West Norwood Cemetery, London
We were tasked with making another set of exact replica, very large, cast iron gates to enable a previously blocked entrance to be opened up again.
One of London’s “Magnificent Seven” cemeteries, West Norwood Cemetery opened in 1837 and was one of the first Victorian cemeteries to open in London. Lambeth Council took over management of the site in 1965. The Cemetery is grade 2* listed.
We replicated the large cast iron gates located elsewhere on the site to replace a set that had previously been removed and lost. This careful reinstatement restored the historic entrance, enabling it to be reopened to vehicle traffic when required, while also providing pedestrian access through two other single access gates.
The project required extensive site surveying to produce accurate working drawings. In addition, lifts (moulds) were taken directly from the existing gates to assist the creation of new patterns, ensuring accuracy of the original design.
Each gate leaf was produced as a single, substantial iron casting. Their considerable size presented a significant technical challenge for our foundry, testing its capability to achieve the necessary structural integrity and dimensional accuracy without distortion.
The bricked entrance as surveyed with matching existing railings visible to the far left.
An existing gate on site that we used for surveying purposes and for taking lifts from to assist with the manufacture of new patterns.
Brickwork being removed by the main contractor to open up the entrance again.
Patterns in two halves with an adult stood against them for scale.
An example of a mould taken from the original gates.
The castings being carefully moved about with the assistance of a crane to enable their fettling and to make new strap hinge components.
Close up showing the achieved finish. Green is a welcome alternative to the black that is usually specified.
The completed gates, photographed from inside the cemetery, appear strikingly imposing.
Our Clients
Our clients include local authorities, public bodies, heritage trusts, architects, main contractors and private clients. We operate throughout the UK depending on the size and nature of projects.
