Odd fireplace / chimney design

[Muppetry]

Hello,

I'm currently restoring the first 1/3 of my 1830s house near Colchester in Essex. In one of the upstairs rooms, I took away a nasty 1990s fire surround and grate and found this behind.

I'm now wondering what sort of fireplace / insert / surround would have been there originally. The front part is completely open, so I'm guessing that there was some sort of iron insert that was lime mortared to the front plate which warmed up with the smoke from the fire below to make it more efficient.

Speculation from a local reclamation yard was that it may have been a servant's room and been used as a warmer of some sort.

I'd like to put the fireplace back to its original design, though I doubt I will make it functional as the staircase to this part of the house is very narrow and danergous enough to walk up and down let alone carry wood or coal!

Any ideas, or is this something that is common as a design and i've misunderstood things?

Thanks for any ideas!

Andrew

 

[Anonymous]

Hiya,

got another picture showing the context of the fireplace in the room ?

Paul.

 

[Muppetry]

Hello Paul - thanks for the quick reply.

Yes, here's a wider picture. The room is around 15 x 12, excluding the alcoves. The alcove on the right of the chimney is a staircase. The chimney is almost 5 bricks wide, so around 4ft.

Many thanks,

Andrew

 

[livias]

A hob grate perhaps. Something like the banner picture here
http://www.englishsalvage.co.uk/hob-grates_itemcat_2050
Though probably a simpler one with no ornamentation

 

[plasticpigeon]

Yes I was thinking thye same thing, something like this??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fully-Restored-Original-Antique-Georgian-Cast-Iron-Hob-Grate-Fireplace-24-/152164521972?hash=item236db657f4:g:u-AAAOSw7s5XhKJF

 

[Muppetry]

That's very helpful, thank you!

I will keep my eye out for something appropriate for the room then as the left hand side of the fireplace is very narrow, so it will have to be quite a specific size to fit the space.

Thanks again!

Andrew