We have just acquired a very unusual and rare cast iron and tiled grate. It is a Gold Medal Eagle grate by Royal Letters patent.

 What makes this tiled grate so unusual is the two large doors each side housing a set of antique tiles, and behind each of these tiled doors is a further three doors. The top door remains closed to act as the hood or canopy and would only be opened to facilitate sweeping the chimney. The other two can be used to control the temperature of the room and closed at night the fire when not in use. The few Gold Medal Eagle Grates we  have seen and removed have often originated from bedrooms where regulating the temperature of the room over night is paramount, so a fireplace and flue that you can close is essential.

Another serious benefit of this fireplace and it’s tiled doors is the fact that you can access the tile racks whilst the fireplace is fitted and in-situ. So should you feel so inclined you can easily change the tiles as you change the decor of the room. All other tiled grates have the tile racks attached to the rear and once fitted cannot be accessed.

You can find more detials about our new and intresting acquistion by following this link Gold Medal Eagle Grate stock number 1-995

A picture of a Gold Medal Eagle Grate in a Victorian bedroom can be found in the book - The Victorian Houseby Kit Wedd. The picture was taken at ‘Sunnycroft’ Shropshire, a beautiful red-brick villa, which is now a National Trust propery. Details can be found by following this link http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-sunnycroft