chimney breasts

[Pandora4]

Hi all I'm new here, Im looking for advice regarding chimney breasts. (1932 house)
I have 3 I think, well 2 as I believe the kitchen 1 was knocked out years ago.
So I opened up 1 in living room, as it was only covered by plaster board.
it looks blocked off I dont know.
it's just a hole in th the Wall, leading to nowhere.
I want to clean it somehow as it smells of ash, so don't just want to stick a vent in.
There is a layer of slate ? I think covering the bricks, some is cracking off so you can see brickwork.
can I cracked it all off ?
How can I clean the hole ?

Kitchen backs on to living room and I'm guessing breast was removed for more space.

Bedroom 1.. there is a breast in there and I again want to open it up, have it cleaned by a sweeper and then cover back up and put a vent there so it can breath. (Clean air)

Bedroom 2 .. backs on to bedroom 1
I have a problem with a wall in this room .. it is getting worse since moving in a few months ago. Wall is becoming more lumpy and little dark spots are appering

On the other side of this wall is, bedroom ones chimney breast.

I am awear there is no pots on chimney. And that chimney needs new flashing and repointing, which I will get done asap.
there is a sign in bedroom 1 that leaking may of occurred at some point as mark in corner of celing above breast.

My question here is, what bedroom wall do I open up ?
Bedroom 1 has breast, bedroom 2 has the marks on the wall ?
Or both ?

Is marks/lumps likely to be water damage.
Or just bad plastering ? Or salts etc from chimney ? Or start of damp from no vents in breast ?

I hope this makes sense as I know nothing about chimneys

 

[foxhole]

Probably have leak at chimney level flushing thru soot staining the wall. Get roof level checked first.

 

[vinn]

OP,

Given that you say you are doing a full house refurbishment I would suggest that you post as many photos as possible with each question you might have.

Each of the above questions deserves a photo plus you have nothing to lose by posting photos of each external elevation, and the roof and chimney stack.

If you read OP: Superted87 in the projects forum today at 2:32pm you will see that he has scanned a plan view of his property to help identify what fault is where. Worth thinking about.