Bespoke Gates

From garden gates and pedestrian entrances to larger driveway and architectural gates, every gate we make is designed specifically for its setting, purpose and the people who use it.

Working from our forge in Kent, we combine traditional blacksmithing and hand-forged joinery with contemporary design and modern fabrication to create bespoke steel gates that are distinctive, durable and made to last.

Each commission begins with understanding the property and what you want the finished gate to achieve. From initial sketches and material choices through to forging, fabrication, finishing and installation, we offer a complete bespoke service.

We create hand-forged and bespoke gates for homes, gardens and properties across Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London, ranging from traditional ironwork to clean, contemporary designs and completely individual one-off commissions.

One Garden Gates 2021

These bespoke steel gates were created in 2021 as part of the extensive redevelopment of Stanmer Park Gardens in Brighton. Traditionally jointed and carefully fabricated, the gates were finished with zinc spray and gloss black paint to provide a durable, long-lasting finish suitable for their exposed setting.

The design needed to provide security for the gardens overnight while remaining welcoming and visually unobtrusive when closed during the day. Despite standing approximately three metres tall, the carefully considered hinging system allows the gates to be opened effortlessly by hand.

Combining traditional blacksmithing techniques with contemporary fabrication, the finished gates provide a practical and sympathetic entrance that complements the character of the historic gardens.

Butterfly Gate – Rough Bank Nature Reserve, Gloucestershire

This bespoke hand-forged steel gate was created in 2018 as the entrance to Rough Bank Nature Reserve in Gloucestershire, an important butterfly and wildlife habitat.

The commission followed my winning entry in the 2018 Richard Seager Design Award, which invited blacksmiths to design a distinctive new entrance for the reserve. Inspired by the natural setting, the finished gate combines traditional blacksmithing and hand-forged metalwork with contemporary design, creating a functional and characterful entrance that reflects the landscape and wildlife it was designed to protect.

Mackintosh-Inspired Garden Gate – Ruckinge, Kent

This bespoke forged steel garden gate was created in 2020 for a returning client in Ruckinge, Kent. Unusually, the client came to the project with a very clear vision and a carefully prepared design.

My role was to work closely with the client to develop their drawing into a design that could be successfully realised in hand-forged steel, while retaining the character and proportions of the original concept.

The result is a striking garden gate inspired by the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, combining geometric forms with traditional blacksmithing and bespoke metalwork to create a distinctive entrance designed specifically for its setting.

Blamey Gates – Appledore, Kent

Created in 2017, these bespoke steel garden gates were one of my first large-scale commissions after establishing myself as an independent blacksmith. Designed and handcrafted for a property in Appledore, Kent, the gates were created to provide an attractive and practical solution for concealing a bin storage area while keeping dogs safely within the garden.

Combining traditional blacksmithing and hand-forged steelwork with a simple, functional design, the project marked an important early step for Design In Metal and helped establish the approach to bespoke gates and architectural metalwork that continues in my work today.

Gove Gate – Ruckinge, Kent

Created in 2021, this bespoke hand-forged steel garden gate was designed and made for a property in Ruckinge, Kent. The brief was to create a gate that complemented the existing chain fencing while reflecting the Arts and Crafts character found throughout the property.

Traditional blacksmithing techniques and forged joinery were incorporated into the design, celebrating the construction of the gate rather than concealing it. The result is a distinctive yet understated piece of bespoke metalwork, carefully designed to sit naturally alongside the existing fencing and complement the architectural character of the home.

Weave Gates – Rye, East Sussex

Created in 2023, the weave gates were designed as a matched pair of bespoke steel garden gates for a property in Rye, East Sussex. Although different in proportion, both gates share the same distinctive woven design, creating a consistent appearance throughout the garden.

Designed to provide privacy and security while remaining visually interesting, the gates were galvanised to give the steel a durable, low-maintenance and naturally weathering finish. Together, the two gates form a complementary pair of bespoke architectural metalwork, designed specifically for the property and its landscaped surroundings.