Inside the Main Library of the Library of Parliament, wrought iron balustrades adorn the alcoves and galleries. These remarkable ornamental ironworks are decorated with brown-green, purple and gold painted motifs, in shapes such as rosettes and spirals, typical of the High Victorian Gothic Revival style. One of the distinguishing features of this architectural style is its use of decorative iron pieces.
These balustrades date back to the Library’s construction in the 1870s. They survived the blaze that destroyed the first Parliament Building in 1916, as well as the fire that damaged the Library in 1952.
When the Library was being built, many contractors and artisans contributed to the layout and interior finishes of the building. H. R. Ives & Co., a Canadian foundry, produced the decorative design elements of the balustrades. Foreman and blacksmith Levi Spencer, an employee of the Canada Lock Company, supervised the fabrication of the iron castings and mouldings of the wrought iron balustrades.
Interestingly, the Canada Lock Company had a contract with Kingston Penitentiary to employ inmates for various ironwork projects. According to archival documents from the penitentiary, about 60 inmates worked on the Library’s wrought iron balustrades over a two-month period.
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The Library of Parliament would like to thank Canada’s Penitentiary Museum for providing valuable historical information on the fabrication of the ornamental ironworks inside the Library.
