Finding it hard to source a grate for traditional Victorian fireplace

d000hg · 10 Oct 2017

I'm not sure why this is so hard, since Victorian fireplaces seem to be fairly standardised, but we cannot find a grate easily for what we believe is the original fireplace in our ~1860 ex-mine-manager's house.

It's a 16" as far as I understand these things, the front hooks on with metal pins and the grate is missing; it was retrofitted with a gas-fire and the grate lost presumably. Th biggest issue is the thing is so shallow. Only 12.5cm from the line joining the two side-bars (will post images from my phone hopefully in a sec). But ~40cm wide at the front, ~20cm wide at the back.

The other fireplaces in the house are seemingly period too but all are ornamental... they tend to have curved front bars rather than straight like ours and just more space somehow. But the bars and grates are welded or concreted in place so we can't easily 'borrow' one.

I thought this was going to be a 5min job - but a grate, drop it in and go (we had the chimney swept and tested and removed the gas fire). So what's going on? The only thing I found that's close online is this:
https://www.thefiresideshop.co.uk/fire-grates/paris-fire-grate.html#.WdwA9BNSyY1

d000hg · 10 Oct 2017

You can't see it in the photo but just to the inside of each side at the front are little iron 'flaps'. I think this is to allow a grate which doesn't have legs, but slots into those flaps and the gap at the back?

This would originally have been a coal fire but we'd rather burn wood as we have lots; a deeper grate would I assume be preferable. Annoyingly, this is the only shallow grate in the house. I can't tell if the surround and the back are one piece or two and we could deepen it... starting to wonder about swapping the entire surround but a)I'd like to keep the original if possible b)I have no idea how easy or otherwise that is, if you just slot it in or would wreck the decorations and so on.

Doggit · 11 Oct 2017

It sounds as though the orginal grate was cut out when the gas fire was put in, so a metal shop may be needed to knock something up. If you found a grate of the right size, you'd still neet to get it welded in place, or legs put on it.

London Mike 49 · 11 Oct 2017

Have you tried searching for ' Victorian fireplace parts ' and clicking on the images tab? I have often found that taking this route to search means you can click on a image and visit a page to get what you are after.

Mike

d000hg · 11 Oct 2017

Doggit said:
It sounds as though the orginal grate was cut out when the gas fire was put in, so a metal shop may be needed to knock something up. If you found a grate of the right size, you'd still neet to get it welded in place, or legs put on it.

In terms of wanting it deeper... the option here is basically to get a front-grille (is there a proper term?) that protrudes further, or replace the entire metal surround? Is the latter actually quite easy? I would rather keep the original but it stands to reason a 6" deep grate is not going to be a great wood fire!

Doggit · 11 Oct 2017

Adding in a replacement part is one thing, but starting to make major changes like that suggest a change of fireplace would be more sensible. But as these fires are only 15% efficient, heat your front and freeze your back, I'd be inclined to think about putting in a wood burner, no matter how lovely it looks. Changing the whole unit won't be cheap either, but is easy to do.

Gerrydelasel · 12 Oct 2017

d000hg said:
In terms of wanting it deeper... the option here is basically to get a front-grille (is there a proper term?) that protrudes further!

Not likely as then the grate would protrude beyond the hood. You don't want that.

lostinthelight · 13 Oct 2017

If you only want to burn wood, take the guts behind the fire front out, cut some vermiculite fire board or fire fire bricks to shape and light the fire on that. Wood needs the draught from above the seat of the fire so you dont need bars....the ash can be shoveled out when too full?
litl

d000hg · 13 Oct 2017

Can you elaborate on "take the guts out"... Isn't this all a single cast piece?

lostinthelight · 13 Oct 2017

d000hg said:
Can you elaborate on "take the guts out"... Isn't this all a single cast piece?

All the fireplaces Ive seen the front comes away from the grate ...
https://www.raygrahams.com/category/3477-16-grates.aspx
litl

d000hg · 13 Oct 2017

Oh I thought you meant I could take the back out somehow?

Since I already have no grate I'm a little unsure what you're suggesting. Are you saying basically just build a wood fire in the space and don't bother with a grate, or something more involved?

Doggit · 13 Oct 2017

This ones a complete unit, so you can't do much with it apart from replace it, find an grate that will fit in place, or take it out an put in a log burner.

d000hg · 13 Oct 2017

I was just reading online... So in some cases the back directly behind the grate is a separate piece to the main cast iron fireplace?

lostinthelight · 13 Oct 2017

Before you go any further, if there was a gas fire fire in there , are you sure the flue has not been modified and is still suitable for an open fire??
litl

d000hg · 13 Oct 2017

Yep... They just stuck it in. The chimney sweep also inspected it, its the original brick flue and in good condition

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Finding it hard to source a grate for traditional Victorian fireplace

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