Established 1893 | BS 460:2002 Certified | UK & International Supply | Expert Technical Support | 0333 987 4452
Price range: £88.00 through £142.40 +VAT
The Iron Works Patterned Hit & Miss Vent in Polished Brass is a decorative ventilation grille produced in the classic interlocking foliate pattern of Victorian ironwork, cast and finished in solid polished brass. The brass finish gives the grille a warm, distinctive character that sits correctly with Victorian and Edwardian brass joinery fittings — letterplates, door furniture, window catches — where a matching material is the specification rather than an approximation.
The grille operates as a true hit and miss vent: a sliding plate on the reverse moves across the apertures to open or close airflow as required, without the need to remove the grille. The foliate face pattern — an interlocking arrangement of stylised leaf and stem forms closely associated with high Victorian decorative metalwork — sits within a flat outer frame with integral fixing holes. Available in two sizes: 225mm × 82mm (single-course format) and 225mm × 150mm (double-course format). The polished brass finish is solid throughout, not plated, giving it the durability and colour depth expected in a heritage specification.
The Polished Brass finish is the correct specification where existing building ironwork is in brass — entrance lobbies, Victorian public buildings, churches, quality residential properties — or where the client requires a warm metal tone rather than the cooler grey of cast iron. It is appropriate for listed buildings and conservation area properties where the original ventilation grilles were in brass, and for new heritage-quality construction where the specification calls for solid brass fittings throughout.
For listed building projects, conservation specifications, or to discuss material suitability, call 0333 987 4452.
| Size | 225 x 150mm, 225 x 82mm |
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Yes. Polished brass is a historically appropriate finish for period and listed buildings and is generally acceptable to conservation officers. If your project requires specific confirmation, we are happy to advise — call 0333 987 4452.
We manufacture a wide variety of brackets for many different cast iron gutter and pipe profiles. More common types are the rise and fall, top fix and side fix rafter and the holderbat or pipe clip.
We can also offer traditional drive brackets, repair brackets and fascia brackets in both steel and cast iron.
It is always advisable to replace like with like because quite often the brackets form and important part of the buildings architecture. Occasionally buildings have special decorative brackets and our UK manufacturing allows us to produce small quantities of bespoke brackets when required.
The Pultney Tapered Hopper Head is well suited to Georgian and Regency townhouses, Victorian terraces, rural farmhouses, barns, and functional estate buildings where a plain, period-correct hopper is the appropriate specification. It also works well on new heritage-style construction. Its unfussy, chamfered form makes it a versatile choice across a wide range of traditional building types.
Most old buildings have cast iron rainwater systems that should be maintained and preserved however; these inherent benefits make cast iron an ideal choice for both traditional and modern installations. It is not uncommon to see modern alternative products marketed with terms like low maintenance or easy to install and cost effective. It has even been said that ‘plastic guttering systems provide a way of achieving a traditional look with modern convenience
As well as being easier to produce, the material enabled eaves gutters to be installed more simply, since lead could only be used in this location as a lining for timber gutters. Many modern materials focus on replicating the appearance of cast iron but those materials can vary rarely offer any of the benefits. Cast iron gutters and pipes offer great strength and durability, a proven history of long life, low noise operation and fire resistance.
Most old buildings have cast iron rainwater systems that should be maintained and preserved however; these inherent benefits make cast iron an ideal choice for both traditional and modern installations. It is not uncommon to see modern alternative products marketed with terms like low maintenance or easy to install and cost effective. It has even been said that ‘plastic guttering systems provide a way of achieving a traditional look with modern convenience’.
These terms tend to refer to possible cost savings rather than any real product benefits. It is also difficult to quantify the benefits of modern convenience over traditional build quality. It is worth remembering that all rainwater goods will require some element of maintaining to ensure they are unblocked by debris and remain functional. No rainwater system cleans itself.
Today most suppliers of cast iron rainwater systems offer products in both primer or pre-painted with a 10 year protective coating. When describing modern materials, the term ‘cost effective’ is used rather than simply saying cheap. There is no doubt that the initial cost of many modern materials is less than cast iron but you might be surprised to know that over its lifespan, cast iron will cost around a third of plastic.
Yes. Cast iron rainwater goods are widely accepted by conservation officers and historic environment bodies as the appropriate material for listed buildings. Tuscan Foundry's hopper heads are manufactured in solid cast iron to BS 460 specification and are suitable for all listed building grades. A linseed oil paint finish is also available, which is particularly appropriate for conservation projects.
The Ornamental Airbrick is suited to Victorian villas, bay-fronted terraces, Gothic Revival institutional buildings, church halls, and civic buildings where decorative ironwork is part of the architectural language. It is also appropriate for listed buildings and conservation area properties where the airbrick is on a prominent elevation and the ventilation grille is expected to carry decorative character.
The Brass Rooflight Opener Handle 1520mm is a pole-operated handle designed for manual rooflight opening mechanisms. It is suitable for use with Lumen Rooflights and compatible timber-framed skylights, and is particularly appropriate for period and heritage properties where a brass finish is specified.
A hit and miss vent has a sliding plate on the reverse of the grille that can be moved to open or close the ventilation apertures. This allows airflow to be regulated without removing or replacing the grille. The vent can be fully open, partially open, or fully closed depending on ventilation requirements.
The Antique Black cast iron version is suitable for external use. The Polished Lacquered version is best suited to interiors or sheltered external locations where the polished finish will be protected from weathering. The Polished Brass version is suited to interior and semi-exposed locations. For external applications on exposed elevations, the Antique Black finish is the recommended specification.
The Calnethorpe is designed for formal classical and Georgian elevations where scale and material authenticity matter — large townhouses, country houses, manor houses, and institutional buildings. It is also widely specified for new-build heritage projects where cast iron rainwater goods are required to conservation standard.
