St Michael’s Church has stood in the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow since 1242; it’s one of the largest burgh churches within the Church of Scotland.
The South Porch Gates were commissioned by The Society of Friends of St Michael’s Church. The Gateway, which consists of two gate leaves and an overthrow, has been hand crafted using traditional blacksmithing skills and techniques. The hot forging of mild steel, punched holes, forged tenons, rivets, fire welding, forged leaves and tapers are all evident of the highly skilled craftsmanship utilised to create the gates. The design, which consists of intertwining tendrils, leaves and hanging grapes, is representative of the true vine. The Gateway took three blacksmiths, working at the fire and anvil and then riveting the elements of the gates together, three months to complete. Due to Grade A listed building status, permission had to be obtained for the addition of a gate to the building. The gate design was approved but no fixings were allowed into the fabric of the building to hang the gate. The overthrow is ingeniously clamped around the curved pillars, holding it firmly in place. The gates are hinged from the overthrow above and the ground below via a simple pin joint. The gates are given an added lustre with galvanizing and painting. The paint has graphite powder added to it which is then burnished to give an added texture and sheen to the finish. The South Porch Gates look very much a part of this ancient historic building, both in the timeless design and workmanship to create the gates and the use of galvanizing and painting as an appropriate finish.