Arch, tiled insert or combination?

[Anonymous]

What type should I have in my living room?

Where can I find information on what type of fireplace should be used in what room or house?

Asking a neighbour what they have would be a good idea but all the houses are quite different in our road, apart from our terrace. Next door has just had a stroke so we don't want to bother her and haven't introduced ourselves yet and next door but one doesn't have the original fireplace.

Our house is an 1894, three bedroom end terrace that can be seen here - http://1894house.blogspot.com/ You can also see the original fireplace that we've nearly finished in the bedroom, which might give you a better idea of what was previously in the living room.

The fireplace hole is this size:
36.5cm - Depth
81.5cm - Height (in middle)
81.5cm - Width

The chimney breast is 129.5cm wide.

We've had the chimney swept and would be ready to get the fireplace installed if only we knew what we wanted.

Any thoughts would be great.

 

[Penners]

The Victorian Society has a book on fireplaces that should give you a fund of information. See number 3 on this web page:-

http://www.victorian-society.org.uk/carevichouse.html

 

[Sal]

off topic sorry
that quince tree you have is an ornamental or Japonese Quince. you can cook with it just as well, but its not exactly the same things as a quince....

okie.. back to the fireplace discussion (I would just choose a fireplace of similar style to the other one as they prolly went in at same time)

Sal

 

[thiambal]

We have looked around at fireplaces quite a bit to find something suitable for our house. The best fire interms of quality we found were Ballard and Bailey. They have a webiste but only supply direct to trade.

However, the cheapest web supplier for their fireplace I found was http://www.bestpricefires.com They were much more competative than any of the local suppliers.

I have not used either of these firms and I am not connected with them in any way. Just the results of my recent research.

As for whether you have an insert or combination? - Can you check out nearby houses who may still have their original fire places?

Note that you can get cast iron inserts with cast iron surround that look at lot like combinations at first glance.

 

[Anonymous]

Are their any guides on what type of fire was used in what type of property? Why did some houses have the arch fireplace and some have the tiled insert type?

Was it that smaller houses had arch or combination fireplaces and grander houses had the tiled insert type or something like this?

Or have I got this completely wrong? Were all types of fires used in all types of houses, it just depended on who was building the house and who was supplying the fireplace?

So confused and don't want to regret putting in the wrong type. To me it is like putting up a ceiling rose and coving in a new house?!?

 

[Nemesis]

Actually, putting in. retrospectively, a speculative fireplace design from the past isn't always sound conservation either! What may be is a simple modern design which would be in sympathy with the building!

But in general, the sort with an arch is earlier than the tiled with hood type.

However, manufacturers continued with designs for a long time, and fashions only changed slowly in the days before TV makeover progs.

 

[thiambal]

I think you will find that inserts and combinations can be both tiled or arched i.e. you can get tiled inserts and arched combintions and vice versa

In my very limited knowledge, based on the my own house and those of friends and families - inserts and surrounds tend to be larger overall than combinations.

I am sure someone else here will give you much sounder advice.

Do take care though of accepting the opinion of your local purveyor of fireplaces - I vistied 4 in one day and each had a different opinion of what was appropriate for my size and age of house - the opinion seemed to be mainly based on what they had for sale.

 

[Anonymous]

Just in case anyone is interested, I dated the bedroom fireplace last night and it was made on the 30th April 1877 (17 years before the house was built). I love finding stuff our about my house like this.

 

[arl]

that makes sense. arched fires are generally before 1880 whilst tiled inserts are after. but as said fashions changed slowly and you will still fine older fireplaces being put in especially in bedrooms.
our house is 1889, we have a combination square opening fireplace in the back bedroom and a tiled combination in the main bedroom.
having looked at the approximate size needed for the living room we are replacing the horrid 1930s thing with a tiled insert and seperate surround. it is my belief that victorian fireplaces in the downstairs rooms should occupy most of the width of the chimney so a combination was not an option (they do exist in those sizes but they are incredibly grand and v expensive.

this shop is great for browsing but they are v expensive compared to others. they really have some beauties. quite hard not to get carried away and fit some enormous marble thing more fitting for a mansion rather than a terrace
http://www.oldfireplaces.co.uk/

hope this helps

 

[thiambal]

it is my belief that victorian fireplaces in the downstairs rooms should occupy most of the width of the chimney so a combination was not an option

I think you are right, but does depend on the size of the house - we have combinations in the downstairs rooms which take up most of the width of the chimney - being a small terranced house the chimney breasts are only 49" wide.

 

[Anna]

Can I endorse Penners' recommendation of the Victorian Society's "A brief guide to the restoration and maintenance of Victorian and Edwardian fireplaces". It's a booklet rather than a book - easily readable in one session, & a great primer in the different styles and their histories.

This year we unearthed 2 (mostly) intact original cast iron fireplaces in our house, boarded up & behind built-in furniture. It was SO exciting (quiet life!), & so satisfying to reveal the decoration from behind layers of paint (well, one done & one to go). The icing on the cake was to identify them in the literature.

I'm slowly working my way now through the same society's "The Victorian Society Book of the Victorian House" by Kit Wedd. Again a great primer for ignoramuses like me.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm being really daft but can someone please point out how I can order the Victorian Society's booklet? I've searched the website but just can't work it out.

 

[Anna]

You're right it's really not at all clear - there's an "Order Form" link in the menu down the left.

 

[Anonymous]

Forget that last request. I found the page.

 

[Sal]

Just in case anyone is interested, I dated the bedroom fireplace last night and it was made on the 30th April 1877 (17 years before the house was built). I love finding stuff our about my house like this.

how did you go about dating it?

 

[Nemesis]

I don't think registration marks were confined to pottery..

http://www.thepotteries.org/mark/reg.htm


However, I have a book won historic cast iron with catalogue entries in from iron manufacturies - that is a help with roughly dating fireplaces.

 

[Anonymous]

This is where I got the information to date my fireplace http://www.oxfordarchitectural.co.uk/dating.htm

 

[Sal]

great - thanks for that. now i just have to find it. we have major paint removal hobby ahead of us here....

 

[Anonymous]

My fireplace had the date code on the underside of the mantel on the left. It is still obvious on my other painted fireplace but you can't see the little numbers very well.

Good luck with your fireplace Sal. It is a massive job but so rewarding.

 

[Nemesis]

Remember though - that was the date the design was registered, the manufacture could have been much later.

May not have a registration mark either.

Can you post a pic?