Tijou worked for Queen Mary at Hampton Court, where he placed some of
the richest screens and gates which the country can boast. A portion
of his work is illustrated in Fig. 262. He also executed some splendid
ironwork at Chatsworth, Burghley, and St Paul’s, London. The balustrade
to the king’s staircase at Hampton Court (Fig. 264) may also in all
probability be assigned to him. He must have had assistants, among whom
Huntingdon Shaw, of Nottingham, has been reckoned the chief, and indeed
the actual work on the screens at Hampton Court has been claimed as
his; but recent investigations show conclusively that the claim cannot
be sustained.[83] Another of Tijou’s assistants was Robert Bakewell,
who settled in Derby and was widely employed in the Midlands. To him,
perhaps, we owe the gates at Stoneleigh Abbey, illustrated in Fig. 263,
although tradition says that these were brought here from Watergate, a
dismantled mansion beyond Southam.[84] The ironwork in and round London
may be largely attributed to Thomas Robinson and his successors, and
it would appear that skilful smiths settled in different centres in
England, round which they influenced the work over a wide area. Bristol
was the home of such a man, William Edney by name, and that he was an
accomplished craftsman is proved by the magnificent gates at St Mary
Redcliffe (Fig. 265), which date from 1710.
[Illustration: FIG. 264.--Balustrade to the King’s Staircase,
Hampton Court.]
[Illustration: FIG. 265.--IRON GATES AT ST MARY REDCLIFFE,
BRISTOL.]
[Illustration: FIG. 266.--Gateway formerly at Quenby Hall,
Leicestershire.
Museum, Leicester.]
Examples without number could be produced of English ironwork of this
period, but space forbids any but a few specimens being cited. There
was a splendid gateway at Quenby Hall, Leicestershire, with elaborate
iron piers, now in front of the museum at Leicester (Fig. 266).[85]
The four examples shown in Figs. 268–271 are of far simpler design,
but they are worth careful study, and are typical of the ordinary work
of the time. In the gate from Acton the solid work is aptly introduced
and gives it richness and importance; the others exhibit a judicious
combination of simplicity and richness which is quite admirable. Indeed
the ironwork of the early part of the eighteenth century has never been
bettered either in design or execution.
[Illustration: FIG. 267.--Lead Cistern in the possession of Mr
L. A. Shuffrey.]
[Illustration: FIG. 268.--Gate at Elm Hall, Snaresbrook.
A. H. Ough, _del._]
[Illustration: FIG. 269.--Gate at Acton, now demolished.
Launcelot Fedder, _del._]
[Illustration: FIG. 270.--Gate at Lawn House, Woodford Road, London.
A. H. Ough, _del._]
[Illustration: FIG. 271.--Gate at Romford Road, Stratford,
near London.
G. G. Poston, _del._]
[Illustration: FIG. 272.--Lead Rain-Water Head, High Street,
Birmingham.]
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