Estate fencing has been part of the British countryside for years, offering a practical solution for parks and private land that didn’t obstruct the view.
Today, it is still a popular choice for estates, farmland and even residential areas, but where did estate fencing start and how has it retained its popularity?
We’ve taken a look at the history of estate fencing, how it developed and what it looks like today.
The birth of estate fencing
While an exact date when estate fencing was created isn’t known, it became incredibly popular in the Victorian era. Traditionally used over parkland, estate fencing started to catch the eye of those running large country houses.
With wealthy estate owners trying hard to keep up with the fashions among the elite, many of them started to install estate fencing along the boundaries of their lands. They were popular as they complemented the rolling countryside without impeding the view.
Estate fencing was more popular in the countryside than the intricate railings found in cities, with the metal fencing providing security and separating private boundaries from public highways. On top of this, this style of fencing was chosen as it was often almost invisible from a distance, allowing people to enjoy the view.
Over time, estate fencing started to be across farming fields as well, due to the fact that it was strong enough to contain animals like cattle without being too obtrusive.
What was estate fencing originally made of?
Originally, estate fencing was made of wrought iron, which was used to create many types of Victorian fencing, railings and panels, along with cast iron.
While other types of railings tended to be more decorative and be designed to reflect the architecture of a house or building, estate fencing was kept simple to limit the impact on the countryside.
How was estate fencing installed?
The welding technique was not used for estate fencing until around 50 years after it became very popular. This meant that fences were manually dug into the ground before being fastened together by hammering small iron pegs into the joints. This was an effective way of installing estate fencing, leading to strong and long-lasting fences.
When the welding technique started to be used, the fence posts were inserted into the ground very firmly and the rails were fed through specially prepared holes in the posts. This helped to further strengthen estate fencing.
The welded system allowed for improved longevity, increasing the strength of the fences while also allowing them to follow the contours of the land. As a result, some fencing installed in the Victorian era is still in use today, although it is coming to the end of its life.
Estate Fencing Today
Estate fencing is still a popular choice today as it still provides security, blends in well with the rolling countryside and lasts for an extremely long time.
One of the main differences between today’s estate fencing and that made in the 19th century is that wrought iron is no longer produced commercially. Instead, estate fencing is typically made of steel and can be painted or allowed to weather naturally.
Steel is a great alternative to wrought iron as it is strong, long-lasting and suitable for a wide range of uses, such as farming fences or delineating property boundaries.
Nowadays, as well as being used in the countryside, this type of fencing has become popular among property developers and landscape architects. This means that it is used a lot as part of garden design and for residential properties, helping to create a smart and clean look while also being practical.
Here at The Traditional Company, we’re known for our traditional estate fencing. All of our fencing is manufactured in England from solid UK steel, ensuring that every fence we deliver or install is incredibly strong and durable.
We can provide bespoke estate fencing that is made to your specifications and installed by our specialist team. We also supply pre-formed estate fencing panels for self-installation, providing you with a strong solution that you can use for multiple purposes.
With people continuing to enjoy the practicality, aesthetics and benefits of estate fencing, there’s no doubt that it will continue to be part of the British countryside and gardens across the country for many years to come.
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