The use of the fireplace as a decorative focal point as well as a
source of heat in a room has a long history. Due to the individual
nature of these decorative designs, these fireplaces were often only
available to the wealthy and were
usually made out of stone, brick or, in the Georgian period,
plaster. The rise of the middle class in the late Georgian and early
Victorian periods saw a demand for cheaper mass produced materials
as the resultant housing boom of the industrial revolution took
hold. One material that was eminently suited to mass production was
cast iron. That suitability, coupled with technical improvements
that led to thinner and thinner castings and improved productions
methods gave the new urban middle and working classes access to
highly decorative cast iron fireplaces that would have unaffordable
a century before.
As a result, decorative and stylish fireplaces moved from the
preserve of the wealthy to that of the common man helped by
companies producing catalogues that gave a huge range of choice and
design. As with all decorative items, the design of cast iron
fireplaces followed the latest trend and incorporated elements from
such movements as Arts and Crafts or Art Deco as their design ethos
took hold. Cast iron is still an important material in the
manufacture of fireplaces and will continue to be so.
At The Foundry we have been producing cast iron fireplaces for over
twenty years. We are now one of the few foundries in the UK,
possibly the only one, manufacturing our own range of cast iron
fireplaces which include examples from the Georgian, Victorian,
Regency, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. As well as producing our
own range of cast iron fireplaces and back panels, we can also, in
conjunction with H & H Fires Ltd, a company who operate from our
premises, renovate antique fires and ranges, supply replacement
parts such as grates or canopies and supply bespoke cast iron fire
places. We can also source gas trays, tiles and other fittings and
recommend installers for any type of cast iron fireplace. All of the
cast iron fireplaces that we produce can be fitted with a grate for
solid fuel or a gas tray for a living flame effect.
As well as cast iron fireplaces, our customer base also covers grey,
ductile and alloyed irons for the engineering, decorative,
architectural and artistic sectors. We can supply castings from one
off up to small to medium batch production using Alkali Phenolic
resin bonded sands. Our workforce of highly skilled moulders can
work from complex loose pattern equipment, particularly where low
volumes are required, whilst our moulding line is suited for batch
production. Our long trading history, coupled with an investment
programme that has enabled us to keep up with modern production
methods and environmental legislation has meant that we have been
involved with many projects requiring ductile iron castings and
continue to be so. All our cast iron fireplaces are produced to the
current ISO material specification, ISO 185 2005, along with any
further certification which a customer may require. Our diverse
customer base has also given us experience in a wide range of other
applications for cast iron , including pumps and valves, forges,
foundries and rolling mills, automotive and aerospace, a wide range
of OEMs, quarries and mines, railways and rolling stock, local
authorities and artists and sculptors. We also have long term
trading relationships with local pattern makers, machine shops and
surface finishers which enable us to quote for the complete supply
of the finished casting.
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