Opening up this fireplace for log burner

[ScottishGasMan]

Hey all, had been planning on fitting a stove to this chimney before I bought house, assuming it was just a standard brick chimney I was gonna fit a no more props device on wall and take out brickwork below to open space up and stick a concrete lintel in place.

BUT, on removing plaster for wall it looks like theres already been a bigger fireplace in before and someones simply bricked up a smaller one for gas fire which I have removed now,

got some pics here, would you reckon I could just open up fire looking at these? Is that meant to be some sort of old concrete lintel thats there? My only concern was the large grey/black section of concrete mix doesnt look to hang over much at the right hand side.

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• ScottishGasMan
• 3 Oct 2012
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• ScottishGasMan
• 11 Nov 2012
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• ScottishGasMan
• 11 Nov 2012
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• ScottishGasMan
• 11 Nov 2012
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• ScottishGasMan
• 11 Nov 2012
• 2

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• ScottishGasMan
• 11 Nov 2012
• 3

 

[Norcon]

no more props device

Can I ask what a "no more props device" is?

I did one a while back and thunderbolted a heavy section of channel iron (about 2.2m long) to the wall above where the breakout would finish.
Then two small acrows propping at each side.
My main concern was avoiding a "Fred Dibnah" style chimney demolition out across the guys living room and me under it.
Probably belt and braces but why take chances?

 

[ScottishGasMan]

http://www.diversityproducts.co.uk/no-more-props-temporary-lintel-index.html

 

[Norcon]

I see. Thats similar to what I done only different.

 

[gus321123]

looks like just bricked up for the smaller fire ,,, there seems 2 be a lintel in above the bricks should e ok to open up as lonas as uv near as 150mmbrick work under bothsides ov lintil ,,, worth builder just looking at tho as cant see from picks clearly