Shopfront Design and Construction: The Use of Iron

Abstract

The application of iron to shopfront design became increasingly popular through the course of the nineteenth century. This fashion was strongly influenced by technological advancements that allowed the mass production of an enormous range and variety of affordable cast iron products. This article gives a brief introduction to the development of the iron industry in Scotland and explores in more detail how the use of iron affected shopfront design. 6.1 Illustration of casting examples from Walter MacFarlane & Company's 6th Edition Catalogue, 1882. The advent of cast iron structural and decorative architectural components made the decoration of buildings more affordable; this catalogue extract illustrates the impact that decorative architectural cast ironwork could have on the façade of a commercial building. (Crown Copyright)