Fireplace in Essex

The great fireplace with the large brick oven required fully one-half of the kitchen. The fireplace was built on the architectural plan known in those days, to burn four-foot wood. On the right side in the fire jamb was placed the crane with its pot-hooks and trammels, all of sufficient strength to swing a five-pail iron kettle over the fire with other pots and kettles. -----The hearthstone for this fireplace and brick oven was early ten feet long and three feet wide. To furnish this fireplace were required two large andirons, a long-handled shovel, and a pair of tongs. ----The back of the chimney near one side is the opening to receive the ashes when removed to the ashpit, built in the foundation of the chimney. ----The stone mantelpiece to this fireplace is seven feet long, eighteen inches wide and six inches thick, place nearly five feet above the hearthstone. ----- To build a fire required first an enormous back-log rolled into place, on top of which is placed a smaller log, called a back stick. The large andirons where then placed against the back-log, then a fore-stick placed on the andirons. The foundation of the fire being laid, the placing of smaller wood to make the fire required skill and experience; and grandfather was an expert in the use of stick chimneys, with large stone fireplaces; he would make a fire that would light the kitchen without the tallow candle. -------The large brick oven, with its stone mantle and sheet-iron door, must be heated often for the baking of all good things for the table in those early days. This oven was about three feet in diameter, with a concave brick top and the flue near the door. To heat the oven required the best of dry wood, The degree of heat required for baking was tested by the hand and if found correct the coal and ashes were removed, the oven swept with a broom, then the baking was arranged within and the door placed. Thus was completed a very important task for the housewife in those early days.------------ This description is taken from, The History of the Castle family. Abel Castle was a neighbor to Samuel Griffin. In all likelihood Samuel’s house contained a very similar fireplace and oven arraignment. There is a fireplace very similar to this description in the Griffin house in Killingworth. The hearthstone in the house in Killingworth sets flush with the floor. ________ We have added a image of a typical design. Click on images to enlarge.