Mansion Hill Inn

For more than 150 years, the Mansion Hill Inn's ornate exterior has radiated stately elegance. Thanks to the restoration efforts of Banker Wire, the Madison, Wisconsin bed and breakfast’s ornamental ironwork will continue to charm guests and passersby for years to come.

The 9,000-square-foot inn served originally as a single-family residence. Constructed in 1857 in the spirit of the Romanesque Revival, its distinct exterior wrought iron has never been altered. Therefore, when the project commenced, maintaining the 19th-century artistry and design of the Madison historic site while restoring its ironwork was essential.

In the spirit of preserving historical integrity, the Mansion Hill Inn contracted Wolfgang Schweizer of Milwaukee-based German Blacksmith, LLC, to dismantle and repair the ornamental wire on the building’s iconic balcony. Schweizer, who works in the tradition of Old World craftsmanship, approached Banker Wire for help with the task because the company offers fully customizable architectural wire weaves.

Banker Wire created a unique die to duplicate the original ironwork's slightly irregular decorative crimping pattern. The crimped wires were then assembled individually by hand, in a process reminiscent of their 1857 creation. The restored pattern now sits again where it has for more than a century – atop the balcony over the inn’s front entrance.

The characteristics inherent in Banker Wire architectural mesh make it ideal for a restoration project like the Mansion Hill Inn. Design flexibility allows the material to match any time period, and durability ensures that it will last far into the future. Banker Wire’s custom architectural wire weaves meet both modern and traditional designs, and the material is timeless, making it relevant for any age.