UK Fence History and Dates
Significant Date and History in UK Fencing
The Romans introduce organised timber palisades, military fortifications and defensive earthworks to Britain.
Following the Norman Conquest, enclosed deer parks and timber boundaries become increasingly common.
The first documented park pales appear around royal hunting parks. These tall timber fences are designed to keep deer in and poachers out.
Split chestnut paling fencing is widely used throughout southern England.
Post and rail fencing becomes a common method of controlling livestock.
Henry VII introduces legislation to restrict excessive enclosure of farmland.
The first Parliamentary Enclosure Act is passed.
Most farmland is still open field with relatively few permanent fences.
The Enclosure Movement transforms the British landscape. Over 200,000 miles of new boundaries are created using hedges, timber fencing, ditches and walls.
The first cast iron fence panels are produced in Britain.
The General Enclosure Act simplifies enclosure.
Industrial sawmills make sawn fencing materials cheaper and more consistent.
Creosote timber preservation is introduced, dramatically increasing fence life.
The General Inclosure Act establishes permanent Enclosure Commissioners.
Wire fencing begins replacing timber rails on farms.
The first successful galvanising processes become commercially available in Britain, greatly increasing steel fence longevity.
Lochrin Bain established in Glasgow, and is still manufacturing steel palisade fencing today.
Chain link fencing begins appearing around railways and industrial sites.
Barbed wire is invented in America and rapidly adopted across Britain during the following decades.
Steel railings become common around schools, churches and public buildings.
F.H. Brundle founded and still serve the fencing industry today.
Woven stock fencing becomes standard for sheep and livestock.
Palisade fencing is introduced and quickly becomes the preferred high-security fence for utilities, factories and railways.
The First World War accelerates the use of military wire fencing and security barriers.
Concrete fence posts begin appearing commercially.
Concrete gravel boards become increasingly popular.
The Second World War sees huge demand for military perimeter fencing, anti-intruder barriers and airfield security.
The Fencing Contractors Association (FCA) is founded to help procure timber and fencing materials for the war effort.
Jacksons Fencing is founded in Kent.
Agricultural recovery following WWII leads to major investment in new farm fencing.
Welded mesh fencing enters mainstream UK construction.
Timber lap panels become increasingly popular for domestic gardens.
Grange (under RF Hill) introduces prefabricated interwoven panels and timber ladders; this decade also sees simple wooden panel fencing become popular across expanding UK suburbs.
British Standard BS 1722 begins development, eventually becoming the UK's primary fencing standard.
Heras is founded.
Forest Garden is founded.
Jacksons develops its unique Jakcure® pressure treatment process.
Motorway fencing becomes standard as Britain's motorway network expands.
Steel tube gates replace many traditional timber farm gates.
CLD Fencing Systems is established.
Pressure treated timber becomes increasingly common throughout the UK fencing industry.
Purpose-built acoustic barriers appear alongside motorways.
Sports fencing becomes a specialist product sector.
Barkers begins expanding into perimeter security systems.
Temporary construction fencing becomes standard across UK building sites.
"Heras fencing" becomes the generic name for temporary fencing.
A major shift occurs as timber yards expand heavily into metal fabrication. Companies begin mass-manufacturing vertical bar steel railings and welded mesh systems domestically to secure industrial estates.
358 prison mesh fencing is introduced to the UK market.
Automated timber treatment plants become widespread.
Grange becomes the first national manufacturer to automate fence panel production.
Computer-aided fence design enters manufacturing.
Industrial fencing integrates with technology as manufacturers add dedicated gate automation and access control divisions.
LPS 1175 security ratings are introduced.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is established.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is established.
The Environment Act increases protection for hedgerows.
Zaun is founded.
Littlewood Group is founded – one of the largest fencing contractors.
Hedgerow Regulations come into force.
Twin wire mesh fencing becomes widely specified around schools due to its strength and anti-vandal properties.
V Mesh fencing becomes one of Britain's most specified commercial fencing systems.
Composite fencing arrives in the UK.
FenceX launches – the UK's first and only dedicated exhibition for the fencing and perimeter security industry.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act reinforces boundary maintenance.
Guarantees on fences become a common feature after Jacksons Fencing releases their 25 year guarantee.
The Perimeter Security Suppliers Association (PSSA) is established.
Hostile Vehicle Mitigation becomes an emerging specialist sector following increased security concerns.
The Association of Fencing Industries (AFI) is established.
Secured by Design fencing specifications become increasingly adopted.
The National Barrier Asset is founded by the UK government.
Jacksons Jakoustic is launched and acoustic fencing becomes common on new housing developments and along roads.
Solar-powered perimeter security systems begin appearing.
Gate Safe is launched.
First Fence is established.
Data centres become a major market for high-security perimeter fencing.
Renewable energy sites become significant users of perimeter security fencing.
Fencing News Limited, the publisher behind the prominent UK industry publication Fencing & Landscaping News, is officially incorporated.
BIM objects become widely available for specifying fencing.
The Hedgehog Gravel Board is introduced by Jacksons Fencing, allowing hedgehogs to move between gardens while protecting timber fence panels from ground contact.
First Fence opens new depots across the UK (Kent, Bristol, Tipton) and secures a manufacturing HQ in Swadlincote.
The UK government contracts national security manufacturers (Zaun, Jacksons) to manufacture and deploy significant kilometres of bespoke, high-security anti-climb fencing at Eurotunnel sites and borders in France in response to escalating geopolitical border pressures.
CLD launches FenceSafe – designed to provide the same level of security and rigidity as a permanent mesh fence but in a temporary, foundation-free format.
Demand for anti-climb school fencing reaches record levels.
CLD becomes the first British manufacturer to export high-specification rigid mesh fencing systems directly to China.
Increasing demand for certified sustainable timber.
Smart perimeter detection systems become increasingly integrated into fencing.
COVID-19 creates unprecedented demand for temporary barriers, crowd control, site security and even garden fencing.
Composite fencing becomes one of the fastest-growing domestic fencing sectors.
Zaun joins the Fastline Steel Services Group.
Solar fencing and integrated renewable technologies become commercially available, including Jacksons' Jaksun panel.
Growing emphasis on low-carbon steel, recycled materials and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
CPNI/NPSA removes fences from the catalogue of security equipment.
