Damp patches on inside of chimney

[Dollyp]

Helpful advice needed
Have just spent £4.500 to a roofer to cement chimney un cap and replace with chimney pot and sort out flashing and drainpipes on our grade 2 listed house
work finished on Friday
Called him back yesterday as damp patches on inside wall worse after heavy rain
He checked roof from inside loft - no leaks all bone dry and could offer any explanation- last night water now running down inside of chimney into inglenook fire place
Pictures of inside wall
Have no idea what to do next, and would value any ideas or feedback as our budget is not never ending ,
the roofer was from checkatrade with good reviews and worked really hard
Fingers crossed that someone can offer advice
Thank you x

 

[stuart45]

One of the problems with older chimneys is that they didn't have lead trays built into them, which are now part of the Building regs. Years ago, it wasn't such a problem, as fires were often lit first thing in the morning, and were going all day. This kept the flues dry. Nowadays any damp penetrating the masonry can run down the flue and cause damp patches inside.
It looks from the photo like the brickwork needs repointing.

 

[Cubist]

Silly questions perhaps but; why did you have the chimney uncapped? Also, is that a new stove next to the jug?

The following question is for @stuart45 - what is the purpose of the lead tray and where would it typically be installed in the chimney?

 

[stuart45]

The lead tray stops any moisture that penetrates the stack running down below the roof level. If you Google Just Lead chimney trays video, you should find a video made by Peter Scoley which explains it better.
It's installed where the stack meets the roof.

 

[Cubist]

The lead tray stops any moisture that penetrates the stack running down below the roof level. If you Google Just Lead chimney trays video, you should find a video made by Peter Scoley which explains it better.
It's installed where the stack meets the roof.

Cheers Stuart and thank you.

 

[Dollyp]

Thank you both for your advice will google lead trays asap- in answer to your question CUBIST it’s a really large electric fire that looks like a wood burner it came with the house- only turned it on once for a few minutes when we moved in- smells like a dead body so unused
The chimney is lined so we assumed that it has at one time had a wood burner
But the old gentleman who lived here was prone to forgetting things - he even set fire to the aga - another thing that needs fixing on our to do list
At this rate I’m going to have to live to 150 years old to get through it all
And like every one else rob a bank !
Joke - if anyone is a police officer

 

[Cubist]

So... uncapping the chimney would not have been a good idea. In doing so a direct route for any rainfall getting through the chimney pots will certainly find its way into the chimneys masonry and will work its way through that toward any plaster coatings on the chimney breast AND create a novel shower in the fireplace below.

Coincidental non sequitur - in one of my professional incarnations I ran the Criminal Justice and Defence division of a major multi-national and counted the command teams of every UK police force among my acquaintances.

 

[Cubist]

Forgot to mention...

it’s a really large electric fire that looks like a wood burner it came with the house- only turned it on once for a few minutes when we moved in- smells like a dead body so unused

Did they ever find the previous owners cat or the previous owner himself?