Sadly, many cast iron railings in the Conservation Area have decayed or have been removed. If you have any surviving ironwork in your street, a new mould can be made for an accurate and economical reproduction. If you are fortunate enough to have original ironwork on your property, try to encourage your neighbours to participate in a scheme to repair or restore all the railings. If all the original ironwork is gone, then an entirely new design may be permissible. It is important that any new railings are uniformly designed and in character with the historic buildings so as to improve the appearance and value of the terrace or street.
Cast iron is the ideal material for railings.
It is more durable than mild steel, which rusts easily and must be frequently repainted. A missing piece can be cast anew and fixed on. Ironwork must be painted regularly to be preserved and protected. The Glasgow Conservation Trust West has published a detailed guide to the maintenance and repair of Victorian cast ironwork as part of the West End Conservation Manual. Please see Ironwork for further information.