ACPA - Cemetery Ironwork - Part 5 - Understanding Ironwork

Untitled Document

Preservation Planning

Theft & Vandalism

ACPA County Representatives

ACPA Partners

News & Events

ACPA Membership

ACPA Store &
Fund Raisers

Resourse &
Courtesy Links

Cemetery Ironwork - Part 5

Understanding Ironwork

There are essentially three "styles" or types of fences (although there are many sub-types or varieties).

Perhaps the most common (at least today) are the wrought or cast fences. These were manufactured by companies such as Stewart Iron Works and consisted of either two or three wrought rails into (or onto) which were attached various cast elements. These are often classified as picket (either beveled or with special picket heads), hairpin, hairpin and picket, bow and picket, and bow and hairpin, although a great variety of other designs (short-long pickets, scroll, etc.) can be found. Posts were often of three distinct types: line posts, panel, square/solid (usually cast), and open or scroll.

Found at many cemeteries are pipe fences, also called "gas pipe fences" in many catalogs. There is much less information about these designs, although many can be quite attractive. They often were galvanized, frequently with white metal decorative elements. They may be found set in stone posts using lead or in metal posts with a white metal clip. They may also be found as low fences set on stone walls (as in this line drawing).

A third fence type is woven wire. These were the least expensive and many were very intricate. Unfortunately they are also the least well preserved, often being damaged by mowing and quickly corroding. A few may still be found around family plots or individual graves (where they were often only a hot high), as arbors and other decorative devices.

(Part 6 - continued on following page)

Chicora Foundation, Inc., PO Box 8664, Columbia, SC, USA, 29202, 803-787-6910

Untitled Document