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Rumford

The Rumford is a much more efficient way to heat a room than earlier fireplaces....
(Wikipedia on Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, designer of tall, shallow fireplaces which are now known as the Rumford, was an Anglo-American physicist known for his investigations of heat)
Living in the tropics, I have been in close proximity with only three fireplaces in my life. There was an unused one in the home of my college professor in the Philippines. The other one from which I could feel the heat and see the fire dancing was in a hotel lobby in the Yorkshire Moors. Picture taking was quick. Two old ladies were having tea by it, but that was my first ever real fireplace experience, and I loved it. The latest I have touched is the one in Jane Austen's imaginary Northanger Abbey.
The fireplace, where she had expected the ample width and ponderous carvings of former times, was contracted to a Rumford, with slabs of plain though handsome marbles, and ornament over it of the prettiest English china.
Fireplaces. What charming spots they are!


This post is linked with ABC Wednesday.

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  1. photowannabeNovember 15, 2011 at 11:57 PM

    Never really thought about people not being around fireplaces. It really is a cozy thing. Love your shot of this one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CarverNovember 16, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Interesting post about the Rumford. I need to get a chimney sweep in as my fireplace isn't drawing well.

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  3. RajeshNovember 16, 2011 at 12:43 AM

    I have never experienced a fire place so far.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Roger Owen GreenNovember 16, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    We have a non-working fireplace. Meh.
    This one's nice, though.
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

    ReplyDelete
  5. anthonynorthNovember 16, 2011 at 1:38 AM

    Oh, I'm used to fireplaces. I was born and bred just off those Yorkshire Moors.
    Great words.

    ReplyDelete
  6. VioletSkyNovember 16, 2011 at 1:43 AM

    I've always wanted to live in a house with a fireplace. Central heating is very good, but you can't look at the vents and dream....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Meryl Jaffe, PhDNovember 16, 2011 at 2:02 AM

    That is a beautiful fireplace. It oozes warmth. I love fireplaces and tending the fires in them. Alas, we moved and have no fireplace...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jo BryantNovember 16, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    great post - never heard of these before

    ReplyDelete
  9. BerowneNovember 16, 2011 at 5:09 AM

    Which one did Santa come down? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Meryl Jaffe, PhDNovember 16, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Hi Hazel. Thanks for your comment on my blog post. I also wrestled with my son (who also didn't like going to school) - whether to homeschool him. In the end, I decided not to. I took A LOT of time looking into the schools in our town. I found two GREAT ones (elementary and high school) - middle school was horrible. I wish you a lot of luck and if you want to talk about options, I'd love to hear about it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. chubskulitNovember 16, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Wow sis, dami mong stored knowledge hehehe.

    Rosary Beads

    Join ka uli sa Nostalgia bukas, mwah!

    ReplyDelete
  12. jillNovember 17, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    Hi,Im sat infront of mine now as I type this to you and in North yorkshire.Love Jill xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. HazelNovember 17, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Awww how lovely, and very nostalgic for me. Thank you Jill xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. mrsnesbittNovember 17, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    I too am by my burner - log burning Rayburn, also in North Yorkshire! How funny! lol!
    Thanks so much
    Denise ABC Team

    ReplyDelete
  15. HazelNovember 18, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    Wow this is getting cozier :) Thank you Mrs Nesbitt.

    ReplyDelete

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