Now here is a very attractive little enamel Franco-Belge stove that carries on the French tradition for colored enamel stoves which goes back to the last century. This example is a Blue Enamel Franco-Belge Viceroy Multi-Fuel Stove that I have been sweeping for some time now at an address in Great Bardfield. Fortunately for me the Franco-Belge Viceroy is one of the easier of the Franco-Belge stoves to work on. It is one of those stoves that is quite simple to dismantle and put back together, unlike some of the other stoves in the Franco-Belge stove range. I think that you will all agree that the blue enamel and period design of this stove is rather attractive and quite becoming.

The Franco-Belge company have been making cast iron stoves for over 90 years, the are based in Mariembourg in Belgium: Franco Belge Europe S.A. 127ieme RIF, 15 Zoning industriel 5660, Mariembourg http://www.fbeurope.be/en/5-contact

I really like this little stove with its large glass window, in fact the stove is mostly window, so you get a really good view of the fire – Always a most attractive feature in any stove. This is the Parkray Aspect 5 which comes in Multi-Fuel Stove and wood-burning varieties. I sweep an awful lot of these Parkray Aspect 5 stoves, the vast majority of which have been installed by Cut Maple Stoves from New England Sturma. I recently swept this multi-fuel example of the Parkray Aspect 5 stove at an address in Haverhill.

Parkray Stoves are now part of the Hunter Stove Group. Hunter Stoves was 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.

Up until relatively recently I had not come across any examples of these Rais stoves, but I am now beginning to see more and more of them. This attractive contemporary cylindrical model is the Rais Viva L120 Wood-Burning Stove. They are as you can see very stylish and well put together. They are also relatively easy to work on which is good for the chimney sweep. I think that they are very stylish and contemporary in their looks. Rais stoves can only be bought from authorized UK dealerships.

Rais are a Danish company who export 90% of their stoves to other countries in Western Europe and the United States. The Rias factory is located at Frederikshavn in Danemark and employs over 80 people in the production of stoves and each with their own personal responsibility. Their marketing stresses that if you buy a Rais stove “you get Danish design that never compromises on quality, we call it the art of the fire”. They have a large range of different stove models, including: the Caro 90, 110 and Caro SST, the Viva L 100, 120, 140 and 160, the Nexo 100, 120, 140 and 160, & 185, Max 600, the Pilar, the Juno L 120 & 160, the Q-Tee, Q-Tee 2 & Q-Tee C, The Bionic and the Q-Be & Q-Be XL.

https://www.rais.com/en/wood-burning-stoves

I recently saw this sitting hare on the thatched roof at an address in Therfield near Royston, where I was sweeping a couple of chimneys. Hares seem to be the most common of animals that are represented on thatched roofs. I suppose this is because they are representative and emblematic of the English countryside and country pastimes. Close to the heart of country people as it were.

I found this lovely poem about Hares on the internet:

Runner in the Snow By Jeremy Wyatt

The Queen of Winter looked about,
tinged with sorrow, touched by doubt.
The time of change was in the air,
a keen smell dancing through her hair.
Springtimes breath should fill her dreams,
casting spells of summers peace,
as with her court she, serene sleeps,
awaiting on autumns counsel fair.

But troubled now, her gaze is sharp,
what things are come forth from the dark.
Drawn uncalled by winters cold,
things unholy, things too old.
Prowling in the biting frost,
preying on unwary lost.

“there is a way,” she says to all,
“to reawaken springs fair call.
I need a braveheart, strong and true,
to carry springtimes promise through!”
None spoke, none moved, all-fearing stood,
then from beneath Her throne of wood,
“I’ll go.”

And there was an unlooked for guest,
a small young Hare to take the quest,
And she remembered then his face,
beneath last years fall of  leaves.
A little leverett, bereft, born too late,
so sadly left, but seen by chance.
Compassion in the great ones glance.

Set free to tumble in the spring,
to run and dance, and dream and sing.
But wise to evils coming threat,
returned to pay his debt.

“I’ll carry springtimes welcome song,
my eyes are bright, my legs are strong,
and though I know you dread I’ll fail,
a faithful heart can but prevail!”

A speech of such unwitting grace,
that tears did stain the lady’s face.

“So little one, you made a choice,
how gentle is your sweet young voice,
and I instill my strength and love,
to bear your burden far.
And if you fall, the world will know,
my tears of ice will stain the snow.”

A little bag of felt was made,
new boots of doeskin,
laced and tied,
a cap to cover well his head,
and then the time,
to face the dread.

“Into this bag I place the spring,
no feather weight, no little thing,
though sadness wishes you could tarry,
this burden forth we ask you carry.”
And so with spells of love and care,
out into winter sped our hare.

Through the secret postern gate,
into unremitting hate,
dreading not the rising fear,
but only that the spring was late.

Trotting lightly over snow,
the little lad did boldly go,
leaving lightest prints  behind,
nothing for the Beasts to find.
But, stirring in the darker woods,
creatures of despair still stood.

Crawling, stooping, no poise or grace,
evil made a start to chase,
our little hare, who, so well aware,
kept a steady pace.

Beasts of the pit, deep in the earth,
smother life with their dark curse,
drawn to light to look askance,
hating their own long lost chance.

Breaking through and into sight,
using all the darkest might,
straining fibre, blood and bone
to **** our little hare.

Dancing, swerving, to and fro,
Is he caught? Ah through, now go!
How can one so slim and small,
battle evil spirits tall?
But, from towers far above,
flows an ancient, caring love.

Sending creatures of the woods,
fight the evil with their good,
crows and eagles, claws and beaks,
wolves and foxes, strength and teeth.
Fighting now for what they chased,
and grateful for his speed unceased.

” Pass beyond us, little hare,
and we will turn and, face the stare!
Whatever evil comes to pass,
we dream of springtimes fragrant grass”

So captains of the wood as one,
stand together as they come,
though many fall not to arise,
they battled evils changing guise.
None pass unmissed, she sees them fall,
The Ice Queen marks their everyfall.

The breathless runner toils anew,
oh can he take this burden through?
the night is falling dark and fast,
and still dark forces  are amassed.

New foes astir, claw at his feet,
sharp teeth snap, and call deceit,
arms of knotted sinew strain,
to clutch, to grasp, but still in vain!
Our little hero runs so swift,
at each new threat his own pace lifts.

Cut and wounded by the beasts,
ragged ears, and bleeding feet,
nothing slows the running hare,
“come, you catch me if you dare!”
he gasps beneath a fell  beasts stare…

Then, coming slowly into view,
a wondrous sight, and hope anew,
a woodland tinged with shades of green,
could this be spring, will he get through?

And now the Green Man of the spring,
sees the chase and starts to sing,
“Come all my peoples of warm earth,
we’ll war these beasts of death and dearth!”
Flashing eyes, and racing foes,
to battle now for good they  go.

Now at the Green Mans feet hare lies,
the light now fading from his eyes,
his burden passed to hands of care,
all gaze with wonder, little hare!
His duty done, his race is run,
it’s now his time to die.

But from afar, a Snow Maids call,
“this once, Man listen to my call,
I’ll ask of you no other thing,
than heal this creature, let us sing!”

Together, distant words that heal,
renew the turning of lifes wheel,
The young hare races, where he will,
Watch, and you’ll see him, running still

I sweep an awful lot of Heta stoves, the vast majority of which have been installed by Cut Maple Stoves from New England Sturma. Most of these tend to be the Heta Inspire 40, 45 and 55, the 45 in particular. However, the other day I came across this rather attractive, modern cylindrical Heta Scan-Line 7D Multi-Fuel Stove, a model of Heta that I had not worked on before. Like all Heta stoves, it was a dream to dismantle and put back together following cleaning. It is rather an attractive looking contemporary stove I’m sure you will agree. The customer is certainly pleased with its appearance and performance, telling me that it is very efficient at heating the room as well as being pleasing to the eye.

HETA is a family-owned business, located in Lemvig near the west coast of Jutland in Denmark. This is where HETAs stoves are developed and manufactured from idea to finished product. Today, HETA is selling stoves to customers in 22 countries. HETA was founded in 1972 with Erik Bach at the steering wheel for the first many years. Today, Erik’s two sons, Carsten and Martin Bach, are heading the company.

For the first couple of years, the company produced hot water containers, refrigeration plants, tanks for fishing vessels and feeders for agriculture. In 1984, HETA started a collaboration with L. Lange & Co, a Danish iron foundry in Svendborg, founded by Lars Lange, a manufacturer of old cast iron stoves since 1850. After a few years later, HETA acquired L. Lange & Co’s activities.

In 1989, HETA developed the first of a long series of modern stoves, which laid the foundation for all the stoves in HETAs current range. Today, HETA also manufactures stove inserts, pellet stoves, aqua stoves, thermal mass stoves and outdoor stoves to quality-conscious consumers, not only in Denmark but worldwide.

Heta Stoves

Jupiterej 22

DK-7620 Lemvig

Denmark

https://heta.dk/en/

Another large stove – Here is a Bernard Davis & Co Regal Wood-Burning Stove that I swept at an address in Stambourne. It is quite a large stove with a 10Kw output, enough to keep the largest of rooms warm I should think. Being positioned in a large sitting room of a large old farmhouse, I should thing that it is the ideal type of stove to do the job. It is a very traditional and ornate stove as are the other stoves in the Bernard Davis & Co stove range. They manufacture other models all of which are traditional in appearance and very ornate, they include the Rosalyn with a 12.5Kw output, the Majestic with a 6.5Kw output, the Handsome with a 7.5Kw output, the Fairview with a 4.5Kw output, the New Forestman with a 4.5Kw output, the Baby Balmoral with a 6Kw output, the Brightview with a 4.5Kw output, the Supreme with a 10.5 Kw output, the Little Wonder with a 3 Kw output and the Magnus with a 9.5 Kw output. All their stove come in multi-fuel or purely wood-burning models. Bernard Davis & Co stoves are based in East Sussex.

Bernard Davis & Co

https://www.bernard-davis-stoves.co.uk/index.html

T: 01323 484132

M: 07770 355807

 I see plenty of retro Coalbrookdale stoves around the area, but the vast majority of them are the Little Wenlock model or less so the Severn model. So, it was nice to see this Coalbrookdale Much Wenlock Multi-Fuel Stove at an address in Castle Camps the other day. The house also boasted a more modern version of this stove. The Aga Little Wenlock. Funnily enough the customer reported that the Coalbrookdale version of the stove worked just as well, if not slightly better than the Aga version.

Coalbrookdale stoves are now made by the Aga Rangemaster company, in the form of an updated range of stoves, one of which is still called the ‘little Wenlock’. The Aga group is a midlands company based in Leamington Spa and has been manufacturing its stoves in a factory in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, since 1930. The first Aga oven was designed by Swedish Nobel Prize-winning physicist Gustaf Dalen in 1922 and production started in the West Midlands seven years later.

Coalbrookdale is a famous Foundry in England that has been credited with some major “firsts” in the field of Iron Casting. The foundry was the site of the first coke-fired iron smelting furnace in the world, built by Abraham Darby in 1708 out of an existing charcoal furnace. The first blast day for the new furnace was 10 January 1709, and from the start, Darby produced cheap iron pots using a new, dry-sand mold technique, with complete success. They casted iron rails for the first trains as well as the parts for the world’s first cast iron bridge, which can still be seen today spanning the River Severn at Iron Bridge.

What I did find of interest whilst conducting my internet searches looking at Coalbrookdale stoves, was that the Coalbrookdale Company has an extremely long and interesting history that goes right back to the birth of the Industrial Revolution and far beyond. In the 12^th Century the area of Coalbrookdale which is in Shropshire fell within the manor of Madeley, which belonged to Much Wenlock Priory. The monks here operated a bloomery (iron foundary) called “Caldebroke Smithy”. In 1536 bloomery recorded as still being in operation, however in 1540 during the dissolution of the Monistaries Much Wenlock Priory was closed by King Henry VIII, but the bloomery continued working. Then in 1544 the “Smethe Place” and “Calbroke Smethe” were leased to a Hugh Morrall. This is believed to refer to the Lower Forge (SJ667038) and Upper Forge (SJ669042). Before in 1545 the abbey’s lands being eventually bought by the king’s Italian physician, Agostino Agostini but he sold them in the same year (presumably at a profit) to a local man called Thomas Lawley. Then in 1572 the manor was acquired by John Brooke, who constructed a number of coal mines on his land and continued the operation of the bloomery.

In 1615 Brooke’s son, Sir Basil Brooke, bought the patent for making steel by the cementation process and built a blast furnace at Coalbrookdale. Interestingly, Brooke was arrested in 1644 by Parliament after being involved in a plot to prevent the Scottish army taking part in the English Civil War. The following year Brooke’s estate was sequestrated by Parliament, but the works continued in use. Then in 1651 the manor was leased to Francis Wolfe, the clerk of the ironworks, by Brooke’s heirs.  Brooke had died in 1646 so presumably Parliament had returned the manor to his family. In 1658 – a new blast furnace and forges were built. In 1688 the ironworks were leased by a Shadrach Fox, who in 1696 was supplying round cannon shot and grenado shells to the Board of Ordnance during the Nine Years War. Unfortunately, in 1703 the furnace blew up but the forges remained in use.

In 1709 Abraham Darby I acquired the lease and created the Coalbrookdale Company, an iron foundry which used coke as fuel to make pots and pans. The company had a very long history and is famous for making the first iron bridge which still stands to this day. In 1945 the company started manufacturing wood-burning stoves and the Rayburn cooker. In 1969 the company was absorbed into Allied Ironfounders Ltd.

Yes, I know, sometimes I get carried away with a theme, here is yet another monster stove; this is a Hergom Franklin 82 Combination Wood-Burning Stove. I swept this example recently at a Thatched property in Rickling. Although I sweep one or two Hergom stoves, this is the only example of the Hergom 82 that I have seen in the area, or anywhere for that matter! As can be seen from the photo, it is something of a massive beast, and it has to be, as the room in which it is located is a hall type room with a rather high-pitched roof, so it needs a lot of heating to get the place warm. Certainly, when it is in operation kicks out a huge amount of heat – According to the customer that is.

Although the name Hergom would suggest a Scandinavian stove manufacturer, these stoves are actually made in Santander in Spain. The companies advertising blurb tells us that: Hergom’s appliances are well designed, efficient with a sophisticated double combustion system. Through there innovative internal structure Hergom stoves provide maximum heat and fuel performance with minimal emissions of unburnt particles into the atmosphere. Hergom is one of Europe’s largest and most established manufacturers of cast iron stoves and cookers. Their stoves are forged its state the art foundry in Santander in northern Spain, with Hergom owning their own foundry they use the finest cast iron as the primary material in their production stoves, they understand cast iron and its resilience as a material for hearth and fireplace products. Durability, unique forming and thermal initia give cast products the edge in the market.

The company manufacture a range of different models of stove including the E20, E30, E40, the Mnachester, the Crafytsbury, the Glance, the Mallorca, the Sere Inset and the Laredo.

 Industrias Hergóm

S.L. Soto de la Marina,

Santander,

Cantabria

Spain

+34 942 587 000

comercial@hergom.com

https://hergom.com/gbr/home

As I mentioned last week, whilst we were staying in Latchi, Cyprus we popped over to nearby Polis where we went it into the ‘Bio Energy’ stove showroom. Here we met two of the guys who work there, Alex and Simon who were most friendly and welcoming, with Alex happy to spend time talking us through how they do things in Cyprus. They had a wide range of stoves, going from expensive continental stoves to cheaper Chinese options. Apparently, the cheaper Chinese options are vey popular with the Greek populace. Alex explained that they do drop liners, but more commonly they install using factory made chimneys that they buy from Italy. They cover a large area, from Polis all the way over to Paphos and beyond. They also do all their own chimney sweeping for their installs and are the only chimney sweeps on their patch. They did say however that a lot of the Greeks prefer to sweep their own chimneys!!! The stove in the photograph is Swiss made and is unusually loaded from the top. It looks like a soapstone stove, but is actually some sort of granite type rock and in consequence it is extremely heavy. It has become the show room mascot, particularly as it looks a bit like Kevin the Minion!

It was probably noticed that there was no weekly blog from Walden Sweeps during the past two weeks. This was because Claire and I decided to have a spring break in Cyprus and to see if it was any warmer than the weather in the UK. It was certainly a mixed bag, with some sunshine, thunder storms, rain and hail and some warm sunshine, but definitely warmer than the UK! We did however manage one or two swims in the sea every day, with the water similar in warmth to the sea back in the UK in summertime. To warm up after a swim in the sea, we found the Faros restaurant in the Marina at Latchi which had a large wood-burning stove, which was great to defrost in front of. The Faros restaurant was fantastic, with great food and plenty to drink! We would highly recommend it! During the holiday we popped in to the ‘Bio Energy’ stove showroom in Polis and had a really nice chat with the guys who work there, but more about that next week.  We flew back to the UK on Wednesday and were back working again on Thursday, doing a number of jobs across Essex for the Bishop of Chelmsford.