When we bought the cottage, we suspected there might be an original fireplace hidden behind the boarded-up alcove in the living room. What we found exceeded all expectations.
The Discovery
Carefully removing the plasterboard revealed a beautiful cast iron surround and original Victorian tiles, all in remarkable condition. The previous owners had simply covered it up rather than removed it – our lucky day!
The Restoration
The cast iron was cleaned with wire wool and treated with proper grate polish. The tiles were carefully cleaned with a gentle solution, revealing their original deep red and cream pattern.
We had the chimney swept and lined, installed a new flue system, and added a wood-burning stove insert that would be safe and efficient while keeping the period character.
The Result
Now the fireplace is the natural gathering point of the cottage. There's nothing quite like the crackle of a real fire on a winter's evening.
