Ironwork fence railings, 1

The Victorian-era houses of Penarth have some wonderful architectural details, both on the buildings themselves and on the fences that enclose them. Fortunately, the original makers of some of these adornments were not shy in labelling their products, and the stunning ironwork along the street boundary of this particular house in Victoria Road is clearly marked with the maker's details: W. A. Baker & Co Ltd, Newport, Mon[mouthshire].

According to the Lost Art website, W. A. Baker & Co Ltd was founded, as W. A. Bakers Foundry, in 1880, and the 1881 census confirms that William A. Baker, aged 34 and born in Devon, was 'an Ironmonger & Ironfounder employing 27 Men & Boys in Newport' (Census ref RG11/5261/110/1). The Lost Art site continues: 'Welsh foundries were responsible for producing both elaborate and decorative ironwork as well as the more everyday items that provided the bulk of the employment for iron workers' and, although W. A. Baker operated out of its Westgate Works, 'the company was also linked to an ironmongery shop in the city that sold many of its products, apparently stocking everything from bedsteads to ammunition'. You can see a photograph of the impressive foundry buildings as they were in 1905 on the Newport Past website.