Historic Charleston Foundation - Charleston, SC

Wrought iron

ecorative ironwork may be seen all around the city in balconies, gates, stair railings, vents, boot scrapes, and decorative panels and finials. The city's ironwork, as it graces houses, churches and civic structures, is undeniably one of its greatest architectural treasures.

The oldest remaining ironwork in the city dates to the Revolutionary War period, although ironwork balconies appeared on Charleston houses as early as 1739. This early iron is wrought iron; iron which has been molded and pounded into shape by a blacksmith using a forge, anvil and hammer. Wrought ironwork of the 18th and 19th centuries features scrolls, fleur-de-lis, leaf and flower patterns, spears and wiggletails. Philip Simmons, Charleston's best known blacksmith, has continued this time-honored craft and has created some of the city's most treasured pieces.

Cast iron

During the mid-19th century, cast iron became more commonplace in Charleston. Cast iron, as distinguished from wrought iron, was mass-produced by pouring the molten metal into molds. The cast iron molds allowed for the more elaborate decoration suitable for Victorian tastes. Cast iron is also distinguished from wrought iron in that it has a high carbon content, making it less susceptible to corrosion than wrought iron, which is almost pure iron.

Oxidation, or rust, is the primary maintenance problem associated with ironwork. Ironwork should be cleaned and painted as necessary to avoid deterioration. If problems go beyond routine maintenance, it is best to retain the services of a qualified contractor to assess the situation.

Additional Resources
Preservation Brief #27, "The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron" by John G. Waite, AIA