Latest News
New Guidelines for Commissioning Conservation Work from Blacksmiths
What questions could a potential client ask to find out how qualified a blacksmith is to carry out conservation work? NHIG has drawn up some new guidles to assist those commissioning work to make an informed choice when selecting a practioner.  Read more
Conservation of Architectural Ironwork CPD Course
NHIG is now taking bookings for the second to two CPD Courses it is running this year.  This will take place in York on 7 & 8 November and full details, including a booking form, can be found on our CPD Courses page.

An Exercise in Observation and Replication

Imagine that during a restoration project a section was found missing and a replica was required which resembled the original as closely as possible in every way. This was the brief given to trainees on the National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) Blacksmith Bursary as in order to complete the task their observation skills would be tested to the full. Read more
NHIG goes Dutch

Following an invitation from the IFGS (Internationaler Fachverbank Gestaltender Schmiede e. V), the association for Dutch blacksmiths, NHIG council member, David James, recently visited Holland to address the group.  The Dutch blacksmiths were keen to learn about the National Heritage Ironwork Group, how it is structured, what the group has learnt and how much has been achieved since NHIG was formed in 2009. Read more



 

OUR AIMS

 

NHIG is dedicated to the safeguarding and preservation of wrought ironwork through promoting high standards of workmanship, conservation and repair by working towards the development and creation of;

 

GUIDELINES on the specification of restoration work

ACCREDITATION for blacksmith conservator/restores

RESOURCE CENTRE for ironwork information

COURSES studying historic ironwork

WHAT OUR SUPPORTERS SAY

 

Kevin McCloud, author, broadcaster and designer said:

“I’m delighted that the National Heritage Ironwork Group exists to promote the conservation of historic forged metal.  As a former forge-owner, I know the value of training and traditional skills in this most specialised of disciplines and have often marvelled at the ability of a talented smith to form a penny-end from a bar of iron or the wriggling, fluid shape of a water-leaf or acanthus from a piece of plate. When the traditions of a craft are not taught, it instantly dies.  The NHIG bursaries project keeps the torch of learning alive, through study of historical metalwork and the teaching of the craft.”


Bill Martin, former Conservation Director for English Heritage said:

‘The field of architectural metals conservation has for too long awaited a framework to successfully bind together the essential skills of the metals conservator and the conservation blacksmith; the aims of the National Heritage Ironwork Group will go a long way to deliver this. English Heritage fully support these aims and we intend to contribute in every way that we can to ensure their successful development.’

Rory Cullen, Head of Building for the National Trust said:

‘The number of true craftsmen and women in terms of building skills has been in decline for far too long, as identified in the recent documentation on heritage craft skills commissioned by the Government. The National Trust is therefore very keen to support the National Heritage Ironwork Group initiative, which we hope will help safeguard the future of this wonderful skill and promote an understanding of the intricacies involved in the process.’



THE NEED

Poor quality restoration work example                                               High quality restoration work example

This recent example demonstrates the pressing need to guarantee that the practitioner is master of the craft before being recruited to work on listed ironwork: the scrollwork from a Grade 2* gate was poorly restored in 2001, necessitating the need for it to be done again, faithfully to the original style and quality of workmanship, in 2009. The photograph of the original restoration shows the lack of care in shaping components, the badly formed and rusted-through leaves, and the inappropriate use of electric arc welding.


Ornamental ironwork demands specific specialist skills, which are hard for the practitioner to gain, which deserve recognition, and which are distinct from those required to work other metals such as lead or copper. Ironwork is however one species of conservation for which there is at present no requirement for conservator/restorers to be formally qualified. 

 

In other conservation disciplines practitioners are expected to prove themselves by achieving some kind of accreditation. The field of heritage ironwork deserves no less.