Another exotic thatched animal for todays blog, a majestic lion, but king of the jungle is a real misnomer as everyone knows that the lion lives in the African savannah. What is certain hear is that this fellow certainly is a handsome chap, if not a little incongruous sight on the roof of a thatched cottage in Britain? I like him though, I think you must admit that he has a certain style, perhaps class and certainly a dominating presence. Real gravitas if ever I saw it!

The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae and a member of the genus Panthera. It has a muscular, deep-chested body, short, rounded head, round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions have a prominent mane. With a typical head-to-body length of 184–208 cm (72–82 in) they are larger than females at 160–184 cm (63–72 in). It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion pride consists of a few adult males, related females and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator; although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur and have been known to hunt humans, the species typically does not.

Typically, the lion inhabits grasslands and savannas, but is absent in dense forests. It is usually more diurnal than other big cats, but when persecuted it adapts to being active at night and at twilight. During the Neolithic period, the lion ranged throughout Africa, Southeast Europe, and Western and South Asia but today it has been reduced to fragmented populations in sub-Saharan Africa and one critically endangered population in western India. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because populations in African countries have declined by about 43% since the early 1990s. Lion populations are untenable outside designated protected areas. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are the greatest causes for concern.

One of the most widely recognised animal symbols in human culture, the lion has been extensively depicted in sculptures and paintings, on national flags, and in contemporary films and literature. Lions have been kept in menageries since the time of the Roman Empire and have been a key species sought for exhibition in zoological gardens across the world since the late 18th century. Cultural depictions of lions were prominent in Ancient Egypt, and depictions have occurred in virtually all ancient and medieval cultures in the lion’s former and current ranges.

Here is a selection of Lion poems I found on the internet:

The Lion by Hilaire Belloc

The Lion, the Lion, he dwells in the Waste,
He has a big head and a very small waist;
But his shoulders are stark, and his jaws they are grim,
And a good little child will not play with him.

The Lion by Waytoolost

The Lion is a predator.
The Lion is not the type of leader you think it is.
It is the type of leader to be admired from afar.
The Lion is the type of leader that everyone respects and no-one wants to anger.
The Lion is brave, quiet, courageous and powerful.
The Lion is the King.
Nothing will ever change that The Lion is King.
When you see The King, you better be running because you know, you don’t stand a chance.

Perhaps my favourite lion poem, certainly the funniest, this offering from the pen of Spike Milligan.

If you’re attacked by a Lion
Find fresh underpants to try on
Lay on the ground quite still
Pretend you are very ill
Keep like that day after day
Perhaps the lion will go away

I do see a lot of Mendip stoves in and around the area, but not so much around Saffron Walden, but in the main I find them in and around the Royston area, and I can’t think of seeing any in Suffolk around Haverhill etc. I’m thinking that there must be a stove installer somewhere in the Royston area that installs Mendip stoves, which would explain the concentration in that area. Havin said all that I sweep this Mendip Loxton 8 Double-sided Woodburning Stove at an address in Arkesden and have done so for many years now, indeed, the original occupiers of the house where this stove is located have moved on and I now sweep for the new occupiers. As you can see from the photograph it is quite a large double-sided stove that heats two large rooms. The customer reports that it is very efficient at heating both rooms and is very pleased with the stove’s performance. To be honest, although I think it is an impressive, stylish stove, it is not my favorite appliance to dismantle and sweep. Unfortunately like most Mendip stoves it seems to be over engineered and with no thought to the poor chimney sweep who has to clean and service the appliance. In fact, some of the components have to be unbolted to dismantle the stove, which is never a good idea where high temperatures are involved. I suppose that is all part of being a busy chimney sweep!

 Mendip’s internet blurb states: Mendip Stoves is a family business with our roots set firmly based in Somerset; we have been established since 2008 manufacturing quality wood and multi-fuel stoves. Our combined experience in the stove industry and knowledge of the European stove market enables us to manufacture exceptional appliances designed for the UK Market.

We only sell Mendip stoves through a specially selected group of retailers who are committed to wood burning, respected for their knowledge of freestanding and inset stoves. Each retailer can assess your requirements and recommend a stove that will suit your need and lifestyle. Most provide a complete supply and fit service for peace of mind.

Mendip Stoves is a family business with our roots set firmly based in Somerset; we have been established since 2008 manufacturing quality wood and multi-fuel stoves. Our combined experience in the stove industry and knowledge of the European stove market enables us to manufacture exceptional appliances designed for the UK Market.

We only sell Mendip stoves through a specially selected group of retailers who are committed to wood burning, respected for their knowledge of freestanding and inset stoves. Each retailer can assess your requirements and recommend a stove that will suit your need and lifestyle. Most provide a complete supply and fit service for peace of mind.

Unit H1
Mendip Industrial Estate
Mendip Road
Rooksbridge
Somerset
BS26 2UG

01173156207

info@eurostove.co.uk

https://www.mendipstoves.co.uk/

Here is quite a popular stove and a relatively new name on the block, Chilli Penguin Stoves. You might remember that I have previously had a blog featuring the Chilli Penguin Chubby 5 Stove. I recently swept this example of a Chilli Penguin Woody 5 Multi-Fuel Stove at an address in Haverhill. They are smart looking, business like and efficient with nice clean lines and a flashy logo badge on the front of the stove. They are one of the stove models that are installed by Cut Maple Stoves from New England near Haverhill, as this stove was installed by them in 2021. To my mind, the Chilli Penguin stoves look rather like some of the Dean Forge range of stoves, which is another manufacturer that is installed by Cut Maple Stoves. The customer is certainly pleased with their Chilli Penguin stove, and told us that they couldn’t believe just how much heat the stove throughout, but that it was very economical in its fuel usage.

I must admit that Chilli Penguin is a rather unusual name for a stove company, but they do have a very attractive range of stoves, which include: The Chilli Billie, The Short Penguin, The Chubby 5, The Hungry Penguin and the Hungry Penguin Tall, The Fat Penguin, The High & Mighty, The High & Mighty tall, The Stock Cube, The Fusby, The Woody, The Penguin 7, The Seventy Ate 78 and the Penguin Idris 7Kw.

Chilli Penguin are a small family run business located near the stunning coastline of the Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales. What inspires and excites us is beautiful, functional design. We love things that look amazing and perform brilliantly. We love fire and steel. We love the idea of stoves, objects that warm homes and lives, that can be fueled by a renewable resource like trees. We want our stoves to burn as efficiently and cleanly as possible, a number of our stoves are already Ecodesign compliant.

Chilli Penguin Showroom
10 Glan y Don Industrial estate
Pwllheli
Gwynedd
LL53 5YT

01758 721 247

https://chillipenguin.co.uk/about/about-us/

This stove was installed by Cut Maple Stoves in Sturmer/New England:

Cut Maple Stove & Fire Company,

Sturmer Road,

New England,

Halstead CO9 4BB

Telephone: 01440 788788

Email: cutmaple@fireplacesetc.co.uk

Website: http://www.fireplacesetc.co.uk

Here we are sweeping for the Bishop of Chelmsford again, and on this occasion it was the vicarage at Margaretting near Ingatestone, close to Chelmsford. We have swept the vicarage chimney on around four or five occasions now and are quite familiar with it. To be honest it is a really quick job, an open fire with a modern lined chimney that is swept regularly (by me), and that only has occasional use. So on this occasion as we didn’t have a particularly busy day and the job only took a small amount of time, we could spend a few moments examining what is a beautiful medieval church. A church that I would say is architecturally classically Essex with its wooden bell cote and spire.

The church is grade two star listed and the listed buildings website provides a great deal of information about the history and architecture of the building: A flint and stone rubble church of Norman origin but almost completely rebuilt in the early-mid C15, with a timber-framed, weatherboarded and shingled west tower with a broach spire. The roofs to the nave, chancel and aisle are tiled. The chancel was altered in the C16 and the church was much altered by restoration in 1877. A portion of the north wall to the east of the north porch is of Norman work and incorporates Roman tiles. The most important features of the church are the C15 west tower and north porch. The tower is supported on 10 posts with shores and cross bracing (of, Churches at Stock, Navestock and Blackmore, Essex). The lower stage is faced in vertical weatherboarding and has a tiled, hipped, roof. The upper stage and broach spire is shingled. The north porch has cusped
bargeboards and traceried side lights. The doorway has a 4-centred arch with traceried spandrels and the oak door is of the same period, partly renewed. The king post roof to the nave is C15 and the chancel roof is C16. The chancel has a Tree of Jesse window which is made up of C15 Flemish glass, fragments from earlier windows built into its present position in the restoration of 1877.

Fittings include a C15 octagonal font carved with emblems and a grotesque head, a carved alabaster wall monument to John Tanfield of Coptfold Hall (dated 1625), A C16 brass of Robert Sedge, his wife and children, of “Shenfield” (now known as “Killigrews”) and the lower part of a C15 rood screen. The 4 bells in the belfry are all of pre-Reformation date.

This is a stove that gets a tremendous amount of use, twenty four seven in the winter, and as a consequence, we sweep the chimney twice a year, just to ensure that there are never any issues. The stove gets so much use because it is located in the Lion pub in Finchingfield and is on the go all day, every day throughout the winter season. As you can see from the photograph it is a rather large double-sided stove, so has the capacity to burn a large amount of fuel and throw a significant quantity of deposits up the chimney. Fortunately the staff look after the stove well and burn it hot, so the chimney deposits tend to be in the nature of very light fine soot, but lots of it. Heritage stoves are a make of stove that I only ever come across infrequently, although I do sweep one or two, but none as large as this beast. This is an example of a Heritage Brandon 16Kw Double-Sided Wood-Burning Stove. As I say, I do come across the odd Heritage model, but only very infrequently, they are not a common make of stove in the area by any stretch of the imagination. The chimney also has an unusual Vedette Anti-Downdraught/draw assistance Cowl – See photograph which also managed to capture the setting winter moon.

The Finchingfield Lion is a pub that is well worth a visit, set in the most picturesque of English villages, you always get a very warm welcome from Jacui and the staff and they do Pizzas to die for and quality real ale. Jacqui bought The Finchingfield Lion in November 2016 with the aim of turning this run-down pub into a true village local – serving good, reasonably-priced food, using the freshest local ingredients, prepared simply and with flair. The team is enthusiastic, and the welcome is warm.  The front bar is cosy, the top bar is stunning, the beer garden is huge and enclosed so bring your dog and enjoy!

6 Church Hill, Finchingfield, Essex CM7 4NN – 01371 810400

https://thefinchingfieldlion.co.uk/

Increasingly it seems to me that most of the blogs I write about stoves are either about antique stoves or examples of rare stoves or stoves I am unfamiliar with. Here is a case of the latter, a stove make that I had never seen or heard of before, so by inference a rarity in this area. This is a Charnwood Arc 5 Store Stand Multi-Fuel Stove – I think its rarity is as much due to its recent appearance on the stove market as Charnwood have been updating their models. Up until recently Charnwood did not manufacture a cylindrical stove, so the Arc is something of a development for them. The Arc comes in two models, the 5 and the slightly larger 7 – I think that you will agree that both are very stylish and contemporary and as in this example, they look great in an old setting. There is something rather pleasing about that juxtaposition between traditional and contemporary, I think it works really well here in this old timber framed cottage.

Charnwood stoves are a very well known stove manufacturer and are located on the isle of Wight. A J Wells & Sons Ltd, the manufacturers of Charnwood Stoves, was founded in 1972 and is a privately owned, family controlled, British company that specialises in the design and manufacture of high quality wood burning and multifuel stoves. They are actually the oldest British manufacturer of wood burning stoves, run by second and third generations of the family. There advertising blurb states that they “are dedicated to providing products of enduring design and of the highest quality”.

It all started in 1972, when Alfred Wells and two of his sons, started a small engineering business in Niton on the Isle of Wight. Over the last forty years we have grown from our original small factory of around 1500 sq. ft to our current site of over 50,000sq. Ft.

We have always been keen to provide local employment on the Isle of Wight and have seen the number of our employees rise from the original 3 to well over 150. The company state that they are very proud of our workforce who have rewarded them by staying loyal to the company, with many staff having worked with us for over 25 years. Such continuity brings stability to the business ensuring that pride in the company and the quality of our products is maintained. The owners of the company are Christians and Christian values and principles underpin the way they do business and run the company.

Their company advertising goes on to say that “commitment to our staff is vital as is the commitment to invest in the latest technology to ensure the highest quality. Over the years we have installed our own Vitreous Enamelling Plant, CNC controlled Press Brakes, Robotic Welders and a state of the art Laser Profiler all of which allow pin point accuracy resulting in superior quality. Keeping the manufacture of as many parts as possible in-house enables us to maintain full production control to provide our customers with long-lasting products leading the field technically in both operation and function.

Contact details for Charnwood stoves are as follows:

Charnwood stoves,

Bishops Way,

Newport,

Isle of Wight PO30 5WS

Sales 01983 537777

Technical & Spares 01983 537799

I came across this very unusual stove in the vicarage at West Mersea on Mersea Island, whilst sweeping for the Bishop of Chelmsford. I can with all honesty say that I have never come across a stove quite like it before, it certainly is most unusual and a real rarity. Like a combination stove, the stove can be operated in two ways, firstly with the doors closed like a traditional wood stove, however as there is no glass in the doors you would not be able to see the fire. Secondly, so you could see the fire, you can operate the stove with the doors open, and there is an unusual heat resistant glass screen the can be brought down in front of the firebox so that material can not spit out of the stove whilst it is in operation.

My first impression looking at the stove, from its French sounding name and the attractive Fleur-De-Lillies embossed on the doors that the stove is French in manufacture. A Google search only revealed numerous antique Deville Charleville Wood-Burning Stoves for sale – But it did seem to confirm that they were a French Stove manufacturer who were producing stoves in the 1920’s and 1930’s, up to the start of the Second World War.

 For this week’s offering, here is an unusual stove and a make of stove that I only ever come across infrequently. This is an example of a Fireline FQ5W multi-fuel stove. As I say, I do come across the odd Fireline model, but only very infrequently, they are not a common make of stove in the area by any stretch of the imagination. I swept this example in an address in Linton, but the customer had inherited the stove when they moved in and were not aware of who the installer was. To my mind it is a very utilitarian stove, square, solid and business like with very straight lines as the photograph demonstrates. Not perhaps the most attractive of appliances, but certainly functional and business like. This said the customer has been more than pleased with its performance and uses it on a regular basis throughout the burning season.

Fireline are a subsidiary of Charlton & Jenrick Ltd of Telford in Shropshire. A google search revealed that this company make a number of different brands along with Fireline, including Infinity HD, Katell, Purevision and Paragon. The company sales blurb states that they have been manufacturing stoves and fireplaces since 1986 and was founded by Barry Charlton and Bill Jenrick and now employs over 125 people across two sites.

Charlton & Jenrick Ltd

Unit D
Stafford Park 2
Telford
Shropshire
TF3 3AR

T 01952 200 444
F 01952 200 480
E sales@charltonandjenrick.co.uk

https://www.charltonandjenrick.co.uk/contact/charlton-jenrick/

After our recent summer holiday to Cyprus (George & Adrienne’s villa in Latchi again), both Claire and I are beginning to wonder whether they have Building Regulations in Cyprus and if they do, we’re guessing some Cypriots just choose to ignore them! Here are some photo’s of some of the interesting chimneys that we saw, I dread to think what might be going on inside the properties! There seems to be a total disregard for the proximity to combustible materials for one thing. I suspect that many Cypriots just choose to do their own installations and building work, judging by some of the sights. These horrors aside we had a great family holiday as usual, although it was rather warm this summer with temperatures over 40 degrees some days. Thank heavens for that cooling breeze that is always present on the north coast.

This week’s offering is a rather local stove to us, in the neighbouring village of Debden. The customer here recently changed from an antique Jotul stove that didn’t heat the room adequately, to this stylish, contemporary Hunter Allure 5 Wood-Burning Stove. The stove was installed by Cut Maple Stoves from New England near Sturmer. The customer is very happy with his new stove, and he told me that Cut Maple Stoves did an excellent job and that he is very happy with how his new stove operates. He was particularly pleased with how efficiently it heats the room and he likes the large piece of glass in the door so he can see the fire burning. I find the Hunter Allure 5 very similar in design to the Parkray Aspect 5, which is not surprising as Parkray are now part of the Hunter Group of stove manufacturing companies.

Hunter Stoves were founded in the West Country in 1970 and now manufacture their stoves at a site near Exeter. Hunter bought the Parkray company in 2003 and absorbed the brand into its product range. In 2008 Hunter Stoves bought a site a Camelford in Cornwall as a research and development department, but they now produce some stoves there as well. In 2015 the company rebranded as the Hunter Stoves Group and now produce such brands as; Herald, HS Gas, Di Lusso, Avalon, Cleanburn, Eco-ideal and Parkray.

Hunter Stoves Limited
8 Emperor Way, Exeter Business Park, Exeter, EX1 3QS

https://hunterstoves.co.uk/