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What Era Are Cast Iron Fireplaces From

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  • History of Cast Iron Fireplaces, What Era Are Cast Iron Fireplaces From, Georgian fireplace, Victorian Period fireplace, Edwardian Period fireplace
  • Posted date:
  • 14-04-2022
What Era Are Cast Iron Fireplaces From

 What Era Are Cast Iron Fireplaces From? We look at antique cast iron fireplaces and discus the various period design features.

History of Cast Iron Fireplaces

The early domestic iron fireplaces were more like free-standing baskets with legs attached. After this, the stove grate was developed. The iron fireplace then persisted as a built-in wood-burning grate until the latter half of the eighteenth century. 

Around this time, grates started to be set directly into the fireplace, and the units were starting to have side hobs built-in too. 

In the early days of iron fireplace production, there were three different patterns named Bath, Pantheon and Forest. There were also two major manufacturers named Dale and Carron.

Carron employed three highly respected designers. Robert Adam and the Howarth Brothers, William and Henry. They used neo-classical designs and flourishes to give their fireplaces a modern touch. 

At the time, these fireplaces were seen as highly fashionable. They have also influenced the design and practicality of other manufacturers for decades.

The fireplaces were gorgeous to look at, but in terms of their actual usage, they were somewhat lacking. The grates were very smoky, and they didn't even give out that much heat. 

For a fireplace that would likely cost a whole lot to not only purchase but also to install, this was not what people wanted. The biggest issue was that the chimney was simply just too big. 

So the first modification to these fireplaces that was adopted by many was the addition of an iron register or movable plate. This meant that the user could change the size of the chimney opening. A new type of grate was also used commonly.

 It took up the space of the entire fireplace and would seal the chimney when the register was closed. This device could draw all the smoke up the chimney, but unfortunately, it would take all the heat with it.

In 1797, an American scientist and soldier by the name of Count Rumford came up with several proposals for improvements that could be made to the iron fireplace. 

This included changes such as the lowering of the unit's fire basket, a huge reduction in the size of the chimney opening and depth of the fireplace, and substituting firebrick for cast iron. 

This was done as cast iron is a far less absorbent reflective surface. All these improvements were fantastic ideas, but due to the restraints caused by fashion tastes, Rumford's advice wasn't taken until 1850.

As time rolled on, living standards began to improve, and the industrial revolution started to rise. The cost of manufacturing fell, and people were able to afford fireplaces in more than one room in their home.

How Much Is An Antique Fireplace Worth

Georgian & Regency

What Era Are Cast Iron Fireplaces From?

The Era of The Georgians is commonly defined as including the reigns of King George I, II, III and IV, between the years of 1714 and 1837. 

Within this era, there is the sub era of The Regency, which lasted between 1811 to 1820. Fireplaces from Georgian times were highly interesting. They had grand proportions and were always designed with the fireplace as the focal point of the room. 

They achieved this by using huge iron register grates and massive fire baskets. This created big, eye-catching fireplace openings. They were often paired with dazzling solid wood surrounds and marble fireplaces. 

The quintessential Georgian fire surround or classic cast iron register grate from this era would have designs all hand-carved. Cast iron units would have medallion, urn or swag features.

Victorian Period

Victorian Period Fireplaces

The Victorian Era is defined as the period of time when Queen Victoria was the reigning monarch of England. Between the years 1837 and 1901. The industrial revolution was truly beginning to gain speed in the UK at this time. 

Cities and towns across the country quickly saw a rise in industrialisation. This meant more houses and therefore more people looking for work to be done. Terraced houses were built wherever there was space, and many homeowners wanted to have a Victorian fireplace in their front room as a statement piece.

It was during this era that the cast iron fireplace truly came into its own. During the early years of Queen Victoria's reign, black cast iron fireplaces were becoming increasingly more popular, as well as more ornate too. 

You would often find them with ornate designs, highly detailed floral pieces to draw the eye. This is a design that is still replicated today, and the style is absolutely timeless.

By the time the Victorian period had come to an end, the elaborate cast-iron floral designs had started to fade away. Instead, people were liking more geometric designs. Far less detailed, but they did offer a look that was more streamlined, clean, and smooth. 

Edwardian Period

Edwardian Period Fireplaces

In the Edwardian Era, between 1900 and 1920, fireplaces were commonly made out of cast iron with inserts framing the fireplace opening or sometimes tiled panels. 

As a move away from the elaborate designs seen during the late Victorian period, Edwardian era fireplaces were characterised by their often minimalist design. Tiled fireplaces were also common, with tiles of a single colour to give the unit an uncomplicated but stylish finish.

As the Edwardian Era moved onwards, fireplaces gradually became both slimmer and taller. Cast iron inserts with tiles were phased out and were replaced by canopies on legs. They would have large angled panels on either side of the unit, covering up the space between the canopy and the fireplace surround.

If we move on a little further on the timeline, in the early twentieth century, large wooden surrounds slowly became the trend. 

The most popular models were wooden surrounds that had big mirrors installed directly into the structure. Due to the demand for cast iron at ammunition factories, because of the start of World War I, cast iron fireplaces began to decrease in popularity. 


Do you have a period fireplace which needs repair or restoration? If you live in the Hastings and East Sussex area, our expert antique fireplace restoration services can help.