Publications

Historical Publications - Exterior & garden

Read our articles about the outdoors. These cover gardens and leisure time spent in the great outdoors for people who appreciate old buildings.

History of Guttering

History of Guttering

There are many types of guttering on the market to suit all styles of houses and of course pockets. Today’s ample range of guttering products is a far cry from days past.

04 Aug 2011

“We are all born in the gutter, but some of us get to see the stars” Oscar Wilde. Whilst the form of cast iron and plastic reproduction guttering and their fixings can have a highly distinctive and attractive appearance, their primary function is to disperse the rain falling on a property from seeping into the dwelling and in some cases collect water for future use. There are many types of guttering on the market to suit all styles of…

Tags: outdoor, roofing
History of Gates and Railings

History of Gates and Railings

Cast iron increased in popularity during Victorian times and was widely used for making Victorian gates, railings, panels, and the decorative elements they incorporated.

04 Aug 2011

When were railings invented? The earliest railings were wrought iron, and their manufacture was possible because of the development of blast furnaces in the 15th century. Early examples can occasionally be found inside churches. Wrought iron continued to be used until the late 19th century, following the emergence of steel. Cast iron railings did not appear until the second half of the 18th century, following the development of new…