrep Gorse Resuncs oF 1835 ar EXETHR Mi ‘Gowan SreatsanraD Bat Heaps ‘BLUE MNTED RAILINGS OFT 17208 Siratrsis, East Lonnon, Ler Growcias AREA RAWNGS |Win _sssun Banatsans iw Now LONDON. MitnGeoncins Gi Deb Oth FINGAL RGU 1-2 LaMoStaNDS FROM HEN Swaw's Exauruss oF Onauexzat Mera. Won 1836. XTRODUCTION gv cnes intended as a general outlive of the development of decorative and structural ironswork both inside and outside che Georgian house. For those seeking to repair or re-ereate Georgian inomwork, pechaps the most important section of this guide isthe back page With is lise of suggested further reading and modern sources of information. Before you hegin, always consult « recognised expert with no commercial interest. Your local District or Borough Council Conservation Officer. ora national organisation such as English Heritage ot the Society forthe Protection ‘of Ancient Buildings, should be able to help in choosing reliable and experienced crafesmen and workmen, ‘WROUGHT AND CAST IRON Byes ae form of iron, with less tha sarbon content — was first manufactured in about 2000 BC. By ¢450) BCithad reached Bri theindastral proces of smeltingiron ore"pigs’ ina blast furnace wasintroduced —the resltant pigs eing subsequently beaten into wrought iron. Blas furnaces it was not until the early 15th century, however, that prospered where there was plentiful wood — ro make the charcoal needed for smelking — and iron ore; thus by 1700 the heavily-wooded Sussex-Kent border hnad become the centre for British iron production, By the time ofthe secession ‘of George | in 1714 the industrial revolution was already under way: in 1709 Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale in Shropshire began © use coke rather chan the now scarce and expensive charcoal, allowing. fir higher temperatures to be achieved during the smelting proces. Daringthe 17thand 18th centuries wrought ron was much used for gatesand nuilings, where its malleaility was a distinct advantage. Gate design reached its zenith withthe work ofthe Huguenot crafisman Jean Tijou forthe Late Stuart ‘court; of these works, perhaps his masterpiece was the series of exquisitely= ‘wrought riverside gates at Hampeon Court Palace, executed for William TIL CCastiron — cast using remelted pig ron, with a carbon content of up to 5% — was well-known by 1700, but was largely confined to the manufacture of ‘course, simple items such as cooking pots, firebacks and cannon balls. Is se only became widespread following the introduction in 1794 of Wilkinson's highly-efficiont ‘cupola’ blast furnace for remelting pigs. By the end of the Georgian period casting techniques — employing ether moulds or beds of wet sand — had improved tremendously and cast iron was beginning tobe used for all ypes of structural, industrial and decorative purposes. It was found to be particularly usefal in heightening fire resistance: however, unlike the more fibrous wrought iron it was relatively brittle and weak under stress — an tunbelpful property which is now taking its roll of many Late Georgian stractures. By 1840 cast iron columns and beams were being incorporated into alleypes of building, yeti was only with eheineroducton of steel in the late eh century that a more lasting serucaral strength could be achieved.Foun 3: Buurssastt IRON BALLS rns Av 1 GREK STHEE, LONDON (6 preuissiow oF Thipmnonar Howes Macazis) STAIRCASES ace: J] Welldon’s The Smith's Right Haul appeared, che frst origial collection of British designs for wrought ironwork of all kinds Tiventy years later, however, the elaborate, almost Rococo scrollwork featured in this manual was giving way to the more rigid and rectilinear forms of the Neoclassical Revival, Antique motifs such asthe anthemion an the palmette boeing widely used in stancase balusters and cat ron, the staircase had By 1800, shanks eo the properties of wro become one of the most impressive and graccfil features of the Regency inerior. Wroughe iron balusters were increasingly prevalent and in. many instances only the mahogany, oak o grained pine handrail remained as a reminder ofthe raditional wooden stair, Even the treads and risers could be of iron, And bulky wooden newel posts were often replaced with an S-shaped termination of more thin iron balusters — a particularly common feature in houses ofall sizes by 1820, The most remarkable property ofthe Late Geongian staircase, though waits lack of apparent seractural support consequent on the development of the cantilevered irow fame. Regency designers delighted in using iron to enable staircases of great grace and delicacy with dramatically swooping and curving handrails he placed in imptobablesiuations. The more ostentations designers dispensed with the soffits under the stairs altogether creating the impression of an open-string staitease that appeared 0 be made merely of treads an isers piled up on top ofeach other in mid-air. By the 1820 the most radically-planned houses were not even bothering to hide the ingenious iron supports: at Sevincore, for example, he ton girders which carried the main stair out were let totally hare, and pierced in a decorative fashion DOOR AND WINDOW FURNITURE apes beginningot the 18th century imple, generally limited to an iron knob with, possiblya was sparseand or (later) 2 tortie lock. Brass could only been found adorning the doors and windows of the grandest houses, although by 180) industrial advances had made it ‘considerably cheaper and chusmore widely available. Asthe century progressed mpl early forms were transformed into casting techniques improved, and the lively and intricate designs. By 1820 the classic lion'head iron door knocker had become very popular, as had thote incorporating such topical motifs as sphinses, crocodiles, or naval emblems. For the more humble, rural dwelling the clasic Norfolk or Suffolk door latches were now adapted for mass- production by machine. Yerit must he remembered that even the Late Georgian door was by no means overburdened with iron or lass door furniture. Leer boxes were, of course, a mid-Victorian innovation — the postal system only truly began in 1840 — avhilst door numbers were only used sporadically during this petiod (although mandatory in London after 1805). Nor was the Georgian door — in contrast © many modern “rescreations’ — ever a backcloth for a panoply ofshinybrass Sittings. Although brass door furnirure was more common ‘han formerly, castiron was by 1800til the most widely-used material for door farnitute. The iron was rarely let bare bat was usually painted a matt black: messy "Berlin black’ was most frequently used, but modern blackboard paint sa good and more reliable substitute. A simple, black-painted knocker was Proune 4 Gare Descas moat W & J Wratten Tae Suimes Rect Has ‘oF 174.