Serrated, notched, crenellated, crenulated or castellated cast or wrought iron - or maybe even forged steel - sections of kerb (curb in the U.S.) have been salvaged recently from an old city-centre Bristol site by Source Antiques.
 
This type of kerb is still seen in a few locations around the city, protecting its original Bristol pennant flagstones from damage by iron-bound cartwheels. So what is its story? Although no foundry names have been found cast into the kerb, it is likely that a Scottish ironfounder, William Douglas, who set up in Bristol in 1885 making street furniture and lamposts was the maker of the kerb and it was still being fitted in the early twentieth century. William and his son, Douglas went on to manufacture the famed Douglas motorcycles in Kingswood from 1907 to the 1950s.
 
Why was it chosen by the city Corporation, and why in Bristol? A speculative theory was that the kerb was originally manufactured for a prototype of some kind of funicular railway designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and was reused as kerb when that venture failed.
 
Could the notched angle iron have originally been made to be used as a kerb for the Clifton Suspension Bridge? Is it possible that the roadway may have needed something lighter, more ductile, and protective than stone, and this was Brunel's radical solution?
 
A book published in 1900 stated that wrought iron kerb was being extensively used in connection with in-situ concrete pavements, which serves the purpose very well and has a smart, well-defined appearance … and is economical especially replacing old irregular kerb. Cast iron kerb was less favoured - their shape makes them dangerous for pedestrians owing to their becoming slippery. - p383 Road Making and Maintenance 1900 author Thomas Aitken 1857-1918.
 
When the salvage is complete, Rod Donaldson of Source is hoping save around 200 feet in total, in five feet long sections, which is for sale.