Decorative Architectural Ironwork
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Presentation given by Ali Davey at Historic Scotland's summer school 2011. This presentation explores the production and conservation of traditional ironwork.
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Decorative Architectural Ironwork
- 1. Decorative Architectural Ironwork Ali Davey Head of Technical Outreach & Education Historic Scotland Conservation Group
- 2. Evolution : Jean Tijou 1693
- 3. Carron Ironworks, 1759 - 1982
- 6. Why Scotland? Black Band Ironstone discovered by David Mushet in 1801 Hot Blast invented by James Beaumont Neilson in 1828
- 7. Walter MacFarlane & Co Ltd, Saracen Foundry (1850 – 1967)
- 12. Drinking Fountains No. 8 No. 20 No. 21
- 15. Buildings
- 17. Ca’ D’Oro, Gordon St, Glasgow (1872) Designed by John Honeyman
- 20. George Smith & Co 1858 – c.1899
- 25. Blast Furnace
- 39. Iron Ore Wrought Iron Stainless Steel Mild Steel Cast Iron Oxidation Reduction Processing Oxygen driven off Corrosion Electron Gain Electron Loss
- 43. Electrochemical Series Zinc Aluminium Wrought iron Cast iron 316, 317 Stainless Steel Aluminium bronze Lead Nickel Brass Copper Manganese bronze, Tin bronze Nickel silver 430 Stainless steel Nickel, aluminium, bronze (CA 630, 632) 316, 317 Stainless steel Silver Titanium Gold Platinum Metals lower on the list will corrode sacrificially for metals higher on the list
- 44. Fixings
- 45. History & Construction - Understanding the structure
- 46. Research
- 50. Assessment & recording - coatings
- 59. Repairs – planning and specification
- 62. The right skills
- 64. Give the contractor a chance !
- 69. Walter MacFarlane & Co, Saracen Foundry Spandrel Pattern No 51
- 70. Archive Pattern Drawing – digitised for CNC
- 71. CNC and pattern making
- 74. Cast Iron : the contentious bit....
- 83. Zinc Phosphate 1 60 microns Zinc Phosphate 2 60 microns Micaceous Iron Oxide 55 microns Gloss finish 1 35 microns Gloss finish 2 25 microns Total DFT 230 microns
- 84. The finishing touches are important!
Editor's Notes
- Lecture overview: Why Scotland? Some key foundries and their work The conservation of cast ironwork
- Carron Iron Works – 1759-1982 One of earliest large scale foundries Roebuck. Garbett & Caddell ; Carron Company Ltd Falkirk, John Roebuck (an English chemist), Samuel Garbett (a merchant) and William Caddell (a wealthy ship owner and ironmaster). The Carron Ironworks was one of Scotland’s earliest large-scale iron manufacturing firms. The business was founded in 1759 at Falkirk by John Roebuck (an English chemist), Samuel Garbett (a merchant) and William Caddell (a wealthy ship owner and ironmaster). Because iron founding was in its infancy in Scotland at this time, it was necessary to bring in skilled workers from England to train a new Scottish workforce. By 1800, Carron Ironworks had a sizeable local workforce and had become one of the largest smelting works in Europe. From the outset, Carron employed the services of prominent engineers such as John Smeaton to streamline the ironworks and maximise output, and the foundry underwent periodic overhauls to increase efficiency. Early production focused predominantly on ordnance. In the late 1700’s, the foundry became renowned for its production of an innovative cannon, called the carronade , which boasted unprecedented short-range accuracy. Carron also produced architectural and domestic castings and were well known for their range of kitchen stoves. Many of the police boxes that survive in Edinburgh were made by Carron, and a monument to Bruce and his wife (cast in 1790) in Larbert, Falkirk is a superb example of their early work. John Adam became a director of Carron in 1763. This led to many fruitful collaborations between the foundry and his architect brother, Robert Adam, who designed ironwork for many of his architectural projects. From the late nineteenth century, as with many of the Scottish foundries, Carron exported widely and produced catalogues aimed specifically at the British colonies market. After 223 years, the foundry finally closed 1982.
- Impact of Adam brothers Early simplicity vs later ornateness: 1780’s casting on left 1790 Casting designed by Robert Adam Adam realised the advantages of cast iron Hayworths – timber pattern makers used by the Adam brothers Early simplicity vs later ornate On left: Early picture of cast iron 1780’s On right: By 1790, very ornate, cast iron designed by Ruskin hated cast iron, referred to it as vulgar and crude
- 1851 Started in old brass foundry, Saracen Lane With James Marshall and Thomas Russell By 1862 – purpose-built foundry and over 100 employees Designed by James Boucher c.1830 Working for William Russell, Trongate (jeweller). Evening course in design Followed by a 7-year apprenticeship with James Buchanan (blacksmith), and time in Cumberland foundry, McCulloch & Co (in operation 1831-1868) 1849/50 Entered partnership with Thomas Russell (brother in law) and James Marshall (friend, businessman) 1851 Took over old brass foundry in Saracen Lane in the Gallowgate 1862 Relocation to Washington Street, building designed by James Boucher 1868 Company acquires land at Keppoch and Possil Estate New foundry designed by James Boucher Boucher also using and designing Saracen foundry castings Boucher involved in design of John Kibble’s villa at Coulport 1872 Foundry relocated to new foundry at Possilpark WM Jr now involved in the company Walter MacFarlane Sr. dies aged 68, buried in the Necropolis, Glasgow
- 1875, green filed site at Possilpark
- Glasgow exhibition 1888: Gives an idea of how the showroom might have been Wealth and prestige Flyer c. 1900
- Drinking fountains Grew out of the Temperance movement
- Large fountain: 1907 Memorial to Prince Alfred’s Guard, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Recently refurbished WMC tried bronzed cast iron to look like bronze statuary Smaller fountain 1903 Brechin Pattern no. 123
- Cast iron lighthouse, Brazil – similar to Perth Waterworks Wigan pavilion Manaus, Brazil – market building 1908 Other buildings include Winter Gardens in Rothesay
- Brazil
- 1872, WMC
- The Cotton Exchange Old Hall, Liverpool Building facades became important part of their business in early 20 th century Competing with Lion Foundry for business
- 1965 – Became part of Allied Ironfounders 1966 absorbed into Glynwed 1967 foundry at Possilpark closed
- Went bust 3 times! 1858 Company founded at Port Dundas Road, Glasgow 1875 moved to Parliamentary Road 1880’s comparable in size to WMC Re-appeared in Alloa after went bust the last time Gave rise to 2 other foundries: Star Foundry in Kirkintilloch His son, Alexander Smith, founded Star Foundry in Kirkintilloch in 1861 (- 1981) Sun Foundry of Harley and Stewart, Adelaide 1867 Set up by Colin Stewart (who had worked for Sun in Glasgow) and AC Harly Fountain Gardens, Paisley Sun specialised in memorials – eg in Necropolis 1896 Move to Clippen in Linwood – suggests they were starting to struggle 1899 Closed and opened another foundry at Alloa It is not known how long the foundry at Alloa lasted – further research required
- Stock patterns More economic to create designs which used existing patterns
- Larbert Memorials and grave markers were important output for the foundry
- Drumlanrig
- County Arcade, Leedsd
- Before embarking on any repairs or conservation: Understand the material
- Understand how and why iron corrodes Corrosion from within – columns also functioning as downpipes Poor quality or inappropriate repairs
- Doultan fountain, Princes Gardens Edinburgh Sacrificial corrosion of wrought iron
- Thorough research prior to conservation works is important Understand the structure and its history Manufacturers names can often be found on cast ironwork Old catalogues / photographs / drawings
- An inspection to asses the general condition is important But remember that further problems may only become apparent when structures are dismantled Understand the problems Paint Historic colour schemes may be worth saving or investigating
- Wonderful addition to the built environment when they’re cared for!
- The importance of good design!
- Understand how things were put together!
- Choose an appropriately experienced contractor Allow enough time for each stage of the process Proper planning is essential
- Proper surface preparation is essential for good paint performance Allow enough time for drying Beware of chemicals!
- Dying tradition Modern types of mould making have taken over Which type of iron? SG or ‘ductile’ iron – more tensile strength? More bendability?
- Cast iron is difficult to repair Difficult to weld Getting the right contractor
- Coating: Where? What is expected of the coating? Traditional paints? Independent paint inspector? Colour schemes Check for damage to paintwork after re-erection Don’t forget about sealers and fillers – casting holes and gaps Condition: Clean, dry, avoid wind-blown dirt Enough time for each coat to dry What type of paint? Traditional or modern?
- The dry film thickness will affect performance