Page 41 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

simple nature and access to the chimney possible via a series of wide wall copings I had
eventually found myself astride the ridge at the very top of the house roof to the rear, but
without sufficient tools to complete the task in hand. After eventually completing the job
and not being at my best at any height above head height, I had determined that chimneys
were to be ‘discovered ‘ by somebody else in the future!

Left, Woodburing central Heating
Cooker, similar to ourTirolia.

Watching Joe mount those
numerous ladders and work his way
to the very top, stand erect on what
looked like the top of the world, then
gradually pull the long length of
convoluted steel chimney liner that
trailed over his shoulder and slowly
thread it down the offending
chimney was an absolute wonder.
The internal liner was not much
narrower than the chimney, it
protruded just a little through the fire
proof sheet, it was cut and bent into
place to be secure, the sheet itself fixed with long steel pins and fire cement. The result
was a total success and is still working just as well today almost 40 years later.

BACK TO THE BOILER
The boiler of choice was called ‘Danheat’, its dimensions something like eight feet long
and four feet high. It was round and had a full diameter round door on one end allowing full
width and height access to the inside. We mounted it on a plinth so the base was three
feet or so from the floor and my garage was the location of choice as it was directly
connected to the house in a corner also adjoining the huge maltings building at the rear.
The whole structure was substantial brick so no fire risk was ever to occur due to the
extensive heat around the boiler itself.
The entire round burning area of the boiler was surrounded by a water jacket two inches
wide, comprehensive controls for restricting air intake and water temperature were built
into the door which had two air inlets controlled by thermostats and springs.

Small straw bales are three to four feet long and about two the three feet square;
experience taught me that the ‘Danheat’ could ‘swallow’ at least three of these in one go
and four at a real ‘push’. Additionally, if the boiler had gone out during the night or the
morning was particularly cold then the boost of straw and its huge burning efficiency could
bring all those radiators into almost instant glowing warmth in a matter of minutes.
‘Danheat’ would burn anything. But its capacity for consuming wood and large pieces at
that, resulted in another change in circumstances. I bought a couple of old trailers and a
second hand ‘grey’ Ferguson diesel tractor. I would need a reserve of good dry burning
timber the dimensions of a decent sized brick double garage and the same height.

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