Glasgow Necropolis Entrance Gate Restoration

The following is an abbreviated specification of the work undertaken

Careful inspection and recording of the Edington gates in their original condition

A detailed photographic record was taken throughout. This ensured that a scheme of minimum intervention was adopted consistent with the requirements of repairing the fabric to the highest standard.

Conservation of the existing structure was sacrosanct in any remedial works. The following principles were applied -
 Traditional techniques and materials were used where possible
 Repair and consolidate rather than renew.
 Repairs should be reversible where possible.

The gates are paint finished cast iron formed in 2-leaves to an overall size of 3700mm x 2600mm constructed with 65x 38mm perimeter framing and 38 x 38mm internal framing. Both leaves are surmounted with cast acanthus leaf motif interlaced with a leaf motif. The overall effect is a grid pattern of horizontal and vertical elements with strong decorative motifs in each of the square and rectangular sections. The right hand (south) leaf incorporates a wicket gate or “window” in contemporary descriptions.

The central rectangular panel to each leaf incorporates the Merchants’ House logo. Four of these had to be painstakingly restored and gold leaf applied.

Each gate leaf is secured with a pavement mounted pivot along with a substantial high level bracket forming the hinge mechanism. A spring mounted “D” handle to the south leaf is connected to an ingenious locking device at high level on the meeting rails – the spring action was difficult to operate and had to be restored.

Each high level bracket is built into a massive stone pier approximately one metre square and 3300mm high. The piers are built in coursed ashlar with chamfered corners with a recessed panel to the west face, decorative stone cornice capped with a wrought iron orb.

Careful scrapings of the various paint films had to be carried out to establish the original base colour to the general metalwork and to the various decorative components. The results recorded.

Much of the metalwork was in relatively poor condition particularly in positions of bolted connections between framing members and applied decorative components. Descaling of all metal was carefully carried out – the plain cast iron sections were scraped by hand but since the decorative castings could be cleaned only by lightly abrading through sand-blast and the general framework was treated in the same way.

The bottom rail of each gate was badly corroded and in particularly poor condition; once cleaned renewal was required and this was done in a matching section cast- iron. A similar section of metal was evident to the top rail and the same process was carried out.

The ingenious spring action lock arrangement was carefully restored to working order. The jammed shut wicket gate (window) was eased to function properly and the locking mechanism restored. Inspection and works to the bottom pivots and the sockets proved to be essential along with re-sleeving of the sockets.

On completion of the refurbishment and repairs the metalwork was degreased, primed with two coat red oxide primer and refitted on site. At that stage further decoration was carried out to include one coat undercoat and two coats oil based paint. The masonry piers required minor pointing.