what has gone on with this fireplace and when?

[Cadfael]

Hi All
My first ever post on the forum - hope I'm doing it right....
Just started work on our little Georgain (listing says c1800) townhouse in Shrewsbury. Uncovered this boarded up fireplace today, hoping for a perfect little hob grate (just like the one they have next door, grrrr) but found this. Anyone work out what has been done here? And when? We wondered about an early gas fire or something like that.
And what would we need to do to be able to put in a little hob grate? We don't intend to use this one, so it would be decorative only.
Looking forward to hearing your experiences and expertise.
Many thanks.

 

[Cubist]

Hmmm.. this could be a tough one.... only partial remains of the original victim, unclear cause of demise, nationality difficult to ascertain. Welsh, English, possible religious connections, and no other clues as yet.

To help with further detective work maybe a photo from next door and some dimensions of the opening? Could be a burglary/kidnap case yet if the neighbours is a good fit.

In the meantime I'll put my Thinking Deerstalker on.

 

[Cadfael]

Thanks Cubist. Meant to put the dimensions - width at narrowest point, 320mm; height at top of arch 910mm. Didn't measure depth, but as you can see it varies immensely.
Attached is photo of the one in the equivalent room next door (terraced houses). My guess is that the fire basket is 320mm wide and our opening at its widest would therefore accommodate the hob plates. But why that square vent hole at the bottom? And all the filling in?

 

[Kearn]

You’ve got almost all of the structure still there, small amount of brick repairs to remove another grate. Someone has just oiked out the actual grate sadly.

On the plus side, many reclamation yards stock this era. Finding the right dimensions/style will be trickier. Flip side that so many reclamation yards have these that should still be in their original holes…

 

[Cadfael]

Thanks Kearn. I agree and I have my eye on a suitable hob grate. But I'm baffled by that square vent, and just unsure how much infill there has been and why. I reckon the original grate was replced either with a Victorian built in job, or an Edwardian gas fire? How do I work out what to hack out? I guess just follow the template next door.....
So good to hear what people are thinking......

 

[a twig]

Is it a vent or just a recess?

If it is a vent then potentially done to draw in fresh air from the outside to fuel the combustion process rather than draw air in through the house.

Often would have had a damper to help control rate of burn.

Alternatively (although more often seen in the US rather than UK) could have been an ash dump. Ash gets pushed down the hole then removed via a hatch on the other side (no “ash hole” jokes here please )

 

[Kearn]

I can’t even noticed that hole to be fair. Fire deep is it?

I’d assume it’s a case of why use 3 bricks when 2 will suffice.

Also you wouldn’t get the aesthetic of your neighbouring one without a void under…

 

[Cadfael]

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts. I think the problem is there's not enough of a void. Don't think a hob grate would actually fit in unless the bricks creating that square were removed, but would the whole lot come tumbling down then.... Time to have another really close examination, but unfortunately won't be bnack thete for a week or so. Meanwhile, all ideas and thoughts will be gratefully received!

 

[Cubist]

Over the years I've come across a few examples of tiny solid fuel heating systems similar in scale to the one described. Each of those discoveries was a puzzle insofar that, from a functional perspective alone, it's hard to accept that something so small could have been used as the main heat source and food preparation equipment for any home. Initially I had thought that the examples I had found were intended for use in bedrooms in larger, well to-do, properties and their use limited to merely warming that room and perhaps also a bed-warmer pan. The proprietor of one of the Salvage outfits I sometimes visited though told me that such ranges were most commonly found in Wales and the Marches and associated with small cottage homes comprising a few small rooms. His explanation for this was the that low income and the high cost of coal in particular were the probable reason behind the scale and capabilities. Made sense to me at the time but....

My suggestion is that you take the dimensions you have and begin touring the Salvage yards and check out their websites. One fairly local to me used to keep a large shed with hundreds of different fireplaces. Maybe you'll get lucky.