The wrought iron plate girder became the basic device for building. Historical uses of wrought iron were decorative: fences, gates, railings, balconies, porches, canopies, roof cresting, lamp, grilles, hardware, nails, iron cramps, structural members in tension (I, H and other beams), etc.

The ancient Chinese created wrought iron by using the finery forge at least by the 2nd century BC, the earliest specimens of cast and pig iron fined into wrought iron and steel found at the early Han dynasty site at Tieshengguo.