Fireplace lintel?

[msmsm]

I have been ripping various bits off my house and revealed a fireplace in a fireplace The more recent bricks have a metal lintel below them but the original soldier course do not seem to have anything below them, other than the new cement and bricks.

I would like to take out the new bricks back to the old ones. Will I need a lintel below the bricks or will the soldier course do this work?

Pic attached.

 

[bobasd]

Knock off more plaster to reveal the full width and bearings of the original arch. Then please post a pic of what you've done?
If the original arch is well supported then you can easily remove the newer front fireplace and any infill below the original arch.

 

[msmsm]

Will get back to it tomorrow and post more pics. Thanks for the quick response.

 

[^woody^]

That's an arch not a soldier course. Arches self support.

 

[msmsm]

Oh, even better! Here is a view across the fireplace.

 

[msmsm]

I removed the in fill fireplace and actually found the metal support that would have supported the arch whilst setting still in place. All looks much nicer now it's back to its original dimensions
Thanks for the help, wouldn't have had the confidence to do it without it!