Monumental 17th Century English Carved Limestone Fireplace

This spectacular, monumental 17th century English carved limestone fireplace, circa 1650, was reclaimed from Cobtree Manor House, England (demolished 1968). Standing at 2 m tall (6’ 5”) and over 2.7 m wide (9’), this exceptional English fire surround is a very rare find.

It is not often you find a chimneypiece like this outside of a listed heritage property, making this a rare opportunity to purchase a fireplace of such size and grandeur.

Highly elaborate, the surround is intricately hand-carved throughout, the frieze of which is most extravagant, carved with a mythical beast to the central tablet among birds, stylised lions holding crowns, parakeets and scrolling foliage. The jambs are carved in a column-like style with fruits and flowers below corbels to the end blocks, completed with a carved egg and dart trim beneath the shelf.

This fireplace truly is a magnificent work of art, designed for an interior of prestige and fine grandeur. It is in the manner of late 16th / early 17th century English architect and designer, Inigo Jones (1573 – 1652), who was known for introducing the classical style architecture of the Italian Renaissance to Britain. His famous works include the Banqueting House at Whitehall, The Queen’s House, Greenwich and the Queen’s Chapel at St. James’ Palace.

Provenance

Removed from a wing of Cobtree Manor in Kent, UK. Though demolished in 1968, the house’s parklands remain to this day and were once the site of Maidstone Zoo. The occupation of the land itself dates back as far as the neolithic times (4300 BC – 2000 BC). However, the first known record can be found in the title estate deeds of English poet and politician, Sir Thomas Wyatt, in 1596.

Cobtree is linked to the famous 19th century novelist, Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870). It is believed that during the 1830s, a young Dickens had fallen into a pond while out walking near Cobtree farm. He knocked on the door of the tenant farmer at the time – Mr William Spong – who took Dickens in. It is said that Dickens later took inspiration from Mr Spong in his 1837 novel ‘The Pickwick Papers’, in which he immortalised him as Mr Wardle of Manor Farm near Dingley Dell.

17th Century Heritage

Having stood the test of time for more than 370 years, this antique fireplace offers a glimpse into England in the 1600s. This century saw the Stuarts rise to the English throne: first James I of England and VI of Scotland following the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, followed by Charles I in 1625. Other notable events of this century included the English Civil War (1642 – 1651) and Guy Fawkes’ famous Gunpowder plot of 1605.

Additional Dimensions

Opening height:153 cm (5’)

Opening width: 197.5 cm (6’ 4”)

Base width (outer foot block to outer foot block): 248 cm (8’ 1”)

Depth varies.