| Architectural Ironwork In Stornoway: Scotland's Hidden Gem - Ali Davey and David S. Mitchell. |
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Growing up in Stornoway I was certainly aware of the decorative ironwork all over town but until l read Architectural Ironwork in Stornoway: Scotland's Hidden Gem, I had not realised how important these surviving examples are to the history of a major industry in Scotland.
This lavishly-illustrated account is the result of meticulous research by authors Ali Davey and David S. Mitchell of Historic Scotland. Besides an in-depth survey of the town's architectural ironwork, there are chapters on the history of the various foundries which supplied Stornoway's - and the rest of the Empire's - ironwork and a chapter describing the development of Stornoway into an elegant 19th-century town.
Scotland was a world leader in the production of architectural cast ironwork at the end of the 19th century, with companies like the famous Carron Ironworks exporting everything from lamp standards and gutters to entire railway stations and palaces to India, South America and Australia.
This was a huge industry, employing thousands of people, its products reaching every corner of the Empire through illustrated product catalogues of elegant and elaborate designs.
Stornoway's surviving 19th-century townscape adds to our knowledge of how many of our towns and cities would have looked before so much of their decorative ironwork was lost when it was melted down for the war effort. It forms a vital part of the historic record, documenting and, in many cases, providing the only evidence of the variety of styles and patterns that were produced by Scotland's many foundries.
Fortunately, Stornoway's 21st-century citizens continue to look after their legacy of railings and gates.
With over 400 illustrations this book gives us a detailed catalogue of different examples, ones that once would have been commonplace all over Scotland. Individual ironwork is not identified by location.
But simply following the Victorian and Edwardian streets will reveal many stunning and colourful finds. Try Matheson Road and the Goathill Road and Crescent areas for some of the best. |
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