Cast Iron was first discovered and producted over 500 years ago throughout America. It moved over to the British Isles in the early Victorian era. Cast iron was called so because of the uses it was produced for, in size were too large and vast for any machine or person to hammer into shape or be 'wrought', therefore it had to be cast in a mould.
Cast iron was cheap to produce and it soon became obvious that it was the ideal material to use for the larger appliance such as the fireplace. This idea soon took off in the 19th century, especially with the middle classes and more and more homes started to feature cast iron heating devices in their kitchens and living areas. The use of cast iron then led on to the production of many other house wares and accessories such as the saucepan and pots that we still use today.
The first appearance of cast iron being used as a heating appliance within the home came in the form of the register gate for the living room and the range for the kitchen. The register gate was a lot smaller than the open fire which made it very affordable and yet still provided warmth to the room alongside offering a small hob for using to boil the kettle and cooking certain foods. This soon began to replace the open fire which had been the only form of cooking and warmth for over 5 centuries. The range consisted of cast iron components that soon led to the production of the saucepan, pots and other pans which are still within use today.
As time progressed and technology became more advanced the fashions of the time began to change which then led to the cast iron fireplace to gain its very own styling. Firstly it was the back panel that was produced from cast iron, with the fireplace surround being manufactured from wood or marble. The industry began to boom and soon blacksmiths all over were able to customise the design of each cast iron fireplace to whatever the customers desired.
When it comes to choosing cast iron fireplaces that is suitable for your needs you should consider the size of your room. Remember that cast iron is a wonderful heating element and will heat a room very quickly and although this is more energy efficient, you wouldn’t want to be too uncomfortable. The cast iron fireplace will stay rather warm for some time after it has finished burning wood or coal which made it so popular in poorer times. However if you choose for your gas supply to heat the fire then it’s not so much of an issue as this will cool down relatively quickly. When heating the room off the main supply there is also the point of not having to clean the mess up that conventional means would make. There are lots of designs to choose from too, you don’t have to have a cast iron fireplace that looks traditional, you can customise your own to look modern and suit the rest of your room.
Author Resource:
Luna Home Store offer a wide selection of cast iron fireplaces reproductions from all eras including Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian, at affordable rates to suit all tastes and varying budgets.
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