Fireplaces became popular in the nineteenth century, as the Victorians added a touch of class to their living rooms. Indeed, the structure of houses themselves changed, with more and more rooms needing heating, and therefore more & more fireplaces. Increasingly, coal was being used instead of wood and smaller grates replaced the large basket-style grates of the 1700's. As the technology behind casting improved, so did the sophistication of the fireplaces,with new sand casting techniques enabling the manufacturers to produce better and more elaborate designs than ever before.

Even now, the basic technology behind fireplaces is still the same. There are basically two elements: the insert and the surround. The insert (basically, the bit with the fire in it) is always cast iron, often decorated with tiles, while the surround (the mantel and sides) can be in marble, wood or, less often, iron again. Combination units are also increasingly popular, combining both insert and surround.

More and more, people are turning back to fireplaces as a means of heating their homes. It may not be as easy as turning on the timer on the boiler, but it's a good deal more attractive than an off-white radiator.