Fireplace parts

[Feltwell]

Primarily for Joce - although may be of interest to others:-

Joce, if you have a look at this link, this site contains freestanding firebars that could stand in front of your lounge fire

http://www.bygones.net/thumbs.asp?strCategory=Fireplace_Spares

Alternatively look for replacement firebars on Ebay, there are quite a few on there & they can be cheaper.

I stumbled across this site today - very much of interest, he makes all kinds of replacement parts, mantle shelves, ashpans, firebars, fenders etc - I found him as he was selling on Ebay some new cast iron firebars very like the type I need:-

http://www.powellsweldingrestoration.co.uk/home

Best but most costly & slowest solution to your missing firebars would be to get this chap or a blacksmith to fabricate some new bars in the style of the ones in the other room. I've recommended Stuart at Genuine Forgery on here before, he's done quite a few jobs for me now.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, that's brilliant! Thanks very much indeed - I wasn't sure what fire bars were until looking through the first link. That would be a good and reasonably priced solution. The second's more exciting though - to have him, or Stuart replicate and complete the fireplaces in the dining and living rooms would be fab! Bookmarking both sites, many thanks.

 

[Penners]

freestanding firebars

Wouldn't they need something to prop them up?

I know a bit about propping up bars....

 

[DJH]

:lol: :lol:

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, me too.

Well, looked at the Bygones website carefully, looked at our fireplaces head-scratchingly, and, hmm. No evidence that there were ever bars or a hobgrate there. In the dining room there's the cast iron insert remaining, perfectly intact, with no screw holes or anything to show a missing part. The bedroom fireplaces have their bars and are altogether less grand, a different kettle of fish. Gareth thinks there might have been a basket within the dining room and living room ones, but the trouble is that the previous owner has put in new clay sides and backs which fit the cheap garden centre grates

http://www.bygones.net/view.asp?ID=4829

http://www.bygones.net/view.asp?ID=7279

Dining room fireplace

The living room fireplace is identical to the dining room one except that the cast iron insert frame thing is missing. The question is, do we knock out the existing sides and back in both fireplaces to look for a bigger opening to put in something like this? (even if we did we'd have to have a basket made, I think, as the opening would still be so small)
http://www.bygones.net/view.asp?ID=2703
But this kind of thing, scaled down, would be lovely.

http://www.westlandlondon.com/stock/item/10926/detail.htm

 

[JoceAndChris]

This would fit, with a bit of knocking out! I wonder if they put the baskets against bare brick or if they used fire clay in the opening?

http://www.westlandlondon.com/stock/item/6553/summary.htm?from=search&t=fire+basket

 

[Feltwell]

Personally, as you've no idea what was there originally, I'd take the easy option and leave it as is except either put a set of freestanding bars in front or get a small plain basket made that is shaped to fit the opening, perhaps with a diagonal pattern on the front as per your other fireplaces. Those Westland ones look very OTT to me, far too ornate and would detract from the elegant simplicity of the rest of the fireplace. But then my tastes are always towards the plain.

The clay back and angled sides will be helping to reflect heat into the room - I wouldn't start knocking them out without a good reason.

 

[DJH]

Snap Joce... I see you've also lost the clip that holds the fire tongs together! We have three fireside companion sets we've managed to lose the clips on every set. We keep a head on one our fire surrounds as well. It's the head of Winter in plaster, modeled firstly in clay, made to cast a lead one to replace one of the Four Seasons stolen up in Epsom many years ago.

I used to keep plaster or resin casts of clay models as hard copies, so to speak, just in case.

I like the fire grates on that site. They look like they might cost a bob or two though.

Doug

 

[JoceAndChris]

Like the sound of the plaster casts, I couldn't be trusted with them though and would have gone mad with them, like John Soane!

I'd take the easy option and leave it as is except either put a set of freestanding bars in front or get a small plain basket made that is shaped to fit the opening, perhaps with a diagonal pattern on the front as per your other fireplaces

Good ideas, and I like the idea of the diagonal patterning which John Hall (who we think had this place built) was evidently fond of. The living room fireplace is falling apart at the back so when we come to do the living room, probably 2014, it might be an idea to take the sides and back out then and have more evidence, possibly, as to what was there before.
I'd really like to have baskets made to a suitable design.