Wrought Iron Railings and Gates

Wrought iron gates and railings are enjoying something of a renaissance in recent years thanks to it being both functional and decorative. Many of England's homes lost their original wrought iron railings as part of the war effort, however in recent years it appears that much of this iron work was simply left to rust in scrap yards or possibly dumped at sea rather than being used in the munitions factories. 60 years later however, many of these wrought iron railings are being replaced with new steel railings, but bearing styles and designs which echo the original gates and railings which once adorned our towns & cities streets and parks.

Using steel instead of wrought iron means the new gates and railings are much more resistant to rust and corrosion then those they are replacing. Although still commonly referred to as wrought iron, these days it is almost always steel, an alloy consisting mainly of iron. Steel is also a much better product to weld than wrought iron and as such, can be made into gates or railings with highly intricate scroll work providing a desirable decorative appearance as well as being fully functional.

Wrought iron gates and railings can be utilised to provide a secure perimeter around a property or business premises to prevent access by intruders. These types of gates and railings are often much taller than their aesthetic or decorative counterparts and borrow their styling from the ancient palisade fencing which was a common feature of many defensive forts dating back several thousand years. This tried and tested design is still in use to day as it is hard for an intruder to scale, and being made from wrought iron railings instead of wooden posts as the Greeks and Romans used is much more resistant to impact.

For added convenience and security, adding an electric motor to the gates means that large and heavy wrought iron gates can be opened or closed quickly and easily, and from a remote location if necessary. This is a common feature of many gates these days and can be found on both domestic and commercial properties. The motor housing can be easily concealed into the gate posts if substantial enough, or buried in the ground and the control can be any distance away using either a wired or wireless connection. Whatever the reason you have for getting steel gates or railings fitted, be it decorative or for added security, they make a definite perimeter around your property, turning and English man's home in to a castle.