Gates And Railings To S Entrance To Springfield

The southern entrance to Springfield comprises a pair of drive gates, a pedestrian gate, and associated hinge posts, flanked by railings with end posts, a plinth, and pillars. While the gates and hinge posts are not original to the entrance and appear to be early 19th century, the railings and stonework are contemporary with the main house. The materials are wrought iron, cast iron, timber, and sandstone, with an overall gateway length of approximately 18 metres between the square stone pillars, which are about 2 metres high and have pyramidal tops decorated with a simplified Greek Key design. The gates and railings are set back around 3 metres from the pillars and the site boundary. The railings and plinth are curved to connect to the pillars. The paired gate opening is approximately 5 metres wide, with a pedestrian gate to the right; the gates are set asymmetrically to the right. The gates and railings are approximately 1.75 metres high, and the railings are set on a 0.3-metre stone plinth. The intermediate posts to the railings are square-section with anthemion terminations; alternating posts are full height and one-third height. The taller posts have smaller cast anthemion finials, while the shorter posts feature fluted arrowheads. The ends of the railings incorporate cast-iron skeleton posts with anthemion caps, Greek Key motifs, diagonal cross-bracing, and dog bars. Scrolled stays are to the rear of the intermediate posts. The hinge posts are cylindrical cast iron decorated with raised strapwork, mouldings, and part-spherical caps, topped with further decorative finials; the casting identifies the maker as Bayliss Ltd. of London. One of the hinge posts is a timber replica. The gates consist of square-section bars with pointed tops, decorated with bobbins at the centre of each gate and C scrolls to the ends and centre. A historical note from the First Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1886 shows the current entrance layout but without the side pedestrian access, and the gates appear to be symmetrically positioned at that time.