Lintel collapse

[catonfire]

am currently working on an upstairs bedroom, fireplace wall had a piece of chipboard on it, took it off and then started looking for lintel, is this double row of bricks said lintel? And is it safe to take away all that in the middle? I'm not going to use it for a fire, just prefer it open than boarded but I don't want to cause a collapse!
Thanks!

 

[tony1851]

It won't collapse, but if you want the old fireplace recess opened up, you'll need to block the flue.

 

[catonfire]

Okay thankyou, and a bit of board will be okay for that?

 

[jks7492]

No the double row of bricks is just where someone has filled it in - the brick arch would have acted as a lintel to form the opening