Stornoway ironwork in focus

The stunning ironwork of Stornoway is the focus of a new exhibition.

The celebration of the amazing decorative cast ironwork will go on display at Museum nan Eilean from April 9 in a joint project between Historic Scotland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The exhibition will run until the end of the year.

Historic Scotland Research Fellow Ali Davey has been studying the ironwork of the area. Following on from her 2006 survey of the town’s ironwork, she has organised the exhibition and is currently working on a publication which will be launched in May.

Ali’s research has shown that the cast ironwork in the Isle of Lewis capital is among the largest and best maintained examples in the country. Like other island communities, Stornoway retained its Victorian and Edwardian ironwork during the war.

She said: “Stornoway’s ironwork is remarkably intact and allows you to see what streets across Scotland would have looked like before so much of the ironwork was taken away for the war effort.

“What has been fascinating has been piecing together which designs came from which foundry. At the time that most of these were cast Scotland was one of the leading exporters of ironwork and this exhibition allows you to see how skilled the foundries were.”

Mairi MacIver, Local Learning Officer for Historic Scotland said: “It has been a pleasure to have worked on such an interesting locally based project. The cast iron work gives a fascinating insight into the townscape of Stornoway and it allows pupils and teachers to appreciate their own local environment linking the fishing industry, culture and history of Stornoway and it has been a privilege to have been part of such a fascinating exhibition.”

Museum nan Eilean website and Historic Scotland website.