Sites and Monument Record: Grahamston Ironworks Gateway (SMR 951)
Description
Cast iron gateway of large proportions, said to be one of the biggest ever made. It consists of two massive columns, pilastered with ornamental panels, 21 ft 0 ins high, by 2 ft 6 ins wide at the base, weighing fully 4.5 tons each. A semi-circular arch stands on consoled corbels, with an entablature of 16 ft 0 ins length, 2 ft 3 ins wide by 2 ft 3 ins deep, weighing over 2 tons. The whole surmounted by massive vases/urns at either end and a central scrolled top ornament with draped flags on either side behind tridents, as well as a terminal for a flagpole. In the spandrels are shields bearing castles, being the Edinburgh coat-of-arms, with an anchor above. In the centre, between the arch and the finial is a shield with the Royal arms of Scotland - the red lion rampant, with a crown of thistles. The gate was double-leaved, and there were side gates and columns at the exhibition.
Renovated and moved to a new site next to the River Carron by Carron Phoenix in 2001.
Object detail
A similar gateway was made for the Peoples Park in Grimsby, but it was scrapped during the war. The tender for that iron gateway was not placed until March 1884, the year after the Park had been opened. A photo dated "c1885" in the park brochure shows some gates. The brochure also states:- " On 11th January 1943 the railings and the large ornamental gates were sacrificed for scrap metal for the war effort."
NS 8792 8235
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