By the second half of the nineteenth century cast iron had been used everywhere. from constructing and embellishing buildings to bridges and even for toys and jewellery.

Robust and solid, it was at the same time capable of being moulded into intricate shapes and fine tracery - it was cheap but would last forever.

This book looks at the history of the material that made the Industrial Revolution possible, and at some of the cast iron products we appreciate today, not only for the imagination and craftsmanship with which they were produced, but also because they reflect the style, vigour and confidence of their era.