Historic railings on Duffield Road have been restored to their former glory, as part of the Council’s commitment to maintaining its heritage assets.
The Grade II-Listed railings were installed in the 1880s and sit within the Strutt’s Park Conservation Area, a protected historic district to the north of Derby city centre.
The works were carried out by local engineering firm Whitehouse Construction over nine months, alongside the wider improvements at Five Lamps and further down Duffield Road.
All 166 bollards were removed, along with the handmade spiked chains and rails, and restored by specialists at Calibre Metalworks in Stockport. Here they were blast-cleaned, the ironwork was repaired, and they were given a fresh coat of paint.
The original colour of the railings was discovered through specialist conservation paint analysis, bringing them back to how they would have looked in the late 19th Century.
The ironwork was originally cast around 1880 by local engineers Chartres & Sons as part of a project to widen Duffield Road in 1881, which resulted in a raised pavement on one side of the road.
Many of the bollards have been replaced over the years by other well-known Derby foundries, including Derwent Castings and Browns Foundry Co, and they have been protected as a listed structure.
The work was supported by funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority and the Mayor of the East Midlands.
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport, and Sustainability, along with other Darley Ward councillors, has been pushing for the work to be carried out. She said:
These railings are an iconic feature of Duffield Road and an important part of the character and heritage of our community. Since being elected, I have been committed to protecting and enhancing our local heritage, and I am delighted to see these historic railings restored to their former glory for future generations to enjoy.
This is a project I have championed from the outset, working alongside my fellow ward councillors and partners to secure the investment needed to bring it forward. It is immensely satisfying to see that commitment translated into action.
I would like to thank my fellow ward councillors for their support, the East Midlands Mayor for providing the additional funding that made the restoration possible, and Whitehouse Construction and Calibre Metalworks for the exceptional craftsmanship and care they have shown in restoring this valuable heritage asset.