Friday 3 February 2012

Traditional Chimney.

I was looking at our chimney yesterday, and, for no particular reason, I thought I'd show it to you.

This is a traditional local style cap on older chimneys. Made of several, mortar filled, Roman tiles (in our case 15), that lean against each other and are topped to form a ridge.


This stops about 90% of any rainwater entering the chimney.

The stone work on the chimney stack itself is becoming a little tired (after 250-300 years of hard work), so maybe I should think of having it repaired. The 'cap' itself was re-done about 10 years ago, when we had the whole roof relaid.

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17 comments:

  1. Susan Heather3 February 2012 at 06:27

    Much nicer that our metal flues.

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  2. gz3 February 2012 at 08:47

    looks just like those on 16th and 17th century stone cottages here.
    Nice and solid, even though it may need a little TLC

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  3. Kath3 February 2012 at 09:07

    as soon as I saw that first pic come up on my blog reader list, I thought it was yours. It really says "France" to me!

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    1. Cro Magnon3 February 2012 at 09:20

      I don't know if similar chimneys exist elsewhere... probably not.

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  4. Tom Stephenson3 February 2012 at 10:13

    The French are really keen on Roman tiles, aren't they? If you do have your stack re-pointed, make sure they use proper lime mortar, then it will last for another 250 years.

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  5. The Owl Wood3 February 2012 at 10:17

    What a practical arrangement, one I've not noticed anywhere else! I hope that the tiles never lose their balance - there's a lot to come down the chimney there.

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  6. Kat3 February 2012 at 12:37

    I love your place.

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  7. denimflyz3 February 2012 at 13:06

    Lovely home, Mr. M. It truly is France.

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    1. John Going Gently3 February 2012 at 15:05

      as chimneys go.... that's a doody!

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    2. John Going Gently3 February 2012 at 15:06

      and to answer your question... the pig meat will be ready for collection tomorrow... I hope they dont try and give me the heads!

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    3. Cro Magnon4 February 2012 at 06:21

      Plenty of good meat in the heads, John!

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  8. Molly3 February 2012 at 17:37

    300 years, that's a long time. The stones in the chimney are amazing.

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  9. Joanne Noragon3 February 2012 at 20:57

    Your pictures are like House Hunters International on Home and Garden TV. I wonder if they could sound as contented as you do.

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  10. gz3 February 2012 at 23:23

    http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/2001/

    If you go around Machynlleth and Dolgellau especially, but Gwynedd in general, you can see chimneys like yours, with the added tiles/stones.

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    1. Cro Magnon4 February 2012 at 06:22

      I know Dolgellau quite well. I suppose I never thought to look upwards. Thanks gz.

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  11. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe4 February 2012 at 02:34

    They don't make them like they used to. 250 to 300 years is impressive; I'll be lucky if mine lasts 25. However, it won't be my problem then.

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  12. JeannetteLS4 February 2012 at 22:46

    It's so good to see these structures, to glimpse life across the mighty pond.

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