The History of Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron: A Longer History 

The period of time known as The Iron Age began in about 1000 BC, although the true history of iron is known to date back to 300 BC where Egyptians used it to make axes chisels, and some museums and historical societies possess evidence of actual decorative items made of wrought and cast iron; items such as iron candle holders, wrought iron wall décor and cast iron cups, bowls and plates.

Early iron would have been very brittle, as the process of reducing the carbon content through melting, re-melting and hammering the ingots, had not yet been mastered. The use of wrought iron continued to increase throughout the Middle Ages, initially for construction and weaponry and, later, in an ornamental fashion on churches and monasteries. Notre Dame in Paris and the Winchester Cathedral in England are thought to be two of the earliest examples of ornamental iron use. There are wrought iron railings in Westminster Abbey, in London, dating back to the 13th century. 

The structural use of iron only really began in a widespread fashion in the late 18th century with English Iron-Master Abraham Darby's first Iron Bridge, (see picture of Abraham Darby's First Iron Bridge, located in London today - above) made entirely of iron the bridge had to be made in parts and assembled at the building site.

The use of wrought iron trusses in combination with cast iron columns led to the creation of the first large scale iron buildings without supporting masonry. This began in the second quarter of the 19th century with the use of cast iron columns with wrought iron trusses in the construction of the Crystal Palace in London in 1851. The trusses made it possible to replace masonry arches and vaulting between the vertical supports and create buildings with wider spans and large internal spaces.

Wrought iron was originally produced by a method known as 'bloomery,' named for the 'iron bloom' that was produced. The process involved using smelters cheated be charcoal, into which the ore would be poured, then covered with charcoal. The heat produced would melt the ore and as the ore melted it would release oxygen, which would mix with the charcoal to release carbon dioxide. Hence, little carbon entered the iron directly. The resulting 'iron bloom,' which comprised iron and silicates, would be worked to remove the slag and impurities. This process gave rise to the name 'wrought' iron, as the iron was pounded and twisted.

In the early 18th century changed iron-making forever with the introduction of the blast furnace replaced charcoal with coke, which proved to be both less expensive and more efficient. The product of this process was known as 'pig iron' and over time the process of 'faggoting' was developed in order to convert the pig iron to a more workable product. As iron production rose, prices slumped. 
 
Then, in 1856 Henry Bessemer (see picture of Henry Bessemer - left) invented the Bessemer Converter, (see a picture of the Bessemer Converter - left) which enabled steel to be produced more cheaply than ever before. Unlike wrought iron, steel contained slag and had a higher carbon content than wrought iron, making it harder. With the increased use of this 'mild' steel, which could be mass-produced far more cheaply than wrought iron, by the late 19th century wrought iron was in decline.

Since this decline, however, wrought iron has enjoyed something of a renaissance in more recent years. Although wrought iron may never be utilized in such a widespread fashion again it continues today, to be popular for ornamental and decorative purposes, from gates and railings to candle holders and various wrought iron wall décor panels. Wrought iron products represent a timeless design that will always be in style – as long as people continue to have an appreciation for beautiful things, iron, cast iron and wrought iron products will always remain.