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.
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.
17 comments:
Much nicer that our metal flues.
looks just like those on 16th and 17th century stone cottages here.
Nice and solid, even though it may need a little TLC
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!
I don't know if similar chimneys exist elsewhere... probably not.
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.
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.
I love your place.
Lovely home, Mr. M. It truly is France.
as chimneys go.... that's a doody!
and to answer your question... the pig meat will be ready for collection tomorrow... I hope they dont try and give me the heads!
300 years, that's a long time. The stones in the chimney are amazing.
Your pictures are like House Hunters International on Home and Garden TV. I wonder if they could sound as contented as you do.
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.
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.
Plenty of good meat in the heads, John!
I know Dolgellau quite well. I suppose I never thought to look upwards. Thanks gz.
It's so good to see these structures, to glimpse life across the mighty pond.
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