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What is Specialabout North OxfordRailings?Traditional iron railingswere once animportant anddistinctive feature of theNorthOxfordVictorianGardenSuburb.

Manyof the railingswere removedduring thewarandof those survivingmanyare inneedof repair orreplacement. Increasingly,manybuildingownerswish to reinstate theirboundary ironwork to enhance theappearance of their property, but areunsurewhere to start.

This guidehas beenpreparedbyOxfordPreservationTrust andOxfordCityCouncil and is intended to assist residentsin the reinstatement of their railings.

NorthOxfordRailingsA Guide to Design, Repairand Reinstatement

PolsteadRoad,Oxford. 1895

Restored railings in ParkTown,Oxford

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Post

Finial

Verticalbar

Top rail

Mid rail

Bottomrail

Decorativepanel

Feet

Standard

Railing head

Plinth

Coping

Railing

Wall pillar

What is a Railing?Railingsnormally consist of a series ofvertical bars linkedbyahorizontal top railandusually set into amasonrywall orplinth.Their purpose is to define aboundaryor as a safetymeasure.

Historic Foundries in OxfordTherewere two foundries largely responsiblefor themanufacture of railings inNorthOxford –W.Lucy&CoLtdandDean&Son,Oxford.DeanandSonbecame theCowleyIronworkswhich closed in the1980s.Lucy’s still exists as SandawanaCastings inWitney.

Foundrymarks canusually be foundon thestandards or top rails of railings and shouldbe retainedas importanthistoric evidence.

Foundrymarks for Dean&Son,Oxford andW. Lucy&Co Ltd.

.

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MORETON RD

STG

ILES

SOU

TH

KIN

GSTO

NE

RD

WARNBO

ROU

GHRD

LECKFORD RD

BEVINGTON RD

WIN

CHESTER

RD

CANTERBURY RD

ST MARGARETS RDPOLSTEAD

HAY

FIELDR

D

CH

ALFON

TR

D RAWLINSON RD

FARNDON

BAINTONW

OO

DSTO

CKRO

ADB

ANBU

RYR

OAD

STAV

MARSTON FERRY

BARDWELL RD

LINTON RD

BRAD

MO

RE

FYFIELDRD

NORHAM

NORHAM RD

CRICK RD

CH

ARLBU

RYR

D

CHADLINGTONRD

NO

RTHM

OO

R

FRENCHAY RD

BELBROUGHTON RDLATH

PLANTATION RD

ST BERNARDS RDWALTON WELL RD

WALTON

STREET

N. PARADE AVE

BA

NB

URY

RO

AD

PARK TOWN

PARKS RD

ROAD

RD

GARDENS

RD

RD

RD

RD

MO

OR

RD

BURYRD

ERTON RD

THORNCLIFFE RD

Summertown

DDDHGH

DDRDRDDH

RDRR

WO

OOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDD

SD

STD

OC

WWO

OOST

O RRN RRDDDDDDDDIO

WaltonManor

NorhamManor

ParkTown

Jericho

PHASE 1 (1850s–1860s)

PHASE 2 (1860s–1870s)

PHASE 3 (1880s–1890s)

PHASE 4 (1890–1914)

Conservation AreasWalton ManorNorth Oxford VictorianSuburb

Key

CoCCCCCWWWWWaWWNo

Railing Developmentin North OxfordThe residential suburbof NorthOxfordwasbuilt in four distinct buildingphases between1850and1914and the railingdesign evolvedat each stageof development.Whilst thedesigns in the four phases are distinctive,there is no clear dividing line between thebeginningand endof eachphase.Theuse ofrailings on front gardenwallswas adeliberatedesign intent to allowviews into landscapedareas behind.

Phase 1BeginningwithParkTown, these railingsfollowapattern that becamepopular by themiddle of the19th century.

They consist of straight standards set directlyinto the copingona lowwall, tiedwithacrossbar at the topand finishedwithdecorativeurn finials.

Phase 2There is amarked change in the style of therailings in phase2of development inNorthOxford.

Set in amore elaborate brickwall toppedwithhalf round copingbrickswitha steppedplinthhalf wayup thewall (see page2).These railingsare designed inpanelswithdecorative cresteduprights set at regular intervals along the topof thewall.

Map showing railing development inNorthOxford

Phase 2 railingdesigns

Phase 1 railing design in ParkTown

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Phase 3By the1880s thedesignof the railings inNorthOxford becamemuch lightercomparedwith the earlier twophases and inmanycases forgeddecorative elements areadded in.

Themain concentrationof phase3 railingscanbe found to thewest of the suburbandvary indesign including circles, quatrefoils,trellising or running leaves.Manyalsohaveplain or simple decorative standardsupports.

The ‘trellis’ design is themost popularpattern found inNorthOxford as part ofphase3.This design is adjustable and iswell suited to street frontageswhichvaryin lengthandheight.

Phase 3 railingdesigns

Phase 4In the1890s, railing design evolved to bemore robust and theuse of wide supportstandardswithpanels becamecommonpractice.

These railings demonstrate the influence oftheArts andCraftsMovement andmimichand-madewrought iron. Eachhorizontalbar is also square, not rounded,which iseasier tomanufacture.

Phase4 continuedup to the beginningofthe FirstWorldWar, afterwhich timetimber tended to beused.

Phase 4 railingdesigns

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ConservationWallsTheboundarywalls andpiers are an integralelement of the overall designandappearanceof railings inNorthOxford.

Thewalls range from650mmto720mminheight; somehavea steppedplinthhalf wayup thewall.

More oftenbrick coursing is laid in alternativecourses of headers and stretchers calledFlemishBondbrickwork.Thebricks are darkreddish in colour, beddedandpointed inatraditional limemortar.Theuse of limemortar is essential for performance, durabilityandappearance.

RepairAlthoughcertain parts of a railingmayappear particularly rusty andbeyondretrieval, theremaybe enoughunoxidisedmetal left to be reused.

In order to preserve original historic fabric itis important to retain asmuch ironworkaspossible.

ReinstatementThere is now increased interest in repairingand reinstatingboundary ironwork.It improves the appearance andadds value toproperty.Done successfully, suchworkreinforces the special character of thehistoricsuburb, adding interest to its historicsignificance.

Where traditional railings are to be reinstatedeither because existing railings are beyondrepair orhavealreadybeen lost, this should,where possible, be done followinghistoricprecedents (pattern,material, constructionand finish). Careful inspectionof survivingevidence e.g. sockets in plinths, piers, andwalls canprovide clues to the proportions anddesignof the original railingpattern.

Above, renovatedwall and new railingsfrontingBradmoreRoad,Oxford

Left, fragment ofhistoric ironwork

Left, renovatedwalland reinstatedrailings frontingKingstonRoad

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PaintingTheprimary functionof painting is protection,not decoration. Today, there are avariety ofpaints available thathelp reduce the risk ofrusting.These are epoxy resin basedor in theformof red leador zinc-richundercoats.Specialist advice should be takenprior topainting to ensure correctmethods andpainttype and tomeet anyhealth and safetyregulations.

Traditionally railingswere painted inmutedcolours. Following thedeathof PrinceAlbertinDecember1861, it became fashionable topaint railings black as a signof respect. Blackhas remainedpopular ever since.

Ironwork is best strippedusing chemicalmeans and then steamcleaned to ensurethorough removal of chemical agents.On thewhole theuse of mechanicalabrasives should be avoided.

Are ModernVariantsAcceptable?It is important to ensure the correctproportions and scalewhen reinstatingrailings andwalls.

Do I Need Planning Permission?Planningpermissionand/or listedbuilding consentmaybe required for thereinstatement of railings and conservationarea consentmaybe required to demolishanywall, gate, or railingdependingon theheight. Before proceedingwithanyworksfurther advice canbe sought fromOxfordCityCouncil includinga list of possiblesuppliers.

Details of the applicationprocess andapplication fees are available on theCouncil’swebsite atwww.oxford.gov.uk

Above, restoration ofhistoric ironwork inprogress

Left, contemporaryrailing design inNorthOxford

Practical AssistanceOxfordCityCouncil and theOxfordPreservationTrust areworking together toencourage the reinstatement of railings inNorthOxford.TheOxfordPreservationTrusthas launchedaproject to commissionandacquire a collectionof local railingpatternswhich canbehired at a reasonable cost. Forfurther details of how tohire a railingpattern, please contact eitherOxfordCityCouncil orOxfordPreservationTrust.

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Contacts and Further InformationIf youwould like advice or if youareconsidering submitting anapplication forplanningpermissionand/or listed buildingconsent, please contactOxfordCityCouncil.

Details of thehistory anddevelopment ofthe garden suburb canbe found in theNorthOxfordVictorianSuburbConservationAreaAppraisal and theWaltonManorConservationAreaAppraisal, copies of whichare availableto download fromOxfordCityCouncil’swebsite.

A list of local andnational railing suppliersandmanufacturers is also available fromOxfordCityCouncil on request.

Planning Control and Heritage andSpecialist Services

RamsayHouse10St Ebbe’s Street,Oxford OX11PT

Website:www.oxford.gov.uk

E: planning@oxford.gov.uk

T:01865252860

Oxford Preservation Trust

10TurnAgainLane, St Ebbe’sOxford OX11QL

Website:www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk

E: info@oxfordpreservation.org.uk

T:01865242918