Hi everyone. A question about a fireplace located in a Georgian property in Sussex.

[Tarri]

The property I own, located at the border between Kent and Sussex in England is home to this gorgeous fireplace. The property was built, most likely, between 1780-1830. Do any of you have any info regarding the history, materials and craftsmanship of such wonderful fireplaces?

Many thanks for your precious help here.

Kind regards

 

[Katie_B]

Wow, love love your hearth (and bucket)! Keen to know the answer, so hope that commenting helps boost it . The inner bit is very similar to ours, but we think that our surround is later - and we have an odd concrete hearth bit sticking out that would suggest a change.

 

[a twig]

The property I own, located at the border between Kent and Sussex in England is home to this gorgeous fireplace. The property was built, most likely, between 1780-1830. Do any of you have any info regarding the history, materials and craftsmanship of such wonderful fireplaces?

Many thanks for your precious help here.

Kind regards

View attachment 16156

Looks like Portland stone from the photo.

Mortar joints between the stones don’t look great so either it has been repointed or was a reclaim from somewhere else

Style wise the hearth doesn’t really look like it matches the surround to me - and the cement mortar at the base where the surround meets the hearth potentially supports that “reclaim” idea.

Also given the transport costs in bringing Portland stone to Kent back then, if it was original then the previous owner was very wealthy!

Caveat all of the above with the fact that I am peering at a photo on my phone screens

 

[Tarri]

Thanks to both of you. @Katie_B , your fireplace looks fantastic also. Yours looks like it could have been carved from Caen stone? If so – that would be amazing!

Thanks to @a twig also. Portland stone came indeed from far away. Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

 

[Itchinfilth]

Sadly it's not original. More than likely a reproduction. It's a nice one though.