Firebacks

Description: Canted rectanular shape, with stepped fillet edging (top and sides); upper centre, horizontal ?leather twist above an inverted ?leather twist 'V'; on each side, a shield-shaped stamp repeated twice, the upper one of each being angled so its side is parallel to the canted edging.

Notes: The design on the shield is not recognisably heraldic in form, and appears to incorporate a possible pictorial element although this is not clear; the inverted 'V' shape may have apotropaic significance.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Description: Canted rectangle with twisted rope edging (top and sides); rope line separating rectangle from trapezoidal section, which is, in turn, separated by rope lines into a central rectangle containing a rebated lozenge stamp beneath the date (reversed), and two mirrored triangles each containing what appear to be mirrored stamps of a bird, possibly a partridge, and an initial; both the initials and the date are reversed.

Notes: Reversal of numerals and letters is not uncommon on firebacks.

Inscription: E [or] F 16 04 C

Description: Rectangular with pentagonal arch; stepped fillet edging; six fleurs de lys - three in line at base of arch, two near top corners of rectangle, one in middle of rectanngle.

Notes: Other firebacks based on the same shape but with different edging suggests the use of a common base board, but with the edging and other decoration varied to order.

Description: Rectangular; plain plate with central crossed-square rope pattern with crosses at the corner and top; on each side a rectangular stamp with swirled tendril, serpent and demi-cup decoration.

Notes: The crossed square was an alchemistic symbol for iron vitriol (i.e. ferrous sulphate or copperas), but the crosses at the extremities may indicate other symbolism or none; similar patterns are found on other firebacks of a group that may have been associated with Pounsley furnace, Sussex. The repeated panel at the top appears to have been formed using a mould for a section of a plasterwork frieze, resulting in an intaglio impression (approx 395 x 142mm or 15½ x 5½ in.) as opposed to the normal bas-relief; this is very unusual on a fireback. The style of the mould dates from the Elizabethan or Jacobean period. The stubs on the bottom edge are likely to have been the remains of runners where the molten iron entered the mould. Recovered from a property in Burwash, Sussex, in 1910.

Description: Rectangular; plain plate; on top, twice repeated stamp probably formed of a section of cresting with a row of seven ?fleurs-de-lys above a diagonal grid of squares, each with a small raised square in the middle, and a horizontal astragal border below; between the cresting, a stamp of indeterminate form and design; below, four repeated hexagonal stamps, each divided into triangles by raised lines, two under each cresting stamp; between them, a stamp of indeterminate form and design, possibly the same as the one above it; below, probably six double crosses flory, with a flower head stamp between each group of three; along the bottom, two crosses flory, three hexagon stamps and two other stamps of indeterminate form and design (though different from those described above), arranged asymetrically.

Notes: A crude and poorly executed casting. Butterfield (1916) illustrated this fireback the other way up, and that is how it was displayed in Hastings Museum when it was photographed in the early 2000s. The orientation of this fireback has been reconsidered and the greater relative wear and heat corrosion of the smaller individual stamps suggests that the cresting was originally at the top of the fireback and not the bottom.

Description: Rectangular shape; twisted rope edging (top and sides only); central initials, WS, in different character sets, between split date, also in different numeral sets, with a rectangular floral patera repeated at each end; below, and at a slight incline to the right, a horizontal twisted rope dividing the plate. The '5' of the date has been stamped in reverse.

Notes: A boldly cast fireback with disparate character styles. Probably acquired for the castle in the early-20th century during its refurbishment for Edward Hudson by Edwin Lutyens.

Inscription: 1 6 W S 7 5 [5 reversed]

Description: Rectangular; plain edge; top centre, ring between repeated lion's head between repeated narrow human figure with folded arms standing on a bracket; below each figure, a small bracket.

Notes: The figures are indistinct and are disproportionately small for the size of the firebacks; from Isfield Place 1921.

Description: Rectangular with triangular extension at middle of top edge; rope edging (top and sides); inscription in triangle - O larger than I; a pair of vertical, parallel ratchet bars (180mm long) below each top corner.

Inscription: O I

Description: Rectangular with a central rectangular extension; twisted rope edging; fleur-de-lys stamp with twisted band repeated three times at top; ?rose stamp repeated five times in line below fleurs, some over pressed, central rose above others; cabled anchor stamp repeated twice, either side of central rose; initials below central rose; ?cow and dog stamps each repeated twice alternately in line below initials; eight rivets from later repair.

Notes: None of the stamps is known from any other fireback; cabled anchor may suggest a connection with a seaport.

Inscription: HI

Description: Canted rectangle; twisted rope edging (top and sides); bearded face stamp repeated in top corners and below inscription; date along top edge; initials split by date and slightly below.

Notes: The distinctive style of the ‘4’ in the date and the bearded mask stamp have also been noted on a fireback at Callow Farm, Dymock, Gloucestershire, associated with the operator of the Newent furnace.

Copies of this fireback are known.

Inscription: E 1641 M