In January 1986, during the course of refurbishment works in the Hotel Reception area, this unique medieval fireplace was discovered.
The fireplace you now see, repaired together with the main core of the Hotel, is believed to date from about 1220. The building was originally used as the Abbey Guest House, built to accommodate pilgrims and other distinguished visitors to the Benedictine Monastery of Malmesbury.
The Pyramidal stone hood to the fireplace served to funnel the smoke out of the room from the fire below. Although this fire was probably little more than an indoor bonfire it would have blazed away to heat a large downstairs room.
Today only about a dozen such firehoods survive, mostly preserved castle ruins. This example is all the more remarkable, and probably represents the earliest examples of a domestic style groundfloor fireplace served by a chimney flue.
Unfortunately past alterations had damaged some of the structure and this meant that the left side had to be rebuilt. The repair work was carried out with the philosophy that any new work should be identified against original stones. The missing stones were replaced with clean stone blocks only half the thickness of the original sections. The lintel has been reinstated in oak instead of stone. The two steel columns merely provide the necessary structural support. The original stone firehearth was found below floor level and has been reused.
Above the firehood, at ceiling level, you can see the remains of stone hearth of the similar first floor fireplace; of which the column shafts still remain. Above your head most ceiling joints and beams are also 13th Century; and to the right hand side of the firebreast is the recess for the original staircase with remnants of two stone steps.
The fireplace was repaired by the Spengler Family with the advice of David Stirling of North Wiltshire District Council Planning Department. The work was carefully carried out by Hawkins Hull of Kington St. Michael, Chippenham; and with financial help from North Wiltshire District Council.
