The Georgian era covers the years 1714 - 1820, through the reigns of kings George I - IV. Fireplaces from this time are typically grand pieces designed to be the focal point of the room. 

Inspiration for their design can be traced to Robert Adam, whose study of ancient and classical ruins led him to produce grandiose plans for Georgian home interiors. 

Their distinctive style incorporates intricate, freestanding cast iron grates and large fire baskets, creating a large opening in the front. This is usually framed in intricately carved wood or marble. Typical marble designs use both statutory white with sienna marble inlays. 

Adam's marble designs often included intricately carved foliage, scrolls or animals such as sphinxes or ram heads. The cast-iron grates would also have handcrafted medallions or swag features on them.

The Regency era is a time within the Georgian period spanning the years 1800 - 1830. The grandeur of the Georgian period paused over these thirty years, where plain marble fireplaces with narrow legs became the fashion. 

Contrasting marble inlays and intricate decorations were still included, with Sir John Square became the leading designer of the age.

These new, simpler designs minimised decorative mouldings, focussing more on decorative examples of classical architecture. 

Lower mantels also became fashionable, with mirrors often being placed above them to reflect light from windows or candles throughout the room.

As you may have guessed, the Victorian era covered the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 - 1901. During this time, fireplaces became statement pieces, with the flourishing middle class showing off their newfound wealth. 

Victorian fireplaces can also be divided into two categories: early/mid-Victorian and late-Victorian.

Early/mid-Victorian fireplaces are distinct due to their ornate designs and decorative floral patterns on their casting. Contemporary reproductions take great inspiration from these designs, and many antique originals are selling well today. 

In the late-Victorian era, fireplaces lost floral decoration, with geometrical patterns and symmetry becoming more popular. 

Typically they had marble mantelpieces with cast iron inserts. Slate and cast iron frames were also popular, with enamel finishing designs. The iron inserts were flanked on either side by tiled motifs, often with geometric or floral patterning, with decorated arches over the grill.

The Arts and Crafts movement lasted from 1880 - 1920 and emerged due to the mass production of consumer goods during the Victorian era. 

Much like today, these mass-produced goods were poorly designed, leading to artists, such as the mighty William Morris, seeking to take production back to its wholesome, handcrafting roots. 

Morris is most famous for his floral woodblock wallpaper designs, and his vision had a profound effect on fireplace design. 

His love of medieval inglenook fireplace ranges heavily influenced his designs. Inglenook fireplaces are framed with colourful tiling, using copper and brass hoods over iron grates. Brass firedogs were also a common design option for these fireplaces.

The international Art Nouveau movement, from 1890 - 1910, was influenced by another great Arts and Crafts visionary, Charles Rennes MacKintosh. His designs again focussed on geometry, with hard 90 degree angles and floral designs that would put the Victorian era to shame. 

Art Nouveau fireplaces are easy to distinguish in their design. Many stuck with the same materials, such as cast iron grills with tiles on their flanks. 

However, the floral designs were far more elegant, with lashing curves and thin, sinewy lines. Art Nouveau often being considered as a bridge between the worlds of neo-classicists and future modernist designers.

The tiling was not only restricted to the flanks of the fireplace but came out to decorate the hearths before the fireplace as well. They were typically hand-painted and covered by oak timber mantels. Again, mirrors were often placed above them on the chimney breast. 

The Edwardian era had a brief run from 1901 - 1910 and saw yet more innovations in fireplace design. The designs became much simpler compared to their Victorian predecessors. Tiles still flanked the cast iron inserts but to a simpler level. 

Hearths were also tiled, often placed flush with the room floor with a fender placed around them.

Designs grew taller and slimmer while materials shifted from cast iron combinations to brass and copper canopies. Angled metal panels were placed in a simple, geometric design between these canopies and the fireplace surround. Mantels were still constructed from Carrara marble, but timber was also very popular.

The Art Deco movement lasted between 1920 - 1930 and is notable for its bold colours and dramatic geometrical patterns. It is one of the most enduring interior design movements and is still very popular today. 

Fireplaces from this era are distinguishable due to their symmetrical design and clean, sharp lines. 

They often had longer mantelpieces and were detailed with recessed or alcoved spaces. Tiled fire surrounds can still be seen in antique from this time, with stepped tops, often known as slabbed fireplaces, typical of the Art Deco style.