ABSTRACT
A log-or coal-fuelled open fire has been the central heat source in homes since the earliest evidence of man's existence. Its brief demise occurred during the 1960s, when 'clean' heating from radiators became financially viable in most homes. Fireplaces were considered dirty and old-fashioned, and many were bricked up and decorated over. The 1970s and 1980s have seen a revival in the use of solid-fuelled fires. This has resulted from escalating central heating fuel costs and the design of many attractive fire surrounds and log-burning devices which enhance living areas and provide a central focal point.
