Opening up a fireplace, no lintel.

[Gary_crawford]

I've been taking the plaster off to open up the fireplace in my dining room only to discover there's not lintel.

There was a wood burning stove in this room when we bought the house, but our chimney sweep told us that it's not legal due to the stove standing so close to the edge of the hearth. He advised we open it up and recess the stove.

There does seem to be some secondary brick work below the original and there is a metal plate(?) just above the current opening that runs across to the pillars. Is it possible that it's further up, or is this metal the only support I have?

Every room in this cottage had an open fire at one point. This chimney has been lined to use with a stove.

 

[23vc]

Bit of iron likely to be the only support, you’ll want a concrete lintel further up and potentially some smaller lintels spanning across to the back wall to support the corbelled “gather” within the chimney breast. As you start opening it up you’ll get a better idea

 

[Gary_crawford]

Much appreciated. Unlikely I'll tackle this myself to be honest, so I'll get in touch with a brickie