Restoring Old Fireplace

[shiralee]

Hi There

We were wondering if anyone could help us - we're trying to restore a (wood burning?) fireplace of a type we've not come across before in England or France.

The fireplace is fairly small, both in depth and width.  It has a marble and plaster mantel.

There

is no hearth to speak of.

All that remains of any grate is a flat,

metal plate that sits in groves in the hearth stone and about an inch of the ground with an air space

underneath. A retractable metal screen can be lowered by degrees all

the way down to completely cover the fireplace.

We are guessing it is a 19C fireplace (around 1840s?).

There are 3 ifireplaces of this type in the house, which is in

Pyrenees-Orienthales region.

Does anyone know what sort of grate and hearth a fireplace like this

should have?

Should there be an ash pan or even a dog grate above the

base plate?

Thanks

[Paul Bradford]

Hi,

This chap might be able to help. He has been in the business for years. Mick at Pavilion Hills 40-42 Station Road, Westcliff on sea, Essex. Telephone:- 0044 (0)1702 432721. His web address doesn't seem to work. We have had a few fireplaces from him over the years for different houses that we have lived in. I do remember seeing French fireplaces in his shop.

Regards

Paul