Refurbishment of the Cannon Bollards

The Grade II listed cannon-style bollards dating from 1826 are undergoing specialist restorative painting by heritage ironwork experts. The project began this month and is expected to complete by the end of February.

The eight cannon bollards that line the north pavement of Fitzroy Square are among its most distinctive street furniture features. Cast in iron and believed to have been made from surplus cannon barrels following the Napoleonic Wars, they have stood at their present locations since the north side of the square was completed in 1827.

The Restoration Process

The work is being carried out by a specialist heritage metalwork contractor approved by Historic England. The process involves:

• Careful removal of accumulated layers of paint using hot-air stripping and hand tools (no chemical strippers, which can damage the iron)
• Treatment of any rust or corrosion with a specialist rust-converting primer
• Application of a heritage-grade micaceous iron oxide undercoat
• Two topcoats of black gloss paint, matched to the original specification
• Re-gilding of the crown finials where original gilding has been detected

The bollards are Grade II listed as part of the square’s overall listing, and all works have been approved under a Listed Building Consent issued by Camden Council in December 2025.

Funding

The project is jointly funded by the Frontagers’ Committee and a grant from the Historic England Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk programme, which supports the conservation of listed structures at risk of deterioration. The cannon bollards were added to the Heritage at Risk register in 2023 following a condition survey.

The Committee thanks all frontagers for their patience during the works, which require temporary pedestrian management around the affected areas. The project is on schedule to complete well ahead of the summer opening season.