Brick arch in side of inglenook fireplace

[danjennings]

Truly a voyage of discovery these old properites... Since moving in on 23rd Decemeber weve had, floods, fire and more snow that most ski resorts but still we press on, the latest discovery a small brickwork arch in the side of an inglenook fireplace - measuring appx 15-16 inches at the bottom and about 13-14 high, it was filled with loose brick, once removed it spreads out and underneath a cupboard to the side. The area inside measures appx 4 feet x 3 feet and we pulled out appx 10 bags of ash ( i think ) but stopped as there seems to be no bottom to it and were coming across loose bricks ( mayb ean old base broken up ? ). Im guessing it was some kind of oven but would be interested to hear with any views at all.
Ill try and post a picture of the arch and the fireplace with cupboard to the side.

Thanks

View attachment 2
View attachment 1

 

[danjennings]

pps: - opps - sorry guys - just noticed size of 2nd picture, id forgotton to resize it as i did the other two, sorry

 

[Penners]

Dan - it's interesting to see this cavity so low down in the inglenook. If it was a bread over or similar, I would have expected it to be higher up.

Your bottom picture suggests that there's something - some sort of ledge and pattern in the bricks - immediately above the arch. Is this the case? If so, could you post a clearer picture of it?

Is there any sign of any structure on the other side (ie: the outside) of that inglenook side-wall? I'm just wondering whether the arch, and the cavity behind it, might have been a firehole for a wash-copper.

 

[danjennings]

Thanks penners - ill get another picture of the area above. There is evidence of an old stel pipe at the pother side that i think may have run through a back boiler in a woodburner ( see other post ) and then intothe brickwork above the arch ( the area you mentioned ) but i think there's more than that as there does seem to be something there.

 

[Penners]

Hmmm - steel pipe would be somewhat anachronistic with the wash-copper idea, but perhaps the cavity was adapted to a later use (a crude hot water tank heated by a woodburning stove?) at some point. I dunno - I'm just floating ideas.

 

[danjennings]

Hi

Heres another picture of firplace showing the area above the arch
View attachment 1
and the area to the right ( which is now a rather large cupboard)

so any ideas/suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks

 

[philpjuk100]

Could it be a "stoke hole" for an oven above?

 

[Penners]

Aha! That bottom picture shows the brickwork of the inglenook sidewall extending out at a height of about a metre towards the outside wall of the room, with a cupboard built in above it.

This reinforces my view that the arched hole inside the inglenook could have been a firehole to heat a wash copper that was set into the top of that extended brickwork.

As for the niche above the firehole, I don't know. Maybe just somewhere to keep the salt pot?

 

[danjennings]

Interesting thanks penners - the cupboard at the side is quarry tiled but it looks more recent, than rest of floor, should i perhaps remove the tiles to see whats underneath or leave as is? what about hole for salt (possibly ) should that be opend up or just made good with some new ( old ) bricks and pointing - what do you suggest?
thanks

 

[MurrayPrice]

Dan,

Where is your house? I have seen simular fireplaces in areas where peat is available, it is dryed out in the oven ready for burning?

 

[danjennings]

Hi Eastern england - essex to be precise - not aware of any peat interests locally though!

 

[Penners]

Dan - you mention "the concrete at the side". Are you talking about the floor? If so, that's now where the wash copper would have been. If it did exist, it would have been set into the top of the (waist high?) brickwork structure to the right of the chimney. Here's a picture of a similar setup - you can just make out the copper set into the top of the brickwork below the bookshelves:

As to whether you should dismantle anything to investigate futher - that's entirely your decision! It depends how interested you are and how much time and trouble you're prepared to go to!

The idea of the niche being a salt store is purely wild speculation. Once again, it's up to you what you do with it (and of course, if you're listed, your Conservation Officer).

 

[danjennings]

Not been around for a while, busy renovating !

Just a thank you note to all that helped and advised and an update and hopefully some useful advice!

Brick arch first of all - found previuos owner of house ( now a neighbour ) who advised me it was an oven for a copper above. seems ashes and embers from fire was swept into arch from fireplace and it heated a copper which was above it! personally im still not convinced thats right but seems logical and penners pictures is almost idential to my room!

Klig strip on beams - A real bugger to remove, but lots of water and scrubbing ( as advised thanks ) did the job - the beams look great now and with the addition of some clear liquid beeswax to them, it give a beautiful finish that would have otherwise looked very dry.

Thanks all-