Steve Taylor (Photography)
The 1588 Fireback at Hall Place
The primary function of a fireback is to protect the wall at the back of the fireplace. This was especially important where the wall was constructed of insubstantial material such as daub (a mud and straw mixture coating interwoven wooden wattles), brick or soft stone. Protective metal plates that became available when cast iron was developed enabled fires to be placed against walls without danger to the fabric of the building. A secondary function is as a radiator of stored heat. The metal is heated by the fire, and then that heat is radiated into the room. - Wikipedia
The 1588 Fireback at Hall Place
The primary function of a fireback is to protect the wall at the back of the fireplace. This was especially important where the wall was constructed of insubstantial material such as daub (a mud and straw mixture coating interwoven wooden wattles), brick or soft stone. Protective metal plates that became available when cast iron was developed enabled fires to be placed against walls without danger to the fabric of the building. A secondary function is as a radiator of stored heat. The metal is heated by the fire, and then that heat is radiated into the room. - Wikipedia