Uncovered fireplace with no lintel or arch?

[Dr C]

We’re in the process of opening up a redundant fireplace in our bedroom

The original chimney breast was hidden behind a stud wall and we basically want to open it back up with a vent in the flue and re-fit a cast iron front so it looks the part but doesn’t need to function.

Peeling back the plaster we were expecting to find a brick arch or lintel above the builders opening but we can’t find any evidence of one and it doesn’t look like the bricks have ever touched.

Big question is, if we were to remove the newer bricks in the centre to do we need to put a lintel in if there was nothing there before?

cheers

 

[domdee]

the way the old bricks are cut at the top suggests its had an arch in there at some point.

 

[johnny2007]

Those are probably facing bricks and you'll find a flue lintel in there once you remove the new bricks.

 

[KenGMac]

There is a possibility that, given the shape of the original bricks above the new brick inserts was at one time supported by the frame work of the fire surround?