Victorian Fireplace: Cleaning the bricks up!

[michelin]

I have a house which was built in 1928 and have taken the back room fireplace to what it was, brick.
I'm keeping the inner of the fireplace in brick and I am trying to clean the bricks up, what a job!!!
The centre bricks stay black with no matter what I do. I've cleaned them many time but to no avail.
Any help appreciated.

 

[Feltwell]

Pictures would help. When you say "taken it back to what it was", have you removed a later fireplace or stripped out the original to reveal the builders opening, which would never have been seen? Whilst I know tiled fireplaces were more common by that date, 27 years after the end of the Victorian era, I have seen original decorative brick ones as well.

Ultimately well ingrained soot and tar staining probably won't come out, but why would you want to?

 

[Me!]

I haven't done this myself yet, but I do need to very soon so I have been looking back at various old discussions on the subject which you may find useful -
Ingrained grime in brickwork
products to help restore fireplace
Cleaning a stone fireplace
How to get soot and tar off stone in inglenook
Uncovering an inglenook

 

[michelin]

Thanks guys for the inputs.
I have taken the fireplace back to the original builders opening.
Most bricks are now cleaned up but there are a few which are black.
I think I'll leave them now as it adds to the look.