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Gallery

Internal Timber Fretwork Arches — Hall and Passage Gallery

Photographs of internal fretwork used inside the house — across a hallway, between two rooms, or framing the passage where a Victorian plan narrows.

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15 photographs

An arched fretwork panel over a hallway, looking down a carpeted corridor towards panelled doors
An arched fretwork panel over a hallway, looking down a carpeted corridor towards panelled doors

What you get

  • Australian made — every product, made in our Bayswater workshop since 1984
  • 25 year guarantee — on external LOSP H3 treated pine, above ground
  • An answer within one business day — we reply to enquiries and quote requests
  • In stock, or made in 1 to 4 weeks — some of the range is in stock; the rest is made to order
  • Timber-profile matching — from a photograph, drawing or sample
Arched hall fretwork in close-up, a tulip motif pierced beside the run of slats
Arched hall fretwork in close-up, a tulip motif pierced beside the run of slats
An arched fretwork panel spanning a corridor, stylised motifs pierced at each end
An arched fretwork panel spanning a corridor, stylised motifs pierced at each end
Arched hall fretwork between two panelled timber doors, looking along the corridor
Arched hall fretwork between two panelled timber doors, looking along the corridor
Hall fretwork in close-up, heart and clover shapes pierced through the panel beside a wall sconce
Hall fretwork in close-up, heart and clover shapes pierced through the panel beside a wall sconce
An arched fretwork panel over a hallway, seen from beneath its moulded bracket
An arched fretwork panel over a hallway, seen from beneath its moulded bracket
Two arched fretwork panels in a foyer, one above the reception desk and one over the doorway beyond
Two arched fretwork panels in a foyer, one above the reception desk and one over the doorway beyond

An arched fretwork panel is the detail that dates a house from the inside. Walk into a Victorian hallway and the arch across the passage tells you the period before you have looked at a single cornice. It is also, unusually for period joinery, an entirely visual decision: an internal panel carries nothing. Nothing structural depends on which pattern you choose, so choose the one you like.

What are these fretwork arches made from?

These are the Heritage & Decorative Timber Products internal fretwork — the HFR range: an MDF panel, 18mm, set into a clear pine frame of 65 x 32mm. That construction is deliberate. Internal fretwork never sees weather, so there is nothing for a preservative treatment to protect against, and MDF holds a fine pierced pattern more cleanly than pine does. They are made to be painted, or finished to match the joinery already in the room.

Because they are clear pine and MDF rather than treated pine, internal fretwork is not covered by our 25 year external timber guarantee. That guarantee applies to external LOSP H3 treated pine used above ground.

How many patterns are there?

Nineteen fretwork patterns. The range runs HFR1 to HFR5 and HFR8 to HFR19, plus DFR10 and DFR11. HFR1 is the classic Victorian hall arch and the pattern the range grew out of. Every design is drawn at 2,690mm wide by 1,230mm high and scaled to your opening rather than cut down from a fixed panel. There is a minimum charge of 1.5 metres wide.

Looking up at an arched fretwork panel over a doorway, with a leadlight lantern hanging beneath
Looking up at an arched fretwork panel over a doorway, with a leadlight lantern hanging beneath

How do I measure my opening?

Three numbers order an arched fretwork panel:

  1. The clear width, from the inside face of one jamb to the inside face of the other. Take it at more than one height — old openings bow.
  2. The side drop — how far the timber comes down alongside each upright.
  3. The centre drop — how far the arch dips at the middle of the span.

Together the side drop and centre drop set the sweep of the curve. Photograph the opening square-on with a tape measure in the frame.

Replacing an original? Send a section of it. Ask about our timber-profile matching service. Australian made, delivered Australia-wide. Call 03 9720 1996.

Related pages

On the house

An arched fretwork panel spanning a corridor, motifs pierced above the slatted run
An arched fretwork panel spanning a corridor, motifs pierced above the slatted run
An arched fretwork valance over a hallway, above polished floorboards running to a leadlight door
An arched fretwork valance over a hallway, above polished floorboards running to a leadlight door
Arched hall fretwork seen from the room beyond, with a second arch to the right
Arched hall fretwork seen from the room beyond, with a second arch to the right
Internal timber arch - a Gothic arched opening with carved corbels built in the workshop
Internal timber arch - a Gothic arched opening with carved corbels built in the workshop
Internal timber arch - arched head with Art Nouveau corner panels over a reception area
Internal timber arch - arched head with Art Nouveau corner panels over a reception area
Internal timber arch - close view of an Art Nouveau corner panel in a fretwork arch
Internal timber arch - close view of an Art Nouveau corner panel in a fretwork arch

The pieces themselves

Line-drawn arch panel, a fleur-de-lys pierced at the centre and each end
Line-drawn arch panel, a fleur-de-lys pierced at the centre and each end

Browse 15 photographs in this gallery.

Call 03 9720 1996Get a quote