FENCING

Fencing was used widely around forts to delineate property boundaries and also to enhance to protection of military sites. The introduction of barbed wire in about 1888 slowly supplemented fencing, particularly unclimbable fencing. Fencing essential falls into two specific categories.

UNCLIMABLE FENCING

Fences were often used to provide a physical barrier around military sites to stop accidental intrusion. In some cases this was designated as unclimbable fence, which were intended to prevent or inhibit a approach on foot by hostile forces. The unclaimable fences were often used on the perimeter of coastal batteries or around army camps.

The images shows a section of unclaimable fence which still covers the gorge of Ives Battery, McNab Island, Halifax.

The lower image shows a section of the fence covering the Eastern side of Sutor Battery in Scotland.

BARRIERS

In some cases. particularly dockyards and barracks, solid brick walls were used around the perimeter with guarded access points. This was largely for the security of the contents.

Lower wrought iron fences were also common which would inhibit any approach by foot. In some case, such as the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, these lower fences had electric wire on the top to deter unauthorised entry. The image shows a small surviving section of the Royal Arsenal iron fence facing the Thames.

Brick walls were expensive, as were the majority of the wrought iron fences but were regarded as necessary. In about 1865 the War Department entered a contact with Francis Morton & Co for high tension fences. Subsequently Morton Fencing was installed around the World.

The Francis Morton & Co dates back to at least 1766 and has been described as a galvanised steel merchants in the Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History. It was a family business first named John Morton and then Henry Morton. It about 1855 Francis Morton took over and the company became known as Francis Morton & Co. The main business was based in Liverpool but expanded with offices in London, Sheffield and Glasgow. It became a limited company in the 1880s after the death of Francis.

The Francis Morton & Co produced corrugated iron, iron buildings possibly including the new iron barracks shipped to the British Garrisons around the World, and in particular Winding Straining Pillars. The fence pillars and post were patent and about 1860, possibly earlier, they obtained a contract with the Government to supply fencing for use by the military. Remains of Morton fences can still be found at many former British fortifications around the World.

The main market for the fencing was the railway companies but the military used the fences around military sites, in particular on the outside of dry moats. These were substantial fences, although the spacers were simply two section of thin iron folded together and topped with a heavy metal cap. These caps bore the Francis Morton name. The actual fence staining pillar was substantial weighting about 300 lbs with a sizeable proportion of the post buried under ground for stability and strength.

For more information on Francis Morton & Co. fencing see the Frontline Ulster website here.