does anyone know what this is?

broodylass_2 · 29 November 2011 at 3:17PM

Hi! In our kitchen we've got this metal thing in the wall. It's on the back of the chimney breast. The 'fire place' is in the livingroom, it's got a backboiler and gas fire in the fire place now but obviously in the good old days it was a normal coal fire.

We're currently thinking of what to go for when we need to replace the boiler and before coming on OS I was thinking of getting a combi but I'm now thinking along the lines of a stove.

Anyway, does anyone know what this thing is on the kitchen wall?

http://s8.postimage.org/ohtpjv7yt/kitchen_thing.jpg

ragz_2 · 29 November 2011 at 3:38PM

it's a cover... I imagine it's what's behind it that you're interested in... ave you taken it off to see? Could it be for accessing the chimney for maintenance? Or something exciting like a hole to put things in to keep warm/smoke them?

Itismehonest · 29 November 2011 at 3:43PM

It looks like a cover over a flue. Maybe there was once an old fire or stove there?

Badrick · 29 November 2011 at 4:26PM

As others have said, it may be a flue cleaning door, an old opening for a boiler or stove or for access to coal fire back boiler.
Don't open it!!! If there's a gas appliance sharing the same chimney, unless you're 100% positive it's got a flue liner fitted, as if it's not resealed properly you may get flue gases (carbon monoxide) leaking into kitchen. Leave it as it is and it should be fine, but I'd seek professional advice if you ever want rid of it.

PixieDust · 29 November 2011 at 4:40PM

Ohhh Badrick...I was going to post that I would have been consumed with curiosity living in a house with a "secret place" and would have whipped the cover off pronto

But clearly I am a wally

You make soooo much more sense.

But still.....a secret place........

Triker · 29 November 2011 at 4:44PM

It's a gateway to Narnia, don't open it, the Snow Queen is out there!:D

meritaten · 29 November 2011 at 7:45PM

was there an old open fire or range in there? do you know? broodylass - if you are located in Devon or Cornwall I would be tempted to think its for making clotted cream (I am almost sure I have seen a pic of something like that and it was referred to as a Creamery.
If I am right, then clotted cream is made by putting the fresh cream overnight in a very warm place - an oven is far too hot so they used to put it half way up the chimney.
course I could be wrong and its for smoking kippers! or drying socks!

PixieDust · 29 November 2011 at 7:50PM

oooooh there could be a cloam oven behind there. oooooh!!!

clotted cream...off a teaspoon.....mmMMMmmmmm....

caledonian_princess · 29 November 2011 at 8:52PM

It looks like the access cover to the chimney in my kitchen.

oldtractor · 29 November 2011 at 8:55PM

Its a cover its for access into a flue to rake it/clean it out.

emg · 29 November 2011 at 8:56PM

Yes, looks like an access cover to me as well. We had one in our kitchen as our chimney didnt have a fireplace. The chimney cleaner had to stick his brushes through it!