Conservation Blacksmith carefully heating fixings for loosening before removal of Lantern Brackets. Note the orientated labeling of the assembly.
Inspecting overthrow fixings 3.5 metres off the ground.
Conservation Blacksmiths using oxy-propane torches and wire brushes to clean back to original surfaces.
January 20th 2013, very cold!
The on-site Forge installed inside a shipping container – we’ve had a tidy up since the photo was taken!
Cleaning is not always easy and sometimes an unglamorous repose is necessary to get the job done.
New Lantern Bracket Acanthus Rosette
A chat about the correct approach to a problem!
Overthrow Crown
Photo record of an Acanthus leaf fit to be reused. Showing scale, visual condition, orientation and tag with position on gates.
Pressure washing of the ‘Tijou’ gate to remove loose layers (this operation was done before the protective enclosure was erected for obvious reasons.
Welcome to the working day at Petworth gates.
Overthrow central detail.
Sharing a joke about tubes… I didn’t get it either?
Tooling test prototypes for Acanthus type Drop leaves, we need to make 64 of them! The middle one is an original.
Flame cleaned Acanthus leaves, ready for priming
Cleaned and primed lantern bracket. Flame cleaned parts assembled for relabeling and repair assessment.
Large BLF Ltd stamp for identifying larger items
Flame cleaning pier caps opt
Comparison photo of the garland units on the North and South Garland brackets
Method photo showing the three intact leaves of the Lantern bracket on the North Gate pier viewed from the Park. To be used as a picture pattern for missing ones.
Method photo showing proposed repair. A new water leaf (left) cut into existing scrollwork. An existing damaged leaf (cleaned) is on the right to show how its been corrosion jacked from its original position.
In anticipation of painting in the same spot for the next 3 weeks!
Site view from top of scaffold.
Fixings for the overthrow -7/8″ nut and repair thread. Please note the ID stamp and date.
Garland rosette reproduced in Pure Iron, please note the ID stamp.
Restoration of 'Tijou' Gates at Petworth House. 
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Thanks for teaching me about good and bad corrosion – a bit like good and bad fat, then?
Your work looks amazing. Ylva
Thanks for your comment and compliment Ylva; thats a good analogy too. I’ll be writing a bit more about the scale formation of hot forged ironwork later in the project.