The cast iron fireplace originated in England during the Victorian period from the middle 1830's to the end of the century.
Victorian houses had iron railings, that were made using the casting process, surrounding their homes, as well as benches and tables made from cast iron.
Cast iron shaped the Victorian design era, and the middle class could not get enough of the products made from this durable, functional and good looking material.
Today the castiron fireplace is just as popular, as it blends in well with the Victorian look, and the clean look of hardwood floors and natural products that is so popular today.
A benefit of the this sort of fireplace is it's durability, and with the proper care will keep it's good looks for years to come.
It does not chip, and can be used inside the house or outside on a patio.
The cast iron fireplace comes in a variety of designs and sizes.
This makes it possible to use this smaller size in a number of situations.
The smaller models can be used for patio areas, or taken out for the day of hiking, or camping.
The larger sizes are ideal for inside or outside areas and come in all shapes and sizes.
There are the strictly functional fireplaces and then there are the beautifully decorated but still very functional fireplaces.
The best advantage to installing the such a fireplace in your home is the warmth it generates, using wood or coal as fuel.
The heat from a castiron fireplace does not only heat the immediate area in front of it, it's warmth spreads to the rest of the house and takes the chill off winter evenings.
If you do not like the idea of cleaning up the ashes, the cast iron fireplace can even be converted to gas or electricity.