Hickman Park, Wolverhampton

Restoration work funded by the Heritage Lottery at the historic Hickman Park in Wolverhampton. Supply and installation of galvanized and polyester powder coated Decorative Fencing and handrail.

A selection of bespoke railings supplied by Alpha Rail, the specialist metalwork manufacturer.

The new railings were designed to match the ornamental patterns of the existing railings and blend in serenely with the local environment, which consists of an open air theatre, children’s play area, sports pitches and a wild flower meadow.

The Park was originally part of the Springfield Estate, owned by local industrialist and MP Sir Alfred Hickman. Following his death in 1910, it was donated to Bilston Council in 1911 after it had been formally laid as a memorial. It originally consisted of a bandstand, cast iron drinking fountain, flower bedding and an ornamental pond, which is still present today.

Alpha Rail supplied, and also design assisted, vertical bar railings in a decorative style, plus two flat top hand rails for a section of stairs, as well as security perimeter fencing and gates. In total, 400m of railings was supplied and delivered by Alpha Rail. Jack Moody, a horticultural, landscaping and civil engineering company installed the railings and painted them on-site.

Steve Jenkins, Project Manager at Jack Moody, commented: “We have worked with Alpha Rail before and knew the quality and accuracy of their products, which makes them easier to install. It took just four weeks to install the railings and, working closely with the landscaping department at Wolverhampton City Council, we have met their expectations exactly.”

All of the railings are painted green, as specified by Wolverhampton City Council, and are in keeping with the colour of existing railings in the Edwardian Park, which means they compliment their surroundings and reflect its history and tradition. The security perimeter fencing is 1.8m high and provides added safety to those enjoying the Park’s facilities, as well as being designed to meet the stylish and elegant specification. The fencing around the pond is decoratively designed and also provides safety from the water feature and the flat top handrails are fitted on a grand stairway and feature similar scroll work patterns to the Park’s main gate.

Phil Ball, Sales Director at Alpha Rail, explains: “We worked closely with all the stakeholders involved, including architects, the council and the contractor and this helped to ensure the design considerations were met and that the railings were fitted on time and meet the design specification. This park is over a hundred years old and it was important to retain the Edwardian style, without compromising on safety and security and this criteria has been met well.”

Alpha Rail has over 20 years’ experience in manufacturing railings and gates and counts many housing associations, private developers and local authorities amongst its customers. The company has gained a reputation in the industry for the quality of its products, which are backed up by exceptional customer service.