Bricking up fireplace (with pics)

[mark482]

I've unbricked a bricked-up fireplace in my 1930's house, with the intention of putting an airbrick in (there was none):

As you can see, it's a bit of a mess and I think I might have gone a bit far...

When I took the plaster off there was a gap under the lintel (I hope?) at the top, before the next row of bricks. Odd I thought, but assumed the lintel above was holding up the wall and it was ok to proceed downwards. Lower down I found an iron bar, but not spanning the full width of the opening, then lower down again as you can see is a bracket.

Nothing is moving, but now I am a bit concerned because what I thought was the lintel (grey bit at the top) is only being held up by the corners of the brick either side (it doesn't extend very deep into the opening), one of the bricks on the right was loose and came out, and the one on the left seems to be supported by concrete (?), and there is a hole in that lower down (grey patch in the picture).

Question is, what do I do to make this good? I'm not planning to put in a fire because the room is quite small, so I just need to get it to a good state for the plasterer..

 

[noseall]

you need to simply block or brick it back in. once filled in that lintel ain't going nowhere. looks solid anyhow.

just above skiting height you will need to either build in an air brick or leave an opening, to which a hit'n'miss vent could be fitted over after plastering.

 

[mark482]

Thanks for the advice, will get on it at the weekend

 

[wazzag]

Why is ventilation needed?

 

[masona]

To prevent damp and musky smell

 

[noseall]

Why is ventilation needed?

to maintain airflow through the chimney.