Peter Weldon Iron Designs Ltd. Design and manufacture of period ironwork and architectural ironwork, iron gates and iron railings
Introduction
I
I
I
I
I
I

Gallery

I
I Bookmark Us
vertical page boarder

Information Quick Links
Arrow bullet point About Our Gates
Arrow bullet point Gates Style Guide
Arrow bullet point Site Map
Arrow bullet point Customer Testimonials
Arrow bullet point Video Profile
Spacer line
   
Gates and Railings
Arrow bullet point Iron Gates I
Arrow bullet point Iron Gates II
Arrow bullet point Iron Gates III
Arrow bullet point Iron Gates IV
Arrow bullet point Gates with Overthrows
Arrow bullet point Wrought Iron Piers
Arrow bullet point Wall & Perimeter Railings I
Arrow bullet point Wall & Perimeter Railings II
Arrow bullet point Stairs, Balcony & Balustrades I
Arrow bullet point Stairs, Balcony & Balustrades II
Arrow bullet point Estate Fencing
Spacer line
   
Architectural's
Arrow bullet point Bandstands
Arrow bullet point Summer Houses
Arrow bullet point Bridges
Arrow bullet point Porch
Spacer line
   
Further Designs & Services
Arrow bullet point Specialist Wrought Garden Furniture
Arrow bullet point Tree Seats
Arrow bullet point Wire Designs
Arrow bullet point Garden Structures
Arrow bullet point Decorative Panels
Arrow bullet point CAD Design Service
Arrow bullet point Motif & Model making
Spacer line
   
Steel Sculpture
Arrow bullet point Steel Sculpture
Spacer line
   

Salvo logo
We support Salvo
business code

 
Our Privacy Policy
Copyright © Statement
 

Press Information
Arrow bullet point PW Background
Weldon logo



Peter Weldon.
Artisan and Director of
Peter Weldon Iron Designs Ltd.

I was born in 1967 in Malawi, East Africa. My father was an Englishman working as a farmer on the Nchima tea estate in Thyolo. He arrived in Malawi in the 1950s as a young graduate in agriculture and met my mother, daughter of a Scotsman, working in a bank.

My mother’s family had settled in Africa a couple of generations before and she was born and raised in Malawi. Although I was just a little boy of seven when my family moved to England, it was my early years in Africa that gave me an adventurous spirit in business, design and travel.

We moved to Leicestershire, England, in 1974 where I spent the rest of my childhood. Now I have a family of my own - I married Louise in 1993 and we have two beautiful daughters, Evie who was born in 1996 and Robyn, who arrived in 2004.

I graduated from Staffordshire Polytechnic in 1989 with a first class BA (Hons) in Ceramic Design. For the next few years I worked in the ceramics industry, honing my design and modelmaking skills, before starting my own business in 1994.

I developed a particular interest in European creamware of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, which led to a commission to recreate the famous ‘Tulipieres’ from Chatsworth House, one of England's finest stately homes.

Photo of a Tulipiere

Tulipiere

Marking out a design

Drawing out an ironwork pattern

I also developed a technically difficult range of Sevres-style copies with lost-wax bronze mounts and raised paste gilding; most of these went to high end retailers and designers in the USA. (Click here to view a back-catalogue of my previous ceramic work)

After seven years’ successful ceramics manufacture, I decided it was time for a new venture and sold my business, complete with all moulds and copyrights, to Theodore Alexander, a leading manufacturer of 18th & 19th century reproduction furniture and accessories.

I was contracted to relocate the factory to new premises in Vietnam so in March 2002 I moved to Ho Chi Minh for 12 months with my wife Louise and daughter Evelyn. I made many friends and contacts during this period - and even picked up a little of the language.

Peter Weldon

While in Vietnam, my eye was drawn to the wealth and beauty of ironwork - a legacy of French colonial days. I found the Vietnamese to be skilled steel fabricators and both friendly and hardworking. I met my future business partner and the seeds of a new enterprise were sown.

Peter Weldon Iron Designs began trading in late 2002. The factory is managed by my friend and business partner Anh Hai and employs 25 skilled and versatile metalworkers - not just manufacturers, but craftsmen in their trade.

Hai,with wife Nu and two children
Peter and Hai at the workshop in Vietnam

Hai,with wife Nu and two children

Peter's friend and business partner Hai with his wife Nu and their two children

Peter and Hai

Hai and Peter in Vietnam

Each item is built at the factory then shipped to the UK by seafreight container. This ensures that all elements fit correctly and are suitably protected for transport to the UK and on to the various final destinations, ready for assembly.

I am based in Carmarthen, South Wales, and am personally responsible for all design work. My wife Louise, a skilled pattern designer, works alongside me producing fine ironwork design and drawing, photoshop work and pattern visuals. I am a frequent visitor to Vietnam and consider it to be a second home.

Vietnamese-style travel

The entire Vietnamese nation relies on travel by motorbike, the 90cc Honda Dream moped being the favourite machine. I preferred the less popular Chinese Bonus. Considered thirsty and heavy by the Vietnamese at 150cc, it would carry the three of us and our baggage quite comfortably.

During one weekend we rode from Ho Chi Minh city to the Mekong delta, taking it easy along the way. Our journey attracted much interest from the locals who rarely see Europeans travelling like this.

We also rode an ancient Lambretta that was around 40 years old. It was dubbed the ‘pig and dog’ by my six-year-old daughter Evie because it made such a terrible noise and occasionally refused to start.

Pete Evie and Louise on a motorbike Pete and Evie on a Lambretta
Peter Weldon on a motorbike with his wife Louise and daughter Evelyn aged 6. Peter Weldon and daughter Evelyn on the 40 year old Lambretta.
vertical page boarder
page boarder
Introduction I Our Service I Product Range I Enquiries I Q & A I News I

Gallery

I Associates

Copyright © 2005 - 2011 Peter Weldon Iron Designs Ltd.

Unit 2C, Pantyffynnon Farm, Llanddarog, Carmarthen, Dyfed, South Wales SA32 8BH Tel: 0845 612 5746