Gorgeous gates add security and a touch of drama

IF FIRST impressions count, then Gordon and Leon Gray-Lockhart lead the way.
The hand-built wrought iron gates that now adorn their Rawhitiroa gateway hint of splendid architectural magnificence beyond.
Gordon is a keen do it yourself home handyman, and has been working on various projects on their 1908 villa, since they moved there three years ago.
The inside's mostly done now, and for the past few months, Gordon has been working on the garden and driveway. Concrete has been laid, sturdy timber fences built and 19 lights installed. Leon, the gardener, has planted conifers lining the driveway, to give year round colour and soften the timber fence.
The lofty gates add security to the property as well as style - it's unlikely any would-be-thieves would fancy climbing over the arrowhead spikes, even if they had the athletic ability to do so.
The two gates each weigh about 80kg, and were hand-built by blacksmith Joe Parkes of Stratford. The project took him about a week's work, and they are unique.
He used pre-made wrought iron arrowheads and small scrolls from Italy along the top of the gates, but the larger scrolls and turns along the bottom were all made by hand to fit the gates.
Each gate has an electric motor, so they silently swish open and shut at the press of a button, or a remote.
Joe offered to make the gates after Gordon showed him a photo of some he was looking at on Trade Me.
The two men both hail from Scotland and have an eye for a bargain.
"I showed it to Joe and in his imitable way he suggested those particular gates might not be up to par, and he showed me a photo of some gates he could build."
"When you look down the driveway here, you see a house in period style, and you don't want plain gates. The scrolls and arrow heads on these gates go with the scrolls and features on the house," he says.
"These are crafted gates, not run of the mill ones. Everything is individual, you won't find another set of gates like this, and you're looking at a 40-year lifespan before you have to do anything."
Another aspect of the project that pleased Gordon was that he was able to set the hefty timber gateposts in either side of the gateway, then Joe made the gates to fit.
"From my point of view as a DIY-er, it would have been much more difficult for me to get the gateposts set just right to fit a set of readymade gates."
Joe has been blacksmithing for 46 years, starting at 11 working for his grandfather.
"I'm pleased with the result," Joe says.
Gordon agrees.
"I'm absolutely over the moon with the result, I'm just rapt. These gates set off the house beautifully, and I don't have to get out of the car to open the gates any more," he says.