1700's Fireplace

[android]

Just really hoping someone can help with advice on this !
Currently doing the 'full hit' on a townhouse in Shrewsbury. This is our 'forever home' according to 'er indoors !!
I'm guessing it's build date around 1720,I have the title deeds in olde worlde engleesh and dates of 1750 are mentioned. (you carnt read it proper like).
Originally i believe the house would have had 8 rooms over 4 floors (including cellar).
On the floor I'm working on (ground floor front) I removed 1/2 the carpet - all well floorboards and eminently sand-able. The second 1/2 of the floor horror story (were you surprised !) mostly damaged quarry tiled floor repaired with concrete. So fair to say that was the kitchen in a past life.
Ok,i knew old house = grafting. Went and bought 200 Ruabon quarry tiles and that half is now restored - nice job if i say so myself.
I want to restore the fireplace back into the chimney brest in the 'kitchen' half. The horrid '70's gas fire/back boiler has now been removed,I realise a range would have been there in olden times (the hole is BIG!). But as it is part of my so called lounge now (Kitchen moved to cellar) I was wondering what kind of fireplace to fit. My other half has fallen in love with this but I'm guessing it's circa 1850's or possibly later ?

I've seen hour-glass hob-grates on the interweb,is that more period correct ?

Any clues as to what is in keeping would be gratefully received !!

Cheers Andy

 

[Feltwell]

Welcome to a fellow Salopian!

I'm going to be slightly controversial and say put in what you (or more likely Mrs Andy!) likes, what you think goes with the house. Why? You don't know what was there originally, whatever you put in will likely date after your house was built and could have been installed at any time. No one in the future will think it was original. You can leave evidence of when you installed it for someone to discover in the future.

I'm going to put some Victorian fireplaces back into my Victorian house - but - I know what was there originally, and what I'm putting back I am 99% certain is the same, after much trawling of Ebay for several years I've got identical fireplaces to what was there. I shall still scratch some evidence of when I installed them though on some hidden plasterwork behind the surround.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I'm assuming it's not listed? though that would be surprising if it's c1720

 

[android]

Thanks for your input folks,Feltwell I see where you are coming from. Would keep her happy as well,I'm all for a quiet life !!

I'm assuming it's not listed? though that would be surprising if it's c1720

Yes it's Grade 2 - the outside has been looked after whereas the interior is a 70's nightmare. It was listed in 1972 so not a lot of notice has been taken with regards to the inside with double ply woodchip covering lunar surface plastering,hideous MDF doors and pretty much all the original features removed unfortunately. So it falls on me as present custodian to try and put it all back - I make it sound like a tall order but I'm really enjoying it so far.

The earlier hob-grates I was rambling on about are on this page,I'm trying to visualize how you set it into the chimney brest and if there would be a surround.

http://www.uk-heritage.co.uk/fireplaces/hob-grates/?style=1

 

[Penners]

I was wondering what kind of fireplace to fit. My other half has fallen in love with this but I'm guessing it's circa 1850's or possibly later ? Any clues as to what is in keeping would be gratefully received !!

The fireplace in your photograph is certainly in a much later style than 1720! It's difficult to see much detail but it could be "Victorian-style" or even later.

If you want to install something entirely in keeping with the original build date of the house, you'll need to research what local styles were in use in the early C18th. If you want to install something later then you should, of course, choose something that you both like.

However, Gareth makes an important point. If the house is listed then your choice will need the approval of your Conservation Officer.