Wood burning stove to replace existing fireplace.

Hi guys,

I have a nice old fireplace, looks lovely on a not too cold day. But in the winter it is all but useless, it just sucks the heat up the chimney and creates lots of draft in the house.

So I'm planning to fit a log burner. After speaking with the stove fitting guy I've decided to pull the old fire place out and try to the remedials/ stove place prep myself. My question is how to go about this. I've got a crow bar and various other tools but not sure whether I need to go hammer and tongs at the mantle piece (rather preserve this if possible, despite maybe having to lose this later for fire regs), or whether I can prise the wood panels at the bottom left and right off and perhaps release the fireplace this way. As you can tell I'm a novice!

I've added a picture of the fireplace with the two panels mentioned highlighted. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Rob

What is it made from?

The fireplace itself is metal (brass?). Mantlepiece is hardwood. I guess I'll just have to rip that sucker out

chop the wall out an inch from the side of the wood upright - round about the first bulb handing down = there should be some hidden fixings - they'll be somewhere