House interiors

[Eric Gibson]

I realise that it is probably a result of the soaring cost of gas and electricity but has anyone else noticed the smell of wood/coalfire smoke, not sure which, around housing estates these days. Is it legal? It almost certainly not "green"

Pretty normal for here in the Forest of Dean plenty of people still use coal fires and wood burners.

 

[Morturn]

I realise that it is probably a result of the soaring cost of gas and electricity but has anyone else noticed the smell of wood/coalfire smoke, not sure which, around housing estates these days. Is it legal? It almost certainly not "green"

The arguments about it being green or legal revolves around the sources and sustainability of the wood and the type of stove. Is the wood correctly seasoned and there are also local bylaws along with some government legislation that came into force in 2022.

Wood burning stoves can be relatively carbon neutral and sustainable compared to fossil fuels like natural gas, propane, and coal depending on the quality and type of wood and the quality and type of wood stove.

The new legislation is not retrospective, but all new stoves will have to meet the standard.

There are already smoke control areas that come under the Clean Air Act. Effectively, wood cannot be burnt in smoke control areas unless you’re using an exempt appliance.

 

[Brummie a long time ago]

On the subject of wood burners, over here it is generally required that the chimney is swept twice a year, (once for gas burners), and one of these two sweeps must take place during the time of year when the building is being heated. A certificate will be issued by the sweep, who must be a registered professional. Failure to do this can cause insurance problems if there is a fire, and there can be a 450 euro fine.
There is a pervasive wood smell around here too. Some OK, some disgusting, (wood or who knows what ?). The price of wood in various forms has rocketed this year. Pellets have tripled in cost.
From September next year, logs sold less than two metres long must be dry wood. This covers most domestic wood burners, although a chain saw is a normal tool shed item, which will sort this out. It takes 18-24 months to fully dry firewood.

Andrew.

 

[devonjim]

Well and truly off thread, but only a tad off recent posts! I notice Channel 5 are giving their programme "The Great Fog of 1952" an airing this evening at 9.00pm. A memory of what it was like when coal was king.

 

[Murge1947]

Blummin Anne it's 'our 'ouse! Same era, except we had an oblong mirror with the corners cut off and a gliterry bit on the right hand side, but no Jacobean panelling. The woodwork was brown a sort of tan.The rattly door knobs small round and wooden. Kitchen woodwork was quite a dark green. Narrow sash window in the corner no leads. A dark room. Mum connected the bakelite hair drier to ours. It was brown. The Goblin hoover was brown with badger hair wooden brushes and a heavy chrome wand. Carpet sweeper was wooden too.

Mantlepiece in the front room had the corners missing to form a shelf each side and in the middle was a semi circular shelf with tiles a bit like a half moon all mottley brown. The Back room mantle piece was much higher with long mirrors down each side with a sort of long faded gold stripe down the middle. I used to made marks with my rubber ended arrow. I like the noise it made. Grate was brown with like oil slick in it. And there were sinister looking people's heads either side in it. A black companion set and a long extending toasting fork for pikelets and toast and an iron trivet we used as a door stop. Or a seat for teddy. A coal scuttle. We had one picture and 2 religious texts one was Serve The Lord With Gladness, my parents' wedding gifts. An oval drop leaf table very dark almost black with barley twist legs and a green chenille cloth. 4 odd dining chairs. Dad's bed chair in dark red. Half moon podged rug mum made. Brown cream and pink. Grey oil cloth with little coloured abstract triangles a bit like kites or bunting. The bung 'ole under the stairs where everything was bunged in.

Front room had a bay window. A chunky sideboard also stuffed full. A square indistinguishable coloured carpet and matching leather pouffé. Poofay we said. A three piece comfy red and cream metal studded leatherette suite. Home made lumpy cushions from old curtains and one bought one I liked. It was round and striped in vivid colours and black. A 3ft high whitish tubular corogated plastic or bakelite 3 legged light, with a rudimentary horse on it. No nick nacks. Two strange greyish fluted top vases. One tiny vase full of anything but flowers. Two Light blue opaque glass fruit bowls Often empty or with satsumas and sweeties at Christmas. Loads of ashtrays for dad, mum refused to empty made of baccy tins, fish paste pots anything. Dad's coloured glass spill jar.

A brownish hall runner I would run and slide on "you'll hurt yourself one day" then later when we had a dog he did the same. A big game. A big black telephone on a little shelf on the wall. It came with the house so mum took messages for someone.

Upstairs was freezing. Mum carried a big grey Flatley heater up to their bedroom from the kitchen every night and she raked the coals every morning downstairs. They had little empty fireplaces. One had a gas fire but dad said it was dangerous. I often smelled gas. O I thought I did. Dad had a bachelor wardrobe with interesting named shelves and a glass pull down, ties, socks, hats sundries etc. I had one with a long mirror all dark. A rough packing case with a metal edge for my toys. I ended up with a black Riddy's wardrobe.

The same box of a kitchen looking over the wall in to the next door's. A cream cooker with an eye level grill that used to catch fire. Belfast sink, a copper, grubby lidded bath mum wouldn't touch, her and dad used the slipper baths or tin baths in front of the fire.Very pretty curtains, bright yellow with multi colours modern flowers on. Mum hated nets so we never had any. The front hedge was let grow very high. Red tiled floor and an outside loo next to the coal 'ouse and the mangle on the yard.
Thanks for making me remember.

Reading this brings back so many personal memories—it’s incredible how a space can hold so much life and detail. If anyone wants to capture a similar nostalgic and unique vibe in their own home, you can explore wallpaper print on demand to create custom designs that fit perfectly with your personal story and decor style.

Wow, what a wonderfully vivid memory! Your description really brings that house to life—the little details like the Bakelite hair drier, the Goblin hoover, and even the sliding on the hall runner paint such a clear picture of everyday life back then. I love how you remembered the colors, textures, and even the quirks of the furniture and decor, like the semi-circular mantlepiece shelves and the barley twist legs on the table.


It’s amazing how objects like a coal scuttle, a copper bath, or those odd vases can hold so many memories. The way you describe the upstairs being freezing, carrying the Flatley heater, and raking the coals each morning really makes the experience tangible.


Thanks for sharing all of that—reading it felt like stepping into that home for a moment. It’s a beautiful snapshot of a bygone era and shows how much personality and life a house can have beyond just its structure.

 

[Richard Dye]

A picture of a house interior 1960 ish ?

Maybe mid 60’s with a TV that large…