The existing fireplace was a little out of keeping with the cottage and dominant in this sitting room. We suggested that it would be possible to remove this and go back to the original Victorian builder's opening which will make the room wider and allow a freestanding stove to be fitted.

The fireplace our builder created from our drawings is simple. It is rendered inside the aperture, the front wall has been re-plastered and we have fitted a new sandstone hearth. With a course of bricks removed from the front of the chimney breast and a larger open fireplace the room feels much bigger.

In old fireplaces there are often things we don't want like this steel hanging rail which must be cut out. Also in this one was a lot of mortar from previous repairs to the top of the chimney stack which had lodged and set on a bend in the chimney just where it becomes square on this photograph. This had to removed as it restricted the flue and would have damaged the liner when it was being pulled through.

Up the scaffolding to sort the top out. As there are six flues in this chimney a scaffold is the only safe way to access and work up there. After discussions with the next door neighbour about his three chimneys our client's chimney pot was removed without disturbing the neighbours pots.

It is surprising what you find in old chimneys which is why we need to remove the pot and rectify any loose masonry and remove inappropriate materials. The support for the chimney pot here is in part slate but most of it is plywood and has been on fire.

The lining is now done and the new chimney pot has been fitted with a stainless steel birdguard we have painted black to be less visually obtrusive.

The redundant chimney at the front of our client's side of the stack is also blanked off to prevent water and birds from getting in and a vent hole is left to prevent dampness in this flue. The neighbours operational chimneys have been checked and through smoke tested to make sure they are clear in case any debris had fallen down during our work.

The new Charnwood Country 4 stove is now in and has been test fired and handed over to our client.