Warwickshire, UK - South Warwickshire blacksmiths are working flat out to fulfil the orders for estate and deer park fencing won by their Stourton-based ironwork company, which is enjoying the strongest start to a year in its 25 year history, states an article in Tewkesbury Admag.

Cotswold Decorative Ironworkers, which is based at Marsh Farm, Stourton, near Shipston, has won orders for thousands of metres of its hot dipped galvanised fencing which is now being installed on estates in Oxfordshire and many other parts of southern England.

Founder and managing director Hughie Powell says: "We are just keeping up with demand - at one stage our huge stock of two miles of fencing and 150 gates was getting depleted, but our smithy and installation teams have kept abreast of the work."

Cotswold Decorative Ironworkers is a supplier of fencing, tree guards, entrance gates and ornamental bridges to organisations like the National Trust and English Heritage as well as major estates such as Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, Batsford Arboretum, Gloucestershire, and for Lord de Ramsey at Abbots Ripton Hall in Huntingdonshire.

Mr Powell said: "I think there are three key factors which are driving our success in this difficult economic climate. We are competitive on price but our emphasis is on accurate historic replication and longevity of life of our products.

"Our business originated in the architectural salvage sector which means that since the 1980s we have acquired vast historic knowledge of how to replicate exactly the classic designs of the 19th century."

Mr Powell has worked with his friend and business partner Peter Kenealy for the past 35 years. Mr Kenealy is an expert draughtsman and has vast experience of "bending metal" techniques which makes him the key creative force behind the business.

"It's what gives us the edge on the really challenging work, be it classic entrance gates or intricate ornamental bridges.

"Above all though, our gates and fencing are hot dipped galvanised which has put us ahead of our competitors.

"Owners of the estates we work for who require large quantities of fencing understand the long term saving through investment in metal work that has been hot dipped galvanised - because it ensures indefinite life while costing a premium of less than three per cent at the production stage."

[Tewkesbury Admag 11 July 2011]

Cotswold Decorative Ironworkers

Story Type:  Advertorial

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