I did like it when our fire was just an open fire. We burned metre length logs that sat on ancient dogs, the rather battered fire-back did its best to reflect heat, and (of course) most of the heat went straight up the huge chimney!
Our cast iron fire-back was (I'm assured) made for a newly married couple; P and B (Pierre and Berthe?). The Pine tree and cones were a symbol of fertility.
Having an enclosed woodburner is both safer and more efficient. No sparks fly out onto the carpet, and one can simply close its door and leave the house, knowing that all will be safe; something one couldn't do with an open fire.
This means we can also burn cheaper Chestnut wood (which 'spits') rather than the more expensive Oak which doesn't. As I have also temporarily blocked off the huge chimney opening, we also benefit from far more heat staying in the room itself.
However, I do miss the old fire, with all its build-up of ashes, the smoke, and the waste of heat. So few houses now have big open fires, it's rather a shame not seeing these huge Inglenook fireplaces being used as they were intended.
It can always be undone.
which reminds me we must get around to ordering our firewood. No inglenook fireplaces here.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a good stock of dry logs at hand!
DeleteMy greatest miss in our gas-fired centrally-heated house is the open fire.
ReplyDeleteDespite the inefficiency, the sparks and the cleaning out, it burned an awful lot of rubbish, was wonderful to sit in front of, and made great toast.
An open fire also makes for good conversation (or arguments). Pressing a button for heat does have its advantages.
DeleteInglenook fires look wonderful but, as you say, all the heat goes up the chimney.
ReplyDeleteThese fires were originally kitchens, so more designed for cooking than heating the home. They do waste a huge amount of heat.
DeleteI have had to stop using my woodburner because it is badly cracked and started poisoning me. I haven't used it for over two months and must say I haven't missed bringing in armfuls of logs everyday. However, I will replace it over the summer. I do not like relying solely on my central heating.
ReplyDeleteThe last Aga we had did that. I used to choke on the fumes. It was Scargill's fault.
DeleteWe started off with an open fire too. We had to sit very close to get warm. The men loved it, poking it and cooking over it. I didn't mind but it was just useless at heating. Did keep the damp out of the two older rooms though.
ReplyDeleteNew closed woodburner is just far more efficient. No comparison. Wish we could knock out the old fire but it would mean major destruction . The kids can do it when they take over the house
You're right of course, but an open fire is so comforting (and great for toast).
DeleteYour stove is very nice indeed.. you can still see the flames, get plenty of heat and cook on the top! I really miss foraging for wood on the roads after a good storm, splitting and stacking and snuggling up in front of the stove.
ReplyDeleteGood excercise and less heating expense..as well as doing a public service keeping the roads clear!!
We cook on the top, and bake spuds in the ash pan. I quite often cook complete meals on it. We haven't lit our wood fired oven yet this year.... I may not.
DeleteI think a lot of damp caused by breathing and cooking is helped out of the house by a good draught up a chimney even one that is mainly blocked.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's right. A good current of air keeps the house healthy.
DeleteI love wood burning stoves. When me moved into our house in Somerset we installed a second one so that we have one each. So much more interesting than the TV, very practical too. We leave the vents open when not using them to create some ventilation.
ReplyDeleteOurs is quite economical too. I don't usually light it until 4 or 5 pm, and it only takes a few logs to belt out the heat.
DeleteIt's the smells of an open fire that I miss. In two homes now I have managed to have cast iron mains-gas stoves which give real flames. A modern compromise?
ReplyDeleteOur woodburner eats all the smoke at once. There are two types of Oak tree in the woods here; one of which is much slower growing than the other. It tends to grow on rocky ground, and smells wonderful when burnt on an open fire. I really miss that smell.
DeleteI know I have asked you before, but don't you have central heating too?
ReplyDeleteNot pukka central heating as such, but we do have oil and electric heaters for background heat. Being country bumkins, we tend to be mostly outdoors anyway.
DeleteWe had open fires when I was a child - in winter the backs of your legs would be frozen and the fronts of your legs would be blotchy red.
ReplyDeleteWe used to be the same... and you'd never move, because it felt so good.
DeleteI'm sitting by my gas logs as I type this. They're cozy and warm, but have none of the romance of a real wood fire. We only get that when we go camping.
ReplyDeleteA camp fire is the nearest thing to a big indoor fire. You can even cook marshmallows on them.
DeleteI still have an open fire place but I don't tend to use it much as I tend to live in the upstairs family room. Most people round here are getting wood burners. BUT we recently had a power cut and since I have fuel heating that didn't work. So whatever happens I think I will hang on to my open fireplace. It is very pretty and I just bung a load of plastic bags up the chimney in winter to keep the cold out.
ReplyDeleteSo far this year I've had both the water and power cut off, so having a wood cooker, and some water in store, is essential. I can take whatever they throw at me!
DeleteIn the old house our studio was heated by only a big cast iron stove. We burned oak primarily; it makes the most heat. Second down the list maple. Occasionally a cherry log went in. Bliss.
ReplyDeleteIn the living room we had a huge, open fireplace and chimney. What they were thinking, I'll never know. First I had glass doors fabricated for it; I had the chimney lined and made smaller. Eventually I forbad fires in it as it chiefly drew the warm air from the furnace up the chimney. I should have had it torn out in the beginning and turned into living space.
The cast iron stoves are by far the most efficient, but everyone sitting around a huge 'indoor bonfire' has its moments.
DeleteI can smell the smoke just looking at your third photograph.
ReplyDeleteSo could we. Depending on what was burning it was either acrid or delightful; usually the latter.
DeleteMy home has 5 fireplaces, nice but I only use 2 and took one out for a bookcase,
ReplyDeleteRemember we need at least one photo a week of the beautiful Billy !
cheers, parsnip
I used to love having a fire in my bedroom when I was ill.
DeleteBilly runs too fast at the moment to take decent photos; but, have no fear, there will be more.
Although my house is fully centrally heated (I can't bear the cold indoors) I used to have an open fire as well. The a property nearby had a huge garage extension built with the roof the height of the original 2 storey house. I got blow-back when the winds was from the South. I replaced it with a mock coal fire which is gas fired. It's instant heat, super realistic, very warm and there's no ash to be cleared etc. One of the best things I ever did!
ReplyDelete