Metal railings were an integral part of Georgian architecture in Dublin, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes. Here is a brief history of their use: In the early 18th century, wrought iron railings were commonly used to enclose and demarcate newly developed streets and squares in Dublin. These early railings were quite plain, complementing the Georgian architecture they adjoined. Examples from the first half of the 18th century can still be seen lining houses on Henrietta Street. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, cast iron became increasingly incorporated into ornamental ironwork. Cast iron elements like decorative infill panels, husks, finials and collars were used to embellish wrought iron railing frames. Entire railing panels cast in iron also became more widespread by the 1890s, with many examples found in Dublin, Cork, Dundalk and Limerick. The large-scale development of Georgian squares and terraces in Dublin from the 1700s onwards fueled a rising demand for iron railings. Mountjoy Square, considered the only "true" Georgian square in Dublin, features a number of beautiful terraced Georgian houses with characteristic black metal railings at the front of each property. The use of cast iron allowed for the mass production of highly decorative railing designs at little cost. Popular motifs included the honeysuckle pattern and shamrock and sword design. The railings were an integral part of the distinctive character of Georgian garden squares in Dublin, which featured red-brick townhouses with elaborate entrances and interiors surrounding an enclosed central garden. In summary, metal railings, evolving from simple wrought iron to ornate cast iron designs, were an essential architectural feature of Georgian Dublin, enclosing and embellishing the city's iconic squares and terraces.'y.