DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1397#0167
PLATE 48,
A GRATE,
BY MESSES. JEAKES & CO., LONDON.
AT the first great International Exhibition in 1851, Mr. W. J cakes obtained a medal, with
special approbation, for stove grates; and in 1862 the firm again received a medal, for
"excellence of manufacture in kitchen ranges and stove grates." We have selected from their
contribution a fine dog-grate in the Mediaaval style, the ornamental detail of which is founded
on the national emblems,—the rose, shamrock, and thistle. In the centre of the panel, at back,
is a shield with a strap and buckle, and the inscription, "International Exhibition, 1862;" the
scroll ribbon below having on it the motto,—"For the benefit of all." With the exception
of the brass-work and ornament, the whole of the grate is of wrought iron, presenting a very
massive appearance, very suitable for the hall of some large mansion. Messrs. Jeakes & Co. are
fortunate in having secured the services of Mr. Thomas Quarm, many years engaged with the
late Sir C. Barry; Mr. Edward Clements, who for a long time assisted Mr. T. H. Wyatt, the
well-known architect; and Mr. James Norris, who superintends the engineering department.
It will be seen that the Messrs. Jeakes have adopted the Mediasval style to a grate for
burning coal; consequently it bears no similarity to the ironwork used in chimneys during the
prevalence of the Gothic style; for an account of which see Plate 56. Wood then formed the
principal fuel, and the fireplace during the whole of that period was made much larger than at
present, in order to admit of room for the large logs which were frequently burnt, probably in
combination with turf, which is mentioned frequently in documents dating from the 12th century,
under the names of cespites vence (fen), librha ad focum, and tv/rfa (turf). (See Beckman's
" History of Inventions," art. Turf.) Sea-coal, so called to distinguish it from charcoal, does not
appear to have been used as fuel until the 13th century. In 1239, Henry granted a license to
Newcastle for digging sea-coal. Ten shillings' worth of sea-coal is entered in the accounts of
Edward the Second's coronation,—" Carboun de meer pris al paleys al coronement." In 1325 a
vessel from Pontoise carried corn to Newcastle and took back coal. Newcastle coal, however,
appears to have been burnt always with wood as well.
In 1306, Edward I. prohibited the burning of coal in London under severe penalties, as being
noxious to the health; but as wood became scarce, and consequently dear, the practice gained
ground, until at last a law was passed making it a capital offence. In a list of the custom
duties at Poole, in Dorset, A.D. 1341, "a quarter of coals" is set down as paying a farthing;
but in a carefully drawn up table of rates of customs payable at Lyme, in Dorsetshire, coal is
not mentioned, and it certainly was not in anything like general use until the 16th and 17th
centuries. In the reign of Henry VIII. sea-coal was used for the private apartments of the
king. In 1569, the Grace of God, a Bristol vessel, paid dues at Lyme for cole; and at the
same period a vessel belonging to Poole was laden with Welsh pit-coal.
Holinshed, writing in 1584, says of sea-coal: "It beginneth to grow from the forge into the
kitchen, and the halls of most towns that lie about the coast." Stanley, in his " Guide to
Worcester," states that the first barge-load of coals was brought there in the year 1570. In
1624 a survey was instituted of the sea-coals coming to London from Newcastle, Sunderland,
and Blythe, to prevent the frauds of mixing black earth, slate, and stone with them; and sailors
in colliers bound to London were, by a proclamation of 1665, not to be impressed for the navy.
After the great fire in 1666, it was enacted that one shilling should be paid on every chaldron
or ton of coals in the city. In 1670 an addition of two shillings a chaldron for seventeen
years was put on, the proceeds to be used for the rebuilding of the city churches. This tends
to show that the consumption of sea-coal was large at that time.
Shakspeare, writing in 1600, makes Dame Quickly say to Falstaff: "Thou didst swear
to me upon a parcel-gilt goblet, sitting in my dolphin chamber at the round table, by a sea-
coal fire;" thus marking it as something special. In the 17th century the scarcity of wood
and of charcoal from the Weald of Sussex and the Forest of Dean led to the adoption, by
Lord Dudley, of pit-coal for forging iron; but his works were destroyed by a mob, and it was
not till the 18th century that Abraham Darby, of Coalbrookdale, succeeded in establishing
its use permanently. The Duchess of Marlborough, writing in 1710, says the Duke of Somerset
would not allow his servants anything " better than a sea-coal fire." We are indebted to
Roberts's " Social History of the Southern Counties " for the substance of this notice.
A GRATE,
BY MESSES. JEAKES & CO., LONDON.
AT the first great International Exhibition in 1851, Mr. W. J cakes obtained a medal, with
special approbation, for stove grates; and in 1862 the firm again received a medal, for
"excellence of manufacture in kitchen ranges and stove grates." We have selected from their
contribution a fine dog-grate in the Mediaaval style, the ornamental detail of which is founded
on the national emblems,—the rose, shamrock, and thistle. In the centre of the panel, at back,
is a shield with a strap and buckle, and the inscription, "International Exhibition, 1862;" the
scroll ribbon below having on it the motto,—"For the benefit of all." With the exception
of the brass-work and ornament, the whole of the grate is of wrought iron, presenting a very
massive appearance, very suitable for the hall of some large mansion. Messrs. Jeakes & Co. are
fortunate in having secured the services of Mr. Thomas Quarm, many years engaged with the
late Sir C. Barry; Mr. Edward Clements, who for a long time assisted Mr. T. H. Wyatt, the
well-known architect; and Mr. James Norris, who superintends the engineering department.
It will be seen that the Messrs. Jeakes have adopted the Mediasval style to a grate for
burning coal; consequently it bears no similarity to the ironwork used in chimneys during the
prevalence of the Gothic style; for an account of which see Plate 56. Wood then formed the
principal fuel, and the fireplace during the whole of that period was made much larger than at
present, in order to admit of room for the large logs which were frequently burnt, probably in
combination with turf, which is mentioned frequently in documents dating from the 12th century,
under the names of cespites vence (fen), librha ad focum, and tv/rfa (turf). (See Beckman's
" History of Inventions," art. Turf.) Sea-coal, so called to distinguish it from charcoal, does not
appear to have been used as fuel until the 13th century. In 1239, Henry granted a license to
Newcastle for digging sea-coal. Ten shillings' worth of sea-coal is entered in the accounts of
Edward the Second's coronation,—" Carboun de meer pris al paleys al coronement." In 1325 a
vessel from Pontoise carried corn to Newcastle and took back coal. Newcastle coal, however,
appears to have been burnt always with wood as well.
In 1306, Edward I. prohibited the burning of coal in London under severe penalties, as being
noxious to the health; but as wood became scarce, and consequently dear, the practice gained
ground, until at last a law was passed making it a capital offence. In a list of the custom
duties at Poole, in Dorset, A.D. 1341, "a quarter of coals" is set down as paying a farthing;
but in a carefully drawn up table of rates of customs payable at Lyme, in Dorsetshire, coal is
not mentioned, and it certainly was not in anything like general use until the 16th and 17th
centuries. In the reign of Henry VIII. sea-coal was used for the private apartments of the
king. In 1569, the Grace of God, a Bristol vessel, paid dues at Lyme for cole; and at the
same period a vessel belonging to Poole was laden with Welsh pit-coal.
Holinshed, writing in 1584, says of sea-coal: "It beginneth to grow from the forge into the
kitchen, and the halls of most towns that lie about the coast." Stanley, in his " Guide to
Worcester," states that the first barge-load of coals was brought there in the year 1570. In
1624 a survey was instituted of the sea-coals coming to London from Newcastle, Sunderland,
and Blythe, to prevent the frauds of mixing black earth, slate, and stone with them; and sailors
in colliers bound to London were, by a proclamation of 1665, not to be impressed for the navy.
After the great fire in 1666, it was enacted that one shilling should be paid on every chaldron
or ton of coals in the city. In 1670 an addition of two shillings a chaldron for seventeen
years was put on, the proceeds to be used for the rebuilding of the city churches. This tends
to show that the consumption of sea-coal was large at that time.
Shakspeare, writing in 1600, makes Dame Quickly say to Falstaff: "Thou didst swear
to me upon a parcel-gilt goblet, sitting in my dolphin chamber at the round table, by a sea-
coal fire;" thus marking it as something special. In the 17th century the scarcity of wood
and of charcoal from the Weald of Sussex and the Forest of Dean led to the adoption, by
Lord Dudley, of pit-coal for forging iron; but his works were destroyed by a mob, and it was
not till the 18th century that Abraham Darby, of Coalbrookdale, succeeded in establishing
its use permanently. The Duchess of Marlborough, writing in 1710, says the Duke of Somerset
would not allow his servants anything " better than a sea-coal fire." We are indebted to
Roberts's " Social History of the Southern Counties " for the substance of this notice.