Wrought Iron Pergolas

A pergola gives climbing plants something worth climbing and gives a garden its structure. We hand-forge wrought iron pergolas, garden arches and trellis panels: tall arched walkways, arbours with built-in benches, mini gazebos and wall trellises for roses, vines and clematis.

Unlike flat-pack pergola kits, every piece here is forged from solid steel to your measurements, so it can carry heavy, mature plants without bending.

Our pergola, arch and trellis designs

Built for heavy climbers, protected for decades

Wisteria, grapevines and rambling roses become surprisingly heavy as they mature, and they tug at their support every time the wind blows. That is why our pergolas use thick sections, riveted and collared joints and solid anchoring, either set in concrete or bolted down on base plates.

After forging, each pergola is hot-dip galvanized, then painted with high-quality two-component paint and, if you wish, patinated. Black and graphite are the classics; white, ivory, gold accents and antique bronze are just as popular.

Why a pergola has to be metal

Many climbing plants need support to show off their flowers. Years ago they were often trained straight onto the walls of a house, but today this is rare, because climbers damage modern facades. That is what garden pergolas are for. In theory a pergola can be built from many materials; in practice only an iron pergola survives the battle with a mature plant. As climbers grow, they wind around their support and their stems thicken; a wooden structure would be crushed by that grip within a few years, while the weight of the plant and the wind load add further strain and the timber itself begins to rot.

A pergola that should give pleasure for many years must therefore be made of metal, and among metals the right one is steel: widely available, very strong and not brittle, fully weather-resistant once it is properly protected, and plastic enough when heated to be shaped by hand.

What makes a metal pergola strong

The strength of a pergola depends on its design, on whether it is a flat trellis or a three-dimensional structure, and on the size and spacing of the bars: the heavier and denser they are, the stronger the result. Decorative pergolas are rarely flat; far more often they are built as three-dimensional walkways or tunnels. This form is not only stronger but also more spectacular, because a few years after installation you can walk beneath it through a sea of leaves and blossom.

The pattern matters just as much, because it gives the whole structure its charm. The most beautiful patterns belong to forged pergolas, made by master blacksmiths and metal artists. They are not over-decorated, since in time they will be covered by foliage, but they carry plenty of fine details that stay visible through the leaves and lift the whole garden.

Arch, tunnel or trellis?

A wrought iron pergola can take the form of a single arch over a path, a long tunnel, a free-standing structure with benches, or a flat trellis against a wall. Arched pergolas such as the classic lattice arch AP5 look lovely over a path; the pergola with built-in benches AP3 creates a place to rest; the round mini-gazebo AP4 sits halfway between a pergola wrought iron gazebo and an arbour; and the wall trellis AP8 guides climbers up a wall.

The size should suit the garden. In smaller gardens we recommend trellis panels or compact arches; in large gardens and parks you can be more ambitious, with long openwork tunnels that turn into green corridors.

Pergolas for roses, wisteria and vines

We design every pergola with its future plants in mind: roses, wisteria, grapevines, Virginia creeper or clematis. Forged and hot-dip galvanized steel will carry the weight of mature climbers, and we set the height and width so that, years later, you can still walk comfortably underneath. All our pergolas are made from thick, hand-forged steel, and their anti-corrosion protection is covered by our guarantee.

Pergola FAQ

Can a pergola be fixed to a wall?

Yes. Wall trellises and lean-to pergolas are fixed with brackets, while free-standing arches are anchored in the ground.

Can you match the pattern of my gate or fence?

We often repeat a motif from an existing gate, fence or railing, so the whole garden reads as one design.

Do you sell wrought iron pergola kits?

We do not make flat-pack kits. Each pergola is forged to measure; larger ones are delivered in sections with bolted joints, ready to be assembled on site by our crew or by a local installer using our drawings.

Which climbing plants suit a forged pergola best?

Roses, clematis, honeysuckle and grapevines are classic choices. Wisteria is the heaviest and most vigorous, so for it we use thicker sections and deeper anchoring.

For a covered seating area, take a look at our wrought iron gazebos; both belong to our garden architecture collection.