Lincolnshire village resident seeks to restore pre-war iron railings

Villagers are continuing to bring a little bit of the past back to their homes by restoring pre-Second World War railings.

Martin Smith is the latest Folkingham resident to apply to South Kesteven District Council to restore wrought iron railings to their pre-Second World War site outside a former inn.

His application is for the front of Greyhound House, in Market Place, Folkingham, which was once part of the Greyhound Inn.

Several properties in the area have made similar applications in the past and gained approval, according to the council’s planning database, including number 21 in 2022, number 13 in 2018, and number 36 in 2017.

A heritage statement explains that the 17th-Century Greyhound Inn was among several 'higher-status' Market Place properties granted a small garden during the Georgian or Regency period.

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Many iron gates and railings were removed to aid the war effort during the Second World War, and evidence of them remains outside the property.

The applicant says the design will feature traditional fleur-de-lys finials and be fixed with braced posts to avoid drilling into the plinth and disturbing original fixings.

“The railings in this position will also afford an extra level of protection for the building from small vehicles on the corner of the A15,” said the applicant.

“The property is potentially vulnerable to damage, and there is precedent for a vehicle impacting the front wall during the previous owner’s occupation.”

The railings will be black olive.