Intricate detail in formal plan to move 18th century fireplace
.jpg "Intricate detail in formal plan to move 18th century fireplace")
Detailed proposals for moving an 18th century fireplace from one room at Grade 1 listed Sheffield Park House to another are before Wealden Council.
The fireplace is to be returned to its original, pre-1980s conversion to apartments, position.
It used to be in what was previously the study of Sheffield Park House, at Sheffield Park, near Fletching, but during the conversion was moved to the former housekeeper’s room, now a living room.
A report included with the planning application says the fireplace is not specifically mentioned within the listing description but it is attributed to the architect James Wyatt and so is likely to be original to the time of construction of the house.
The listing description says the main portion of the house dates from about 1779 and was Wyatt’s earliest Gothic house but with an entrance front which is a symmetrical classical conception.
The 18th century fireplace, which includes hearth, cast iron surround, mantle, pilaster jambs and pilaster feet, is described as a “white and grey veined marble chimneypiece, made-up, the frieze carved with Vitruvian scrolls, the 18th century jambs with acanthus volutes above over-lapping roundels, on replaced jamb feet and with cast iron register grate.”
The care to be taken in moving the fireplace is described in intricate detail in a schedule of works setting out the way it is to be cleaned, re-assembled, repaired and installed.
It includes “carefully removing by hand coatings/filters/dust and surface dirt which have affected or have been deposited on the original fireplace since removal whilst avoiding the removal of the aged patina”.
Pictures of the fireplace and more information about the planning application can be seen in documents on the Wealden Council website.
See also:
Prosecution could follow removal of fireplace from listed building
New owners of care home plan for the future
Man-made gases may have contributed to Uckfield floods
(Added to site Monday, February 21st, 2011)
