Is this sagrilege?

[plasticpigeon]

I have seen 2 old fire surrounds in a junk/furniture shop. One is pine, is in a poor state and probably Victorian. I think it is missing its original mantle shelf as the shelf on it is more like just a lid, there are no overhangs. The other is oak, and looks like it may be Edwardian being of simpler design without such well defined jambs and frieze. This has been stripped and is also in poor condition. I was thinking of getting them because I really like the corbels (quite simple ones, like a section of a big cornice) on the pine one, which I could add to a fire surround I am planning to make to put around the opening for the old range in the kitchen (which will have a cooker in it). The oak one I could use to make pattresses for my light switches!! Whatever I would want to cut them both up. Is this really bad??? they could be used for fire surrounds but would look quite rough.

 

[Feltwell]

Doesn't sound like sacrilege to me. Sounds like recycling.

 

[angrybird]

I think its a great idea to recycle them, better than them ending up being firewood I found a beautiful carved headboard I dont need it for my bed but i'm having it made into a settle for my kitchen. I love finding new uses for old things

 

[88v8]

eBay is stuffed with fireplaces, and doors, vandalistically removed by morons (says he generalising wildly) from the houses in which they belonged, plus Lord knows how many in salvage yards, in all there must be far more than will ever find new homes.
No, not sacrilege to dismember them, unless they were something really special.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Ah great, I'm glad nobody thinks it would be a terrible thing to do. I don't really want to do it but I think at least they will be used that way. I know what you mean about fireplaces on ebay, the trend for pulling them out hasn't abated. It seems woodburners are the biggest reason people remove fireplaces these days, although why the hearth and surround are usually removed too is a mystery to me. My neighbours went one better and removed all the chimney breasts. The bricks were made level with the wall by smashing them with a lump hammer. I'm very pleased that they share the flues with the neighbours on the other side otherwise I'm sure I would have found cracks on my side!

 

[angrybird]

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This is sacrilege, a beautiful derelict welsh farmhouse with 1.8 acres and a lovely pool full of wild fowl, in an area of outstanding natural beauty came up for tender. On placing my offer I was told that I would never be able to restore this beautiful house to its former glory as it was classed as a "pile of rubble"!my solicitor advised me to withdraw my offer I have since found out that an Indian company has purchased the land and farmhouse and are able to flatten this gorgeous old house and replace it with a modern Gym!!!!! :twisted: yet another ugly carbuncle on our stunning landscape!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

OMG, that is absolutely awful, such a lovely place. Sacrilege indeed

 

[plasticpigeon]

Politics I'm sure, after all who has the right to tell you you couldn't restore such a place. What little I know of planning is very corrupt. I'm sorry your bid wasn't successful.