Fireplace removal

[siqveland]

Have just removed our fireplace surround and the brick work seems to have been built out to accommodate the shape of the fireplace.

Am I fine to remove all of this?
There shouldn't be anything load bearing?

 

[mrrusty]

Yes, I think it's safe to say that you can remove that mess that's been added, so it's flush with the rest of the wall. I expect you'll find the original opening/arch/lintel behind it.

 

[jj4091]

What is behiind the opening? Break a smallish hole through one side if you can not see with the board removed and see if it is just a single skin that has been built out to make the opening suitable for the fire. it does look that way though.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

That looks like just a mess of odd bits of bricks, and mortar. Hopefully, if you chip some of that away, you will find a lintel, or arch support, hidden behind it. What is at the other side of that wall? Is the chimney built into the room behind, or is it an external chimney?

 

[siqveland]

This is on an external wall.

It's an old sandstone building and the chimney is built into the wall.

 

[stevie888]

I think that's what's called WTF bond. That looks like a steel angle supporting frame though so perhaps not quite as bad as first sight.