Gates and Gateway: 



197 



JJIG. 2^0. TREATMENT OF WALL AND GATES. 



the adjoining walls is a serious factor in 

 the artistic success of the house and its 

 approach. The disposition of the entrance 

 to a Berkshire house designed by Mr. W. 

 J. Parker is somewhat ambitious in scale, 

 but its plan shows a treatment appropriate 

 to small houses if carried out on smaller 

 lines. From the brick piers at the ends of 

 the boundarj^ walls the line of the wall 

 curves inwards to the piers of the carriage 

 gates (Fig. 280). In these curved wings on 



either side of the main carriage gates (Fig. 2S1) are set two foot-gates and two round 

 grilles (Figs. 282 and 283), all of which gave pleasant opportunity for the art of the 

 modern smith. The wise choice of iron gates of good design has considerable bearing 

 on the successful appearance of an entrance. So many eighteenth century houses 

 in towns are now being demolished that old gates can often be acquired at reason- 

 able prices, and the chance of finding one is worth enquiry and some little trouble ; 

 but caution is necessary. Old gates are not worth buying unless they are in a 

 satisfactory condition, because repairs to them are apt to cost almost as much as new 

 gates. Moreover, it is a mistake to be led into buying a gate, however pleasant its 



design, if it is not of the right 

 size and proportion for the 

 opening that needs to be filled. 

 The writer of this bears in 

 mind an unhappy friend. Ten 

 years ago he bought a gate and 

 stretch of railing of admirable 

 design and in good repair, in 

 the hope that it would "fit in 

 somewhere," but he has never 

 contrived a place for it. The 

 methods of the " bargain sale " 

 do not apply convenientlj^ to 

 architecture. It may be 

 helpful, however, to set down 

 notes on some tvpical work of 

 the old smiths, in order to 

 show the sort of work which is 

 good and pleasant, whether it 

 be old or new. Fig. 285 shows 

 a delightful gate of the size 

 suitable f(3r the entrance of a 

 small country house. It is 

 fixed in a wall between two 

 gardens, and never served as 

 a carriage gate, for there is in- 

 sufficient head-room under the 

 " overthrow," but in character 

 of treatment it is verv instruc- 

 tive. It was made in 1720, 



FIG. 281. — THE CARRIAGE GATES. 



