Holland Park Living
Balconies
Fire protection
After the Fire of London in 1666, the Rebuilding Act of 1667 was passed to impose fire regulations and building standards for new London houses. Better quality houses were required to have an external balcony at the first floor level. This was why so many London terraces have this feature
Balcony construction
In London terraced houses, balconies were usually made in stone with a cast-iron front in one of the manufacturers’ standard patterns. They were built out from the first floor windows, which often opened onto them like patio doors. Balconies were supported by external brackets but also by iron beams extending into the house. In later Georgian terraces, continuous balconies running along the entire front of the terrace, might replace individual balconies.
Paint colour
Metal balconies (as well as railings at street level) which are now almost always painted black were in Georgian times painted green.
