Wollaton Hall

New Railings Enhance Natural Beauty of Wollaton Hall Parkland

Renowned for its stunning building and parkland, Wollaton Hall and Park in Nottinghamshire is the epitome of an English country estate. Owned by Nottingham City Council, Wollaton Hall and Park have recently undergone a major restoration programme.

The Hall, a spectacular Elizabethan mansion designed in the Renaissance style, has been repaired and refurbished and the grounds, including a spectacular deer park, has been fitted with stunning estate railings and gates by specialist metalwork manufacturer Alpha Rail.

Careful consideration had to be given to the fencing around the deer park, which is home to herds of red and fallow deer that roam freely around the deer park and adjacent forests.

A full health & safety assessment had been carried out and it was decided that although the deer park required a clear perimeter boundary, the deer needed a safe way to pass from the park to the forest.

Landscape Architects HLTA Architects specified estate railings with a stunning curved top to replicate the sympathetic style used on many country estates around the UK. This was installed around the forests and deer park in order to protect the deer. Special "bolt holes" were incorporated into the design, which involved a single bar across the railings at 1m high, which allowed the deer to simply pass underneath at certain areas of the park adjacent to the forest.

This was done to prevent them jumping the 1.8m fence and potentially injuring themselves or wandering into areas where they could come into immediate contact with the public and their dogs.

Ron Inglis, Service Manager for Nottingham City Council Museums and Galleries explains: "The whole of the park refurbishment was very carefully planned out in order to provide maximum protection both to the deer and the public. The railings and gates look superb as they perfectly complement their surroundings without detracting from it. We are delighted with the end result and have received lots of positive feedback from visitors."

The new railings, were supplied, installed & site painted by Alpha Rail in a dark green colour to mirror their stunning natural surroundings, providing the perfect complement.

Phil Ball, sales director at Alpha Rail, explains: "This was a really prestigious job to be involved with. The design of the railings and gates ensures they perfectly complement their surroundings and ensure that the park can be enjoyed safely and securely by local residents and visitors for many years to come. We provided design-assist services to ensure the railings and gates were perfectly in keeping with their surroundings."

Wollaton Park spans around 500 acres and includes spectacular gardens, a lake, golf course, stable block, courtyard and forest, just three miles outside Nottingham city centre. The Hall is the centrepiece of the whole estate.

Designed by Robert Smythson and built by Sir Francis Willoughby between 1580 and 1588 for his family, its central lower tower and flanking turrets are considered to be masterpieces. Once owned by Lord Middleton, it is now a prominent Grade One Listed building that is open for the public to experience a wealth of architecture, exhibitions and wildlife all set within dramatic natural landscapes.

Alpha Rail, which is based in Nottinghamshire, has extensive experience in park and garden restoration.

Wollaton Park is the latest in a list of prestigious parks that Alpha Rail has supplied with new gates and railings, with others including St Leonards Gardens Dorchester Gardens, Battersea Park in Wandsworth (winner of a Civic Trust Award), Roundhay Park in Leeds and Handsworth Park in Birmingham.