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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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Comments

photowannabe said…
Never really thought about people not being around fireplaces. It really is a cozy thing. Love your shot of this one.
15 November 2011 at 23:57
MaR said…
And I am enjoying mine right now!! r is for...
16 November 2011 at 00:02
Carver said…
Interesting post about the Rumford. I need to get a chimney sweep in as my fireplace isn't drawing well.
16 November 2011 at 00:19
Rajesh said…
I have never experienced a fire place so far.
16 November 2011 at 00:43
Roger Owen Green said…
We have a non-working fireplace. Meh.
This one's nice, though.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
16 November 2011 at 01:28
anthonynorth said…
Oh, I'm used to fireplaces. I was born and bred just off those Yorkshire Moors.
Great words.
16 November 2011 at 01:38
VioletSky said…
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....
16 November 2011 at 01:43
MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said…
That is a beautiful fireplace. It oozes warmth. I love fireplaces and tending the fires in them. Alas, we moved and have no fireplace...
16 November 2011 at 02:02
Chronicles of Illusions said…
great post - never heard of these before
16 November 2011 at 04:46
Berowne said…
Which one did Santa come down? :-)
16 November 2011 at 05:09
J.Rylie.C said…
Very cozy fireplace!

My R is about Raking Leaves, please come and see.
16 November 2011 at 10:29
MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said…
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!
16 November 2011 at 11:15
Chubskulit Rose said…
Wow sis, dami mong stored knowledge hehehe.

Rosary Beads

Join ka uli sa Nostalgia bukas, mwah!
16 November 2011 at 12:06
jill said…
Hi,Im sat infront of mine now as I type this to you and in North yorkshire.Love Jill xx
17 November 2011 at 00:25
Hazel said…
Awww how lovely, and very nostalgic for me. Thank you Jill xxx
17 November 2011 at 08:48
mrsnesbitt said…
I too am by my burner - log burning Rayburn, also in North Yorkshire! How funny! lol!
Thanks so much
Denise ABC Team
17 November 2011 at 20:25
Hazel said…
Wow this is getting cozier :) Thank you Mrs Nesbitt.
18 November 2011 at 07:58
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