All the exterior features of a period property – facade, windows, front door, railings – are there to create the first impression as one approaches the house. The railings, like jewellery, add definition and composition to the front of the property. It’s a subtle point; if they are lost or replaced inadequately, it is the property itself that seems to diminish on the street, rather than the other way around.
Railings, like jewellery, are not merely functional but add value and definition to the period property they adorn. For Wrought Iron Railings, consider //donkeywellforge.co.uk/what-we-make/wrought-iron-railings
In common with all types of jewellery, it is not the ornamentation that demands attention but rather that which draws the eye to a particular detail, a particular aspect of its craftsmanship or intention. So, too, with wrought iron railings. The level and quality of scrollwork, finials, and other components all serve to show not merely the individual’s taste but also their intention to get it right in respect of the era of the architecture that they are mimicking.
It goes without saying that, like all types of jewellery, care needs to be taken of them. In the same way that we admire a well-preserved necklace or brooch, so our wrought iron railings should be free of peeling paint or rust, all their components secure and in good condition. Any deterioration draws the eye to the opposite of craftsmanship.
It’s worth remembering that the exterior of a period property is deserving of just as much attention as the interior. Perhaps that’s already happening, given current trends.
The railings, then, are the obvious area in which attention is most visibly rewarded.
