We are frequently asked to restore Inglenook fireplaces and they can be really satisfying to take on as they are such a feature to a room.
Inglenook fireplaces, like all of our work, require a careful, patient and highly skilled approach-our craftsmen are used to working this way and understand that they have a great responsibility for the protection of our architectural heritage in their hands.
One such’ inglenook ‘was as usual, in quite a sorry state with cracks, patches and other damage to the soft Norfolk Red bricks,
Showing original brick work
along with a less conscientious addition of modern brick infills.
This one had been dramatically reduced in size to take a 1930s tiled fireplace, so the owner had no idea that behind it was an original large fireplace dating to at least 18th C and probably older.
The original fire was an open one of course and as is often the case the fire had eaten into the soft brick at the base of the fire back- this had to be replaced( see pic).
The original hearth had long gone except for a couple of floor bricks left in situ which gave us inspiration for the hearth design.
Lime Mortar mix for the Inglenook fireplace
The original lime mortar has suffered and many bricks were in a poor condition, but fortunately the bressemer beam was in good order, clearly, as is often the case, it had been something else before being used as a fireplace beam as there are mortices cut into it! (recycling is no new thing!).
Having cut out and replaced the damaged brick, the mortar joints were raked out, the wall washed down, cleaned and ready for re-pointing.
We are very careful to get as close as we can to the original ‘recipe’ of aggregate, lime and other additives. As members of SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) we take great care with any work to a structure,such as mortar analysis, as this attention to detail can make all the difference to a successful restoration.
For the mortar for this project we used a medium sharp aggregate, blended with some of the original lime mortar crushed down.
The lime putty was supplied by Ty-Mawr http://www.lime.org.uk/ we used their Coarse putty.
Pointing is a skilled job, lots can go wrong unless you understand the process, the materials and the need to ‘tend’ to the mortar as it dries. Done well it is the crowning glory, but bad pointing can be an eyesore!
The hearth had just a couple of original floor bricks left in place-these were enough for us to work on, but I suspect that the very first hearth was York stone, as a slab had been let into the floor in front of the fireplace.
This evidence gave the client options- earlier York stone or slightly later floor bricks as the hearth- they opted to keep the York stone slab, but put the floor bricks over it-keeping both features for the future a great solution!
The clients opted for the herring bone pattern, though there is no evidence that this would have been the one used( see pics)
The bessemer was cleaned back and given a generous drink of linseed oil, nothing more.
Inglenook fire place restoration
Overall the fireplace is a great success- the restoration from a 1930s tiled surround to its former glory allows the house to celebrate this lovely feature.
The clients are to install a woodburning stove once the lime has had the chance to cure and so the story of this inglenook goes on to another generation or so- job done!
Restoration of an inglenook fireplace
