We've had scarily high winds over the last couple of days. a couple of people have been killed by falling trees. I think there are more high winds forecast for tomorrow.

The fireplace is opened up. Brian is here again today and is busy mixing sand, cement and lime to re-point it. Then i will be laying new stone for the hearth. There are a few curiosities emerging - the smokey channel on the top right hand side, which curves upwards towards the central flue opening being the main one. This was obscured by a small brick pillar, which had obviously been used to make the opening smaller at one time...in fact we know exactly when, because somebody had thought to slip in some dating evidence: a copy of "The Evangelist" from September 1907! That must have been when the first closed range went in. There is a rubble filled area on the left wall, which suggests that there was maybe a draw off to something that required heat - it's only a guess. There was a sprag of wood in there, and another the other side, which mirrored it. The plaster dragged off a couple of bits from the edge of the lintel, but Brian says a scutching hammer will blend it in. The lintel is about a foot thick, but the side pieces are only a couple of inches, and are obviously just there as facing pieces.Behind the left hand one is a massive piece of stone as the main support. The right hand side support is composed of a few large lumps of rock.
Because the opening is only 2 feet deep, I'm extending the hearth a few inches into the room.

Pictures will be on the renovation album on FB soon!

Andrea