Open Coal Fire - What's It Called?

[barry1010]

When I was a child we had an open coal fire. The coal was kept in place by iron fretwork, an ornate railing if you like.
The bit I'm asking about is a solid metal flap that was immediately in front of this 'railing'. It could be lowered to create a shelf on which our enamel teapot lived, keeping the tea warm / stewed. Does this flap have a name? In the up position it hid the railing and was hinged at the bottom to let down and become a shelf

[237SJ]

We had a coal fired Rayburn. My mum couldn't wait to chuck it out and get a gas cooker when gas finally came to our village. I remember the damper. One night my Dad didn't open the damper enough and we all woke up in the morning (in our respective bedrooms) suffering from the effects of carbon monixide.

[Togo]

That was not the damper 237SJ more likely a blocked chimney or soot fall. Chimney sweeps were not considered lucky for no reason.

[237SJ]

Togo - all I remember is that there was a plate that had to be shut and it wasn't shut properly and there was a "blow back" as my Dad said.

[237SJ]

It wasn't anything to do with soot or a blocked chimney, I know that.

[Togo]

A coal fired Rayburn is worth a tidy penny now. The ranges we showed earlier in the thread are fetching £3k+ .



P.S. Honest now. Last night I was dreaming a design for a wood burner mini range next to my desktop instead of the electrickery fire. I had it with a metal back plate behind the flue, and a slate slab(carved with runes and symbols)for the hearth. I woke up wondering about a heat resistant paint for the back plate heat reflector that would have been green and decorated with cream and red flowers. " She who must be obeyed" wants to know where I can get one. I even had the wood storage sorted out under a fixed wall unit that we have. Haha. This thread has done my head in :))

[Togo]

//"blow back" as my Dad said.//

Ahhh. I trust your Dad here. A big storm blowing and the fire still burning. Likely.