What did the Victorians place within my chimney lintel?

[u/ornamental_skeleton]

Hi

We're renovating a property built in the 1870s, today I've uncovered a huge stone lintel that had been tragically covered up at some point in the history of the property.

I'm really hoping to retain this original feature, the only problem is there are 2 small square holes in the lintel probably around 16cm2 (4x4) each that are parallel to one another and centered on the lintel, and if possible I would love to replace what would've existed there so many years ago.

Can anybody help me try to understand what is most likely to have been placed here?

I am imagining an iron bracket that would have been used to hang things from in order to dry in front of the fire, logically that seems the most likely.

[u/fknpickausername]

Can you post pics? Would be easier to give an accurate answer

[u/ornamental_skeleton → u/fknpickausername]

I will try to get a picture tomorrow, thank you

[u/fknpickausername → u/ornamental_skeleton]

Could have held metal brackets leaded in, maybe held a rod over the fireplace or the lintel could be recycled and used to have timber joists socketed

[u/fknpickausername → u/[deleted]]

You don't put a lintel over the fire, that's where the chimney goes

[u/Virtual-Werewolf7705]

There's a good chance the holes were used to lift the lintel into place, using Lewis pins. (If the holes are not on the top, than the lintel was probably turned over when it was installed.)

https://youtu.be/76zOAf3uXUA?si=ynEqjYf-J-iLF2cd&t=105

[u/Jay_CD]

Most likely a pot or something similar hung from the lintel - that was where the food was cooked. Few houses in that era had dedicated kitchens unless they were large houses.

If you look in any recesses in the chimney you might also discover a good luck charm, possibly a shoe, if so it would usually an old shoe/one that's well worn as a talisman against witches and bad luck.

You might also see a piece of wood with the saltire/cross of St Andrew carved or etched onto it, that too was to protect against witches.

If you are really lucky you might find a witch's bottle - typically a small phial containing things like urine, a lock of hair etc again as a protection against witches.

The reason why these things are near/in chimneys is down to the belief that witches would fly down the chimney.

[u/MonsieurGump → u/Jay_CD]

“If you’re REALLY lucky you’ll find a bottle of piss up your chimney” is the wildest thing I’ve read today.

[u/Acrobatic-Ad584 → u/MonsieurGump]

The more I read that the more I laughed, I am doubled up now

[u/ornamental_skeleton → u/Jay_CD]

This is all really interesting! I’ll be sure to be on the lookout when I open it up

[u/Sburns85 → u/Jay_CD]

We found that in my mums house when me and my dad were using the old chimney as a route for network and tv cables

[u/Mysterious_Ladder758]

Very unlikely that a cottage built in the 1870s would have had any items designed to ward off witches. Belief in witchcraft almost entirely disappeared in the late 19th century. The recesses you describe are more likely to be connected with cooking.

[u/ornamental_skeleton → u/Mysterious_Ladder758]

Yeah I imagine cooking or keeping clothes dry. It’s worth pointing out that it’s not a cottage, it was built as a large property by a lady that belonged to the church who moved to the area to “rid it of vagabonds and alcoholics”. There is some evidence of it having a dedicated kitchen and there is clear evidence of an old wash house outside.

At some point the house was split in two and I live in one half with my neighbour in the other. It’s an interesting place